26. Julian
My heart slowed, stuttered, and sped up at the sight of April walking down the stone steps in front of her house. I met her at the last step and offered a hand. She placed hers in mine, watching me with a frown as I led her to the limo Nic and Lucy loaned me from their wedding.
She lifted her free hand to touch the crown of flowers on her head. “Julian, what’s going on? I came home to find a package with this dress, this flower crown, and a note from you. How did you get them inside?”
“Your sister.” Lucy had been instrumental in my planned grand romantic gesture despite today being her big day. It was selfless of her. I could tell how much she loved April.
“Lucy? That’s why she looked so smug earlier,” she realized. “I don’t understand…”
I stopped in front of the limo’s back door, opened it, and took out a little plastic box with a red rose corsage that matched my boutonniere. April watched, brows drawn together as I slipped the accessory onto her wrist. She laughed. “Julian, are we going on a date, or are we going to prom?”
I chuckled. “Doesn’t any of this look familiar to you?”
She looked down at herself. “Well, this dress is almost identical to the one…” Her eyes flew back up to my face. They were wide and filled with understanding.
“I’m giving you the prom night I wish I’d given you ten years ago, April. The one you deserved.” By the end of tonight, she’d know how I felt about her.
“Oh...Julian that’s...this is…” She blew out a breath. “This is incredibly sweet but I told you, I’m over that.”
“I’m not.” Not until I made things right or at least tried. I stepped aside and gestured for her to get into the back of the limo.
She pursed her lips to contain her smile. “I can’t believe you did this,” she said as she slid in. I was pleased by the excitement I saw in her lovely green eyes before she disappeared inside.
When I got in, I reached for one of the bottles of champagne I’d bought. “I wouldn’t have been able to splurge for champagne at eighteen, but let’s just work with the way things are now.”
Her giggles filled the back of the car, caressing my eardrums and making me smile. She accepted the glass I gave her. “This is incredible. No one’s ever done anything like this for me before.” Gazing at me, she stated with a note of disbelief, “You remembered what I wore ten years ago.”
I debated telling her that the image of her on prom night had remained stuck in my head for a decade, partly because of guilt. Instead, I shrugged and told her, “Of course. You were so beautiful. How could I forget?” That was enough of the truth. The thing I wanted to change about that image of her in my head was the look on her face. The hurt and betrayal. I was determined to change that look tonight. She was smiling. So far, so good.
“You thought I was beautiful?”
“Not just on prom night, sweetness. I’ve always thought that.”
She visibly swallowed and turned to look out the window. It was hard to tell if she believed me or not. Her wistful look, followed by one of uncertainty caught my attention. Shit, I could virtually see her debating if she should trust me. That irritated me. Surely she knew me. I’d shown her the real me. I did the only thing I could think to do at the moment. Scooting closer, I tipped her chin up with my finger.
“Do me a favor tonight, April.”
“What’s that?”
“Get out of your head and...trust me.”
Her expression softened. “I do trust you.”
Not completely,I wanted to say. It only took a few minutes before we reached West Oak High, and we watched as the limo turned into the school parking lot. The building brought back a reel of childhood memories for me, and for April too it seemed. Her expression crumbled for a millisecond before she smiled at me. How I wished I could go back in time and not be an idiot. To protect her from everyone who ever hurt her because my sweet April didn’t deserve any of the crap she got as a kid.
When we got out of the limo, I laced my fingers with hers. As we strolled towards the open gymnasium doors, she gazed down at our connected hands. There was no telling what was going on in her head. If only I had the power to read minds. April’s gasp made me look around the massive gym. I grinned. My mom, Nic, Lucy, and Kelsey sure outdid themselves.
There were flowers everywhere, hanging from the ceiling, draped over the bleachers. I chuckled at the sight of the photo booth off to one corner and the flower arch that we’d walk under to get into the gym. It looked like a real prom was happening tonight.
