Before
Em
EM WATCHED OUT THE window as Shae’s SUV rolled up the drive. She hurried down her steps, clutching the railing as her high heels clacked against the wood.
“Mom, Dad—They’re here,” she hollered back at them as she flung the front door open.
Shae stepped out of the SUV first, her onyx dress skimming mid-thigh.
It was simple, but it was heartstopping.
Her hair fell loose over her shoulders, all but the halo braid pinned around her crown, tiny white flowers woven through it.
Her mini diamond hoop earrings caught the light as she moved closer.
She looked stunning. Excitement bubbled in Em’s chest, a giggle bursting from her.
“Oh my God, you look stunning!” Lennon called, drawing Em’s attention over as she hopped out behind Shae. “My parents followed us here, by the way. They want pictures.” She warned as she stumbled toward Em in her heels.
Em could hardly hold her attention on anything else; she was completely captivated. Drawn to Shae like a lighthouse beam cutting through fog. She gravitated toward her, her feet moving in Shae’s direction. Lennon cut in.
“Bring it in for a hug.”
“Oh. Okay.” Em said, leaning in to Lennon. “You look gorgeous, too.” Lennon’s dress followed the same cut as Shae’s, only hers was a soft pearl color, luminous in the fading light.
“Thanks. I convinced Shae to twinsie with me. Well kinda. It works, since we aren’t identical either.” Lennon nudged Shae. “She’s being a good sport about it.”
Shae rolled her eyes, but she didn’t deny it. It was kind of endearing to see her do something she knew would make her sister happy. This was one of the things she adored about Shae; she would fight it, but in the end, she wanted to do what would make the people around her feel important.
“This is for you,” Shae said, handing Em a clear plastic container. Nestled inside was a single white peony, its layered petals were full and delicate.
“From the garden.” She flushed.
“I know where it’s from, silly.” Em blinked up at her, drawing in her lower lip and grazing it across her top teeth. “So, you’re making me grow my own corsages, now?” She joked.
“Technically, Greg kept it alive. So...”
Her gaze traveled unhurried from Em’s eyes down to the hem of her dress.
Heat crept up Em’s neck, and she glanced down instinctively, smoothing a hand over the soft, baby blue fabric of her dress.
Shae took Em's hand. “Here,” she said, lifting their joined hands above Em’s head. “Spin for me.”
It was magical. Like when Em was a little girl playing make-believe in her bedroom. Like what she thought about when she thought of perfect.
Em shook her head, grinning so wide her cheeks hurt. She hesitated, then gave a dramatic little twirl. It was sort of embarrassing with everyone around, but Em felt safe to just be with Shae, and now, in particular, she was especially giddy.
“You look divine, darling. Dazzling. Exquisite.” Shae teased, her opposite hand pressed to her chest.
Em snorted. “Stop.” She didn’t really want her to stop. Even though everyone was watching. Shae rarely dared to let go like this when anyone was watching; she was going to soak in every minute of it.
Shae gently tugged her hand, pulling Em in close.
Her arms slid around her waist, holding her there as they swayed a moment.
This is where Em wished she could always be, wrapped safely in her arms. Shae’s scent floated up—like fresh ocean air with a touch of citrus.
Em inhaled deeply, allowing the fragrance to soothe her senses.
“You’re beautiful,” Shae said into her ear.
Em’s stomach flipped, her eyes drifting closed as their cheeks brushed softly. Shae hovered, her lips whisper soft against Em’s cheek, before drawing away, their eyes meeting before swiftly darting away.
The Hemingways pulled up to the curb outside the Lauchners’ residence, and Em’s parents swept across the lawn to greet them.
They gathered everyone for group photos, then couple poses, siphoning as many pictures as they could get out of them.
Everyone piled into the SUV, their parents waving them off.
Em took the front seat, the excitement inside the vehicle palpable.
The ballroom of the hotel was unlike anything they’d ever seen.
Navy and silver streamers swept across the ceiling in soft arcs threaded with tiny pin lights that looked like constellations.
Iridescent stars hung suspended from almost invisible wire, catching the glow of the chandeliers that had been dimmed down.
The marble floors reflected the ceiling, doubling the illusion.
A gold banner shimmered above the stage in front of the DJ stand that read, A Night Under The Stars.
Em stopped at the entrance, tilting her head toward the ceiling, and Shae followed. Goosebumps trailed up Em’s arms. It was all so magical.
“Okay, this is insane,” Em said softly.
