Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
LAINEY
The transformation in the banquet room for the evening takes my breath away. It’s amazing to see it all come together. The book arch at the entrance to the event came out amazing, and giddiness bolts through me at the line of people waiting outside for the doors to open.
Heston’s student body showed up for our town’s bookshop in a way I couldn’t have dreamed when I first decided to do this event.
Tickets sold out and I heard from Candace earlier as she applied my makeup that people were looking for any available tickets on the local student-run Facebook group.
Rather than make any kind of speech, I opted to post a thank you sign by the ticket check in with all the words I’d be too nervous to say.
I smooth the elegant tiered fabric of my black gown, waiting for the event to begin. Everything is set. If I flit around the room to check on stuff again, the DJ I booked from Heston’s Music & Arts department will make good on his joking threat to glue my feet to the floor.
This is the first time I’ve slowed down all day and it’s hitting me that I pulled this off. Not only did ticket sales raise a lot, the college has matched my donation to keep Derby Bookshop in business.
Alex was the first person I wanted to tell when I opened the letter in my mailbox on my way out.
Once I bit the bullet and turned my phone on this morning, I ignored the missed calls and texts from him, only allowing myself one moment for my heart to twinge. The first thing I did was put his texts on mute and silence his calls before burying what happened in the back of my mind.
My whirlwind schedule has kept me busy all day, holding thoughts of him at bay. I’m glad Candace invited me to get ready with her and her friends to take my mind off the anxious thoughts doomscrolling in my head once I stop focusing on the spinning plates keeping me distracted.
I startle when music spills through the room. The fog machines in front of the DJ booth add to the magical purple lighting. I give him a sheepish wave. It’s time to let everyone in.
Poking my head through the arch of floating books and their pages, I give the ticket table volunteers a thumbs up. I hang back once people start to enter the room, rolling my lips between my teeth when their expressions fill with excitement.
Some people go to the wall I set up showcasing Derby Bookshop’s history with photos Mr. Derby gave me and older ones I pulled from the library.
Others find seats at the tables, taking photos of the book stack centerpieces.
It’s not long before someone discovers the photo booth set up with a fairytale background and a variety of crowns.
After twenty minutes, people are still entering in a steady stream, the room filling. For the first time ever, I’m not doing everything I can to avoid a crowd.
“Hey, girl!” Candace arrives with her sorority sisters. All of them look gorgeous. She leans in to kiss both my cheeks. “Oh my god, this looks so amazing. You did all this?”
I shrug. “A lot of vendors donated their services.”
“You did such a great job organizing this. We’re hitting up the photo booth first. You’ll do it with us, right?”
“In a little bit. Enjoy yourselves tonight.”
Candace holds up her arms and does a shimmying dance with her hips. “You know it. Where’s your man?”
“Oh.” I twist my fingers, the elbow-length gloves suddenly feeling silly and too hot. “I don’t know. He’s—”
“Late, but I promise I have a good excuse.”
I spin around, gaping at Alex. He’s here. He still came.
Shock arrows through me. I didn’t expect him to come after last night. I thought things were over.
His eyes lock on me, his handsome features shifting from relief to awe as he takes in my gown. “Hi, sweetheart.”
The devastating smile only adds to how good he looks in his suit.
“Hi,” I breathe.
“Well?” Candace prompts. I forgot she was there. “What’s the excuse for being late to your sweet girlfriend’s big event?”
Alex holds up a beautiful bouquet of flowers. “The two florist shops in town couldn’t take walk-ins, so I had to take a little road trip. Here, these are for you.”
“No one’s ever given me flowers.” It’s the first thing I blurt while admiring the mix of roses and sprigs of evergreen. My voice softens. “They’re so pretty. Thank you.”
“Nah, they’ve got nothing on you.” His tone is almost reverent and his piercing gaze holds mine.
“Don’t forget to find us later, lovers,” Candace says.
Neither of us look away as she leads her friends away. I swallow, willing my confused heart to calm down.
“You still came,” I say.
Alex furrows his brows. “Why wouldn’t I?
You came to my game to support me, of course I’m here for you.
I said I wanted to take you.” He gives me another appreciative once over, licking his lips.
He touches the gauzy ruffle in my tiered gown and rubs it between his fingers. “Wow. You really do look amazing.”
Our deal is over, I remind myself. “You look really nice, too.”
His shoulders relax. I realize how stiffly he was holding himself.
“When you didn’t answer my calls or texts last night or today, I was worried. I’m guessing you heard what Mike said when you left the room. I’m sorry.”
I slide my lips together and find an empty table near the back to set the flowers on. He follows me.
“You’re all I’ve thought about. I’ve been calling and texting.
I got up early to come see you, but you were already gone.
I’ve been running all over trying to find you today.
Then I ditched practice. Coach Lombard will probably burst a blood vessel next time he sees me.
Or my knee caps.” He rubs the bridge of his nose, averting his eyes.
“I would’ve been distracted the whole time if I went and probably would’ve walked out. ”
I twist my fingers together, surprised to hear he’d put in so much effort. I haven’t looked at his messages, too afraid of what they might say.
His gaze snaps back to mine and he steps into me, cupping the side of my neck. The uncertainty shrouding my heart battles with the need to lean into the touch.
“The whole time I wanted to be right here with you, sweetheart. Are you okay?”
The question throws me off. I don’t want to admit I spent a long time crying over him last night because there’s nothing between us except the agreement we made. It makes my chest constrict when he scans my face and runs his fingers over me as if there are physical wounds he can mend for me.
“Yes?”
“Yes?” he echoes in the same doubtful tone. “Shit. I knew I should have gone after you last night. After I punched out Mike, you were gone. Theo said I should let you cool off.”
I blink in shock. “You punched him?”
He pulls a face like that’s a given. “Of course I decked him. He ran his mouth about my girl. I wasn’t going to stand by and let anyone say that shit about you without catching my fist for it. The guys had to pull me off.”
I exhale unevenly, wishing this could be real.
“Alex, you’ve been kind to me.” I can’t look him in the eye.
It takes everything to get the words out while my heart clenches.
“It’s okay. Mike is… Well, he’s an asshole who can’t handle rejection.
Other than him, people haven’t bothered me at all.
We can finish this now. You don’t have to keep pretending you’re my boyfriend. ”
“Good.”
Oh. I try to swallow, but my throat is clogged. I hug myself. Cracks splinter through my heart, then it shatters all over again.