“This is beautiful. There’s glitter everywhere.” April’s brows arched. “Was my niece involved in this at all?”
“Nic did say his daughter called dibs on heading the decorating committee.”
“Ah, I can see that.” April’s eyes twinkled with laughter. “When did you guys even have time to do this? I mean Lucy and Nic were preparing for their wedding.”
“Before the rehearsal dinner. I let them in on my plan a week earlier and they, along with my mother, all agreed to help. Andy pitched in with the music. If I’d told him I was doing this to woo you, I’m pretty sure he would have been reluctant to help me out. His crush on you is insane.”
April shook her head, her smile bright. “Mine was the first face he saw when he came into the ER last year. I helped to make him feel better, and he’s been pursuing me ever since. It’s hilarious, really. That kid is truly your blood.”
I grinned. That he was.
“So, you’re trying to woo me?”
The corners of my lips lifted. “Am I having any success?”
There was a teasing gleam in her eyes that I loved. Only I got to see sassy, teasing, smart-mouthed April. “Ask me again after prom.”
Our eyes were locked and I felt a slow smile spread across my face.
* * *
April giggled as she sipped fruit punch and went through the reel of photos we’d taken in the photo booth. “A photo booth! I love it. Was this really what prom was like?” she asked. “Did you take goofy pictures?”
Her question diminished my satisfaction at seeing how happy she was. It reminded me that I”d had a hand in robbing her of the rite of passage that was senior prom. “I didn’t stick around, remember?”
She studied the tip of her silver heels. “I mean before I showed up.”
“No.” I’d been too busy feeling like shit for being the pawn to lure her to the gym.
“Don’t get that look of regret, Julian. Please. Tonight has been amazing. I’m loving this so much.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
I relaxed and enjoyed watching her have fun. We chatted and snacked on chips and dip. She told me about the charity event to raise money for the nursing home.
“The whole thing was a bust; however, your fat donation check saved the day. You didn’t have to give me any more money after paying for the medical services, but thank you. It was more than enough, and Mayor Greggs is planning to build another wing.”
“It was nothing.” I shrugged.
“It was huge, Julian.”
“It meant a lot to you. I was happy to do it.”
She held my gaze. “You’re really sweet.” Cheeks flushed, she lowered her lashes. “I told Margaret that you pretty much paid for the whole thing and she decided that she wasn’t going to bother to box your ears for being a hooligan in high school.”
I laughed. I hadn’t seen Margaret in years, but I knew the old lady. She was a pistol. “I’m relieved.”
We changed topics, moving on to hockey season. She admitted that she’d kept up with my team. Draping my arm over the back of her chair, I leaned closer to her. There was music playing in the background and disco lights swirling around the room. “Are you admitting that you’re a fan? My fan?”
She snorted. “Jeff is also on the team, and he’s a friend. I”m a fan of your team.”
“But you wouldn’t be if I wasn’t on it.”
“You’re sounding really cocky right now, Grayson.”
“You like my coc―”
She placed a finger over my lips. I smirked seeing her face redden. “You”re such a troublemaker.”
“You like my brand of trouble.” I snagged her finger gently between my teeth and ran my tongue over it. April sucked in a breath and shuddered.
“Is this how you would have seduced me at prom ten years ago, Julian?”
“Hell yes. I would have definitely tried my luck.”
“Hm, maybe you would have succeeded.”
“Maybe? I really want to go back in time now,” I whispered, leaning in closer. I really wanted to kiss her.
“Who knows? If you play your cards right, you might get into my panties this prom night,” she purred, lips dangerously close to mine.
My cock was doing the electric slide in my pants. “Fuck, April, you tease.”
A wicked smile appeared on her lips, and she stood up just as I leaned in to kiss her. I growled my protest of being denied those sweet lips. Giggling, she took my hand. “You’re going to have to work to get into my panties prom date. Take me back to the dance floor.”
I laughed and followed her, growing hard-on and all. I’d follow her anywhere.