“I love you too, Rae.”
And as her hands brushed away tears I didn’t know I had been crying, I opened my eyes. I stared into hers. Into the loving eyes of the girl I’d come to love. The girl I had loved for weeks now.
“I love you with everything I am,” I whispered.
Epilogue
Raelynn
Four Months Later
Allison cupped her hand over her mouth. “Oh, my gosh.”
I smiled. “How do I look?”
“Rae! Are you insane right now?”
I laughed as she rushed over. She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tight. The tulle of her purple and pale yellow gown rushed against my legs as she jumped up and down, taking me with her. Jumping in heels while I stood there in flats, trying to make sure she didn’t knock me down.
“You. Look. Amazing. Oh, my gosh, Rae. Mom! Lucy! You guys! Get up here!”
Allison’s voice rang my ears as she finally released me. I stuck my finger in my ear and wiggled it around. But not too soon after that, the clicking of cameras filled the space around me. Flashes went off and I shielded my eyes. Allison got beside me and tried to pose me as best as she could. With my hand on my hip. With our arms around one another. One with us smiling, and one with us being serious. As if we were models.
“Allison, you’re killing me here.”
She sighed. “Just one more. Okay? One with our parents.”
I snickered as I went and stood beside my mother. She couldn't stop stealing glances. Shaking her head. Letting her eyes well with tears. I mean, I knew prom would be a big deal. But, all this crying? The squealing?
It was a bit much.
“You look amazing, sweetheart.”
I grinned. “Thanks, Mom.”
“I won’t make a big deal out of it. I’ve only taken a few. And I’ll only take one of us together.”
“I know you’ll steal some from Allison’s parents later.”
She snickered. “You’re damn right, I will.”
The two of us started laughing and I ignored the sounds of the cameras. Mom held her arms out for me and I hugged her tightly. I tried my best not to cry, too. Because Allison insisted I wear makeup for the night. She’d worked on my face for almost an hour, trying to get everything right. The last thing I needed I needed to be doing was ruining it with tears.
“I love you so much,” Mom whispered.
“I love you too, Mom.”
Allison called out. “Hey! Rae!”
I released Mom. “What?”
“Did someone order a limo?”
I paused. “No, why?”
“Because a limo just pulled into the driveway.”
All of us looked at one another before Mom and I started rushing down the steps. Allison and her parents weren’t too far behind us. And just as we got to the front door, the doorbell rang. Allison squealed her head off. I heard Michael laughing behind the door. But when Clint’s chuckle followed behind, I felt myself blush.