Kira pushed through the group, her date trailing behind her. “Come on, guys. Let’s get out there. What are we waiting for?”
Seth followed behind Kira, pushing his date toward the dancefloor. She was a smaller auburn-haired girl who didn’t go to their school, but was sweet, and it already felt like she belonged. They were friends, Seth made that very clear to anyone who would listen.
“Hemingway,” Em said, wriggling her brows. She extended her arm out, her hand dangling gracefully, awaiting Shae’s. A small chuckle rolled out of Shae as she took it.
“I hope you stretched before this, Cali. We’re gonna be going long and hard. I’m gonna need you to keep up.”
Em sure hoped she kept that promise. She laughed, “Work me out, Coach.”
They followed the rest of the group to the dance floor, the music vibrating beneath them.
Lennon immediately abandoned her heels, holding them above her head as her dress twisted beneath her. Her energy was wild, like she had nothing to prove. Both Shae and Lennon had that quality. Though Em had seen Shae become less so through the years.
Brodie clapped off rhythm, smiling as his eyes swept across the room. Unbothered by his own lack of dance skills.
Shae took Em’s hand, spinning her beneath the lights before dipping her low, causing Em’s short dress to ride up. Shae’s eyes widened as she swiftly moved to tug the hem back down, her cheeks pinking.
Which Em thought was incredibly endearing. It made her want to grab her by the face and plant one on her—forget about who was watching.
Seth tore up the dance floor, his date giggling as he swung her around, swooping her through the air like a rag doll.
“Oh, this is our song,” Kira yelled to Shae. Pointing as she danced over. She pulled Shae into the middle of their circle of friends, the two of them leaping into the air on rhythm, their hands clasped together.
Em giggled off to the side, swaying on her own.
Lennon shimmied over, turning to twerk against her.
Em went with it, smacking Lennon’s ass then throwing her head back in a full-bodied laugh.
Brodie tried his best to keep up with everyone.
He pulled into the middle of the group, doing his own little twerk.
“I’m dead,” Lennon said, clutching at her sides. She whipped him around, throwing herself into a kiss. Em laughed, dancing at the edge of their little circle.
“I don’t ever want to see you do a move like that again, Brodes,” Kira shouted. “I’d rather go blind.”
Shae discoed up to Em, her face lit with joy. She slung her arm around Em’s shoulder.
“What’s our next play because I’m pretty sure Brodie just upped the game with that ridiculous move.”
Em chuckled. “I’m not sure, Coach. Do you know the running man?”
“Oh, pulling out 90’s dance moves? That’s great tactical defense. My specialty too… But do you know the kid n’ play?”
Em shrugged. “Fake it ‘til you make it?” she giggles, her smile beginning to ache in her cheeks.
“I’ll allow it.”
Em bit her lip as Shae moved in front of her, attempting to teach her the dance.
The two of them making fools of themselves on the dance floor.
Em didn’t mind. She was buzzing, not a care in the world.
So alive. It had been a while since she’d seen Shae be this free, and she wasn’t going to let it go to waste.
The music slowed, turning softer, more intimate. Their friends paired up around them almost instinctively.
Amber drifted up beside them with her ex-girlfriend, Mia, tucked against her side. She leaned in, whispering to Amber, and Amber giggled. Her arm slid to Mia’s waist, guiding her closer as Mia relaxed against her, resting her head on Amber’s shoulder as they swayed.
Em followed Shae’s line of vision. Watching as Shae’s expression shadowed with an emotion Em had never seen on her before.
Shae was typically good-spirited, her humor dry and full of wit.
She was rarely chaotic or moody, but lately Em had noticed a change in her.
She’d begun to withdraw more, to pull away when she was near, and that stung.
Shae bit at the inside of her cheek, her eyes drifting across the dancefloor.
Em stepped closer. “What will it be, hmm?” She tilted her head at Shae, sensing her hesitation. “You wanna sit this one out?” Em didn’t want to sit this one out. From the moment they’d decided to go to prom together, she’d been holding some fragile hope on how this would land.
In some version of the night—her version—they wouldn’t hesitate. They’d already be swaying, close enough that it didn’t feel like asking others’ permission; the decision was theirs alone. They would let go and allow this—them—to happen.
She knew now that Shae had feelings for her; she’d said as much, and that should be enough to anchor Em—but it wasn’t.
Em could feel the urge to push the topic or decide for both of them—but she held it in. Because caring about Shae meant not rushing her. Even when so much of her wanted this to be more.