THIRTY-FIVE
I find Renner back with our group, sharing grapes and flirting with Andie, of course.
Kassie takes a break from sucking face with Ollie to acknowledge my return and I plop down next to them. “What’s up with you?”
“IjustaskedClayDiaztoprom,” I word vomit, wiping the sweat off my forehead.
She blinks. “What?”
“I just asked Clay to prom,” I repeat, handing her my extra hamburger.
Nori sits up and swipes it before Kassie has the chance, and shoves her sunglasses on top of her head. “What? What did he say?”
“He said yes .”
Kassie screeches, which catches everyone’s attention, including Renner’s. “You’re going to prom with Clay .”
“Clay!” I blurt in a poor attempt to match Kassie’s enthusiasm. Strange that she’s more excited than I am?
Everyone congratulates me, except Renner. In fact, he’s turned back to Andie, far too enamored to care. Not that I want him to.
The rest of the afternoon is filled with excited chatter about the details of prom the next night. How we’re doing our hair, what time we’re showing up at Ollie’s for photos, who’s responsible for what tasks.
“You and Clay are gonna look way too adorable in couple photos,” Kassie tells me. “Did you ask him to match your dress?”
I scan the beach for Clay. But there’s no more sign of him, or any of his friends. “We didn’t have time to talk about that. But I’m gonna send him all the details. Tonight.”
Kassie rests her head on my shoulder. “Look at you being bold and going after what you want. I’m so proud.”
I nod, thinking about how I asked two guys to prom in the span of twenty-four hours. I have no idea where I found the strength to do that. But it feels good, despite being turned down by Renner. Then again, I like to believe everything happens for a reason. Had Renner not turned me down, I wouldn’t have had the courage to ask Clay.
This is all I’ve wanted for years. I’ve dreamed of the moment when Clay Diaz would take interest in me. And now, he’s agreed to be my date for prom. I should be doing cartwheels along the beach.
And yet, I can’t seem to summon the excitement I should be feeling.