Blake got in and the eng
ine roared to life. They flew down the highway back to town and before she knew it, they were pulling into the high school parking lot. He pulled up to the curb of the front entrance. “Here, I’ll drop you off, then go park. Those heels are pretty high and you need to be able to dance all night.”
Ivy laughed as he opened her door and helped her out. “I’ll keep that in mind.” The Stuart Weitzman navy satin slingbacks weren’t her highest heels, but they weren’t her most comfortable ones, either. They were super cute with Swarovski crystals on the heel, and they went with her dress. That was more important than comfort.
Blake pulled away and Ivy looked around. “Oh my goodness,” she said as she spied the uniformed police officer at the door of the school. “Is that you, Simon?”
The young man straightened up and gave Ivy his most stern-looking face. “That’s Officer Chamberlain to you, ma’am.”
Ivy smiled. “Since when do they let fifteen-year-olds into the police force?”
“It’s been a long time since I was fifteen, Ivy.” The young Chamberlain smiled, reminding her so much of Blake at that age. Blake had a larger build from playing football, but the charming smile and blue Chamberlain eyes were just the same. “I’m going to be twenty-two come January.”
“That’s impossible,” Ivy said with a teasing tone. “You couldn’t even get a driver’s permit the last time I saw you.”
“That means you need to come visit more often!”
“You’re right, I do. Pardon me, Officer Chamberlain. Is it a crime to hug a man of the law? I’m unarmed.”
“Not at all, ma’am.”
Ivy leaned in to give Blake’s youngest brother a big hug. He’d gotten so big since she saw him last. He had always been her favorite of Blake’s siblings. Blake was the oldest, the football star and town golden boy. Next were the twins, Mitchell and Madelyn. They’d been in the same grade with Ivy. Mitchell was always very serious and studious, never really interested in chatting when Ivy came over. Blake had told her that he was away at med school. His twin, Maddie, had always been a brat, and she’d joined Lydia in making life difficult for Ivy at Rosewood High. Grant was girl crazy. Hazel was preoccupied with her dolls and books. Simon was the sweetheart who looked up to his big brother Blake like an idol.
“You’re looking good, Simon. Are you on duty all night, or can I have a dance later?”
A faint blush rose to his cheeks. “I’m on duty until two thirty. I’ll have to take a rain check on that dance.”
Blake came up behind Ivy and gave his brother a hard clap on the shoulder. “Whatcha think of my date, bro? Pretty hot, huh?”
Simon continued to blush as he looked Ivy over. It made her wonder if perhaps he’d had a little crush on her as a boy and she never noticed.
“She looks even hotter than she does on television.”
“You’re so sweet,” Ivy said. Several couples went past them into the dance. “We’d better get inside before Gloria starts to panic. Have a good night, Officer Chamberlain.”
Blake ushered her into the dance with a palm on her lower back. Ivy waited while he turned over their tickets and told the woman at registration to let Gloria and Otto know they were both there.
Inside, they passed through a cascade of metallic streamers and into the high school cafeteria. Ivy was surprised to see how much the committee had transformed the space. The lights were dimmed, with multicolored disco lights shining down from overhead. There were crepe paper streamers all over the place, and there was even an area for prom photos with a balloon arch framing the shot.
A stage was set up with another metallic curtain of streamers behind it to block the windows where students normally ordered food. To one side was the DJ, complete with an unfortunate Flock of Seagulls–style hairdo. He was currently playing Prince’s “Little Red Corvette,” which seemed appropriate given their mode of transportation for the night.
Ivy realized that tacky clothes aside, she should be happy this was an eighties-themed dance. If he stuck to the music of that era, there wouldn’t be any unfortunate incidents with Ivy’s infamous hit