Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Even though we’d been dating for a while, I was nervous about asking her. What if she said no? Or didn’t like the way I’d asked? What if her parents told her she couldn’t go? I wasn’t sure her parents even liked me; I thought they only tolerated me because it was easier than fighting with their daughter about our relationship.
My fears were eased when Eleni said yes before I could even utter the words.
Weston took me to rent my tux. We drove to Manchester, where most of the chain retailers were. He said it would be easier because the selection would be better. Eleni’s dress was hot pink or electric pink, and she had provided a swatch—whatever that was—so everything could match.
I wanted to rent a limo, but being a two-sport athlete hadn’t left me much time to work. Thankfully, Toni said she would pay for it and encouraged me to ask my friends if they wanted to pitch in. At first, I didn’t want to because being alone with Eleni was a priority, but I relented and asked Flinn and Malik if they wanted to share the cost. Flinn asked a girl from a couple of towns over to go with him, and Malik planned to bring Janelle, but she didn’t want to go to prom. He was going stag. I didn’t think that was fair to him, especially since he and Janelle were no longer a couple. She’d broken things off after word spread that she was pregnant. Malik was confused and hurt but wasn’t going to pressure her into anything. He’d been working every chance he could so he could help Janelle with the baby. I was surprised he still wanted to go to prom or be the fifth wheel in the limo. Eleni said Malik might want to ride in the limo for the experience.
Toni was cooking dinner for my friends. We were having roasted chicken and potatoes with a cream sauce, steamed broccoli, and a dinner salad. For dessert, Samira had made these massive cupcakes. They’d arrived earlier in the day and taunted me every time I went into the kitchen to bug Toni.
She slapped my hand when I tried to taste the cream sauce. I couldn’t help it. Everything smelled so good, and even though she hated cooking, Toni could cook, now that she’d practiced almost every night. She’d already started teaching me and Nova how to make things from scratch.
Living with Toni was a lot different from my mom. Sometimes they were the same, but they parented differently. Granted, Toni was flying by the seat of her pants. According to her, she had a good support system in place, and since coming to Grove Hill, she’d made friends with Samira, Vera, and Edith. They even kept up their “book club” nights.
Nova and I had the same chores as before, and we had rules. Some were new, like I had to tell Toni where I was at all times. She worried, especially when she was in Boston for work and wouldn’t be home until late. Homework had to be done as soon as I got home from school, and we weren’t allowed to use the word “fine” when asked how we were doing or how school was. This was something she’d learned from our therapist.
“Everything ready for tonight?” she asked as she gently nudged me away from the stove. “Tux is hanging up?”
“Yep.” I went to the cupboard and took out one of the many water tumblers we had. That was another thing that had changed. Toni didn’t trust the water in the well since my mom had gotten so sick. We were having a water filtration system put in and had one of those water jug things in the corner. She used the water dispenser for drinking and cooking.
The other thing that had changed was we were moving into Weston’s temporarily while the house was being remodeled. We needed new electrical wiring, a roof, and subflooring, and a couple of the walls needed to be replaced due to aging plaster or something. Weston was paying for all of this, and since Nova and I owned the house, we didn’t have to pay him back until we’d sold.
If we ever sold.
Weston was moving in with us once the remodel was done as well, and I didn’t mind. I liked the idea of having a man around, not only to help me but to protect Nova and Toni.
Once my tumbler was filled, I secured the lid and went to the refrigerator. I wasn’t hungry but bored. I sighed as I stood there.
“What are you looking for?”
“Nothing. Everything,” I said as Toni laughed. “Why are there flowers in here?”
“Those are from Vera. She did Eleni’s corsage.”
I took the clear plastic container out and studied it. There were three roses. Two were white and one bright pink, with pink ribbon wrapped around it, making a bow.