Josh
“Look at the smolder on you in this one.” Britney held up her phone, leaning toward him, their crowns nearly touching.
As she cooed over photo after photo of the two of them looking like the happiest couple on earth, he genuinely understood why people sometimes said they felt like they were dying inside.
Literally and figuratively.
“Hey, guys!” Amber poked her head backstage. “Just a few minutes until we announce the King and Queen dance.”
Josh slumped into a chair.
“Josh?” said Britney.
“Regrouping. One more event and then we’re done.” Oh shit. Had he just—
Britney had her schoolmarm face on. “What is going on with you? It’s like you don’t want to be here.”
“I do,” he lied. Well, mostly lied. He’d enjoyed some parts. The dancing. Joking around with the guys.
Britney spun her index finger around. She wanted more. She deserved more. This really was a case of it’s not you… it’s a hundred percent me. She believed in what she did. This. He had, too. Once.
He tried to explain. “I guess I thought the night would be a little more for us as a couple, rather than putting on a show for everyone else.”
She shook her head, not understanding. “That’s what being Queen and King is about.”
He tried again. “When was the last time we had fun together? No agenda. No list of things to do.”
“I am having fun. Aren’t you?”
“Not really,” he admitted, already feeling a weight shift as he confirmed it. “No.”
It felt painful, watching her take onboard what he’d said, and what he hadn’t.
“I think we’ve been acting happy more than we’ve been happy for a long—”
“Stop.”
“Brit.” He took a step toward her. She took one back. “Don’t tell me you can’t see it.”
“No.” She held up her hand, then dropped it. “You’re breaking up with me? Here? Now?”
“I know. I know. I didn’t want to ruin your night, but I can’t pretend anymore. I’m sorry.”
Her body was radiating hurt and her eyes flashed with anger. “Is it Teagan?”
“No. Not at all.” He’d taken her advice not to use her as an excuse. He was doing this because it was the right thing to do. “It’s because this is over. Us.”
He’d never seen Brit like this before. Scared. Overwhelmed. Not formulating a way out of the problem at lightning-fast speed.
From beyond the curtains a microphone squawked. Everyone would have been gathered together in the main hall for this, their big moment.
“And now, if everyone could clear the floor,” Coach Hayden instructed, “it’s time for the King and Queen to dance.”
“Awesome,” Britney said sarcastically. “Isn’t this the perfect ending to the magazine article. Ditched and alone on the dance floor. Thanks.”
“Put your hands together,” Coach Hayden continued from beyond the curtain, “for this year’s reigning King and Queen of the Fall Formal!”
“Brit.” Josh held out his hand to her. “Our story doesn’t have to end like that. Can I take you out for one last dance?”