26. Bailey
The party was rockingby the time we arrived. The house was packed. More people spilled out onto the front lawn. Jamie helped me from the car and held my hand as we walked up to the front door. People greeted him like a celebrity.
When the crowd would have separated us, Jamie put his arm around my shoulders and kept me close. It should have felt awkward being like this in front of everyone, but it wasn’t. Instead, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world.
“Wanna dance?” he asked after we’d been at the party for an houror so.
“I’m gonna find the bathroom first.” I left him talking to a group of guys from the football team.
Of course, there was a line for the bathroom. I wasn’t familiar with this house, so I didn’t want to look for another one.
“It’s not like she’s going to be his girlfriend.” The voice came from directly behind me as I finally made my way into the bathroom, and I recognized it right away. Elise. She had to know I could hear her. Iwas dying to say something. Instead, I just closed the door and went about my business.
Jamie was waiting for me when I finished. Elise and her friends were falling all over themselves to get close to him. I decided right then; I would not let them make me feel like I didn’t deserve JamieorI wasn’t good enough for him. I was more than good enough for him. He still needed to prove himself to me.
He earned some points in that direction when he saw me, and his face lit up with a smile.
“There you are.” He took my hand and pulled me in close.
“Sorry, the line was long.” My head fell to his chest.
“Still up for that dance?”
I nodded.
“Okay,” he murmured against my hair before turning to his groupies. “Sorry, ladies, I’ve got a date with my girlfriend on the dance floor.”
Too stunned to say anything, I followed him to the center of the room. It was crowded, forcing us to stand close. We would have anyway. It wasn’t a slow song, but Jamie pulled me into his arms, gently swaying to the beat.
“Why didn’t you put those girls in their place, Bales?” he asked softly against my ear.
“They’re dumb. I don’t care what they think.”
“I care.” He pulled back just enough to meet my gaze. “I want them to know I’m your boyfriend and you’re my girlfriend.”
“Is that what we are?” Because I wasn’t sure. Had we even talked about it?
Jamie stopped and settled his hands on my hips. “If you have toask that, then I haven’t been clear. I know I still need to prove my commitment to you, Bailey, but I am committed. If you want me to be. If you want us to be. I don’t just want a date to Homecoming. I want you to be my girlfriend. Will you?”
I’d hoped this was where things were leading after last night, but I wasn’t sure. The moment felt almost surreal, I’d been waiting so long for Jamie to see me the way I saw him, and it was finally happening.
“Yes. Yes, Jamie, I want to be your girlfriend more than anything.”
His concerned expression evaporated into a smile. “Thank goodness!” He wrapped his arms around me and picked me up off the ground. Our gazes locked, and his head lowered toward mine—
“Get a room, you two, jeez.” A grinning Dallin interrupted us.
Jamie groaned, hiding his face in the place between my neck and shoulder.
“Get used to it, Dal.”
“Nope. No way. We’re gonna have to set up some ground rules.”
Dallin listed somerules. “No kissing in front of me. Definitely no making out. Snuggling is okay as long as it involves no kissing. And if I have to watch you two make moony eyes, I will throw up.”
He kept going while Jamieand I laughed. And made moony eyes at each other.
Thunder City was fun,as always. But nothing could have prepared me to be the center of Jamie’s attention the way I was during our day at the amusement park. We held hands, laughed, flirted, and shared a massive basket of cheese fries while solidifying our status as boyfriend/girlfriend.
Jamie confided in me about his conversation with his mom, and we discussed the fears that had kept him from committing to a relationship this last year. His fingers came up to twist in a few loose curls near my temple.
“I was so afraid of getting my heart broken that I broke yours and mine. I’m so sorry, Bailey.” We’d talked about Elise. It was difficult, and I didn’t want to hear his excuses. I disagreed with his reasons and threatened to behead him if he ever did anything like that while we were together, but I understood. And I forgave him.
Once we got home, we snuggled while watching a movie and engaged in a little CMO—committed make-out.
“You know, you were right,” he said between kisses.
“About?”
“Kissing. I love kissing my girlfriend.” To prove his point, he deepened our kiss until my head was spinning.
“Kissing your girlfriend is better than kissing some random girl, huh?” I teased, even though I didn’t want to think about him kissing other girls anymore.
“Yeah. But mostly, kissing you is better than kissing anyone has ever been.”
JAMIE
Tonight was the night.Homecoming. The biggest game of the season. I’d invited my mom. I wasn’t sure if she would make an appearance. Leaving the house still wasn’t her thing, but I hoped. Bailey wore my jersey again, and Coach informed me just a few minutes before kickoff that the place was crawling with scouts from D1 and D2 teams.
The pressure was on.
The home stands were packed. I immediately began searching for Bailey. She was easy to spot wearing my jersey. She’d found a seat with her parents, who’d come to cheeron Dallin and me. Her mom had sat me down the other day to tell me she knew about our little sleepovers in the beanbag chair and expected those to end. I suppose I wasn’t surprised she knew about that or that she was laying down the law. I’d respect her wishes for now, but it was no holds bar once we graduated.
I tried not to let the disappointment get to me when a certain wheel-chaired lady never showed up in the stands. Then during the break between the first and second quarters, I noticed a familiar SUV parked near the fence on the visitor’s side, and my heart lifted. She’d come.
While the rest of the team gathered in one end-zone for half-time, I ran and hopped the fence on the visitor’s side. She immediately opened the door, and I hugged her, shoulder pads and all.
“I’m so proud of you, Jamie,” her voice croaked.
“I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” she replied, holding me tight.
“They’re gonna announce Homecoming King and Queen in a few minutes.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Your dad would be proud to see you out there, baby.”
I hugged her again. “Thanks, Mom.”
“I love you! Good luck,” she called as I ran back to where the Homecoming Court had gathered at the fifty-yard line.
A few other guys from the football team and some cheerleaders made up most of the Homecoming Court. I didn’t care if I won king or not. I wanted to get back on the field and win this game. I knew the other guys felt the same.
The announcer called out the winning class for spirit week from the press box. The juniors. Then he called out the class voted to have the best float in the parade from earlier that afternoon—the seniors. The freshman won the hallway decorating,and the sophomores would have to try harder next year.
“And now for this year’s Homecoming King and Queen voted by the student body earlier today. For your Homecoming King, Jamie Barnes. Give a round of applause for Jamie, this year’s Homecoming King!”
The school’s athletic director waved me over where he stood at center field and handed me a plastic crown.
“You’ll give these flowers to the queen when she’s announced,” he told me with a wink as he handed me a bouquet of roses.
I stood and waited for the announcer to speak again, my gaze automatically finding Bailey’s. She was smiling. When our eyes met, she gave me a thumbs up. I wished I could give her the roses in my arms, but Bailey hadn’t been nominated. Word had gotten around school this week that we were a couple. IfI’d gotten my act together sooner, we might have been votedKing and Queen together. People loved the fact that Bailey had tamed the NCMO King.
“And for your Homecoming Queen. Now, folks, this has never happened in school history. For the first time, students voted a young lady who had not been nominated to Homecoming Court. She won by an astounding seventy-eight percent. Please, a round of applause for this year’s Homecoming Queen, Bailey Campbell.”
Yes!
Bailey stood, stunned, next to her parents as the student section erupted into cheers.
“Is Bailey Campbell in attendance tonight? Bailey, please make your way down to the field,” the announcer called over the loudspeaker.
Bailey still didn’t move. Her mom nudged her shoulder, breaking her out of the trance she’d been in since they called her name.
“Here, I’ll take that, too.” I took the queen’s crown from the athletic director and ran to my Queen.
Bailey started moving—slowly.
“Come on, Bales,” I shouted over the cheering.
Her lips curved in an embarrassed smile, but her legs moved faster as they carried her down to the field.
I didn’t wait for her, and as soon as I could, I swept her into my arms, twirling her around to the sound of the cheering crowd.
“Oh, my gosh, Jamie.” Bailey’s face was bright red, but she was smiling, and it was the most beautiful smile. I set her down long enough to place the crown on her head and hand over her flowers.
And then I kissed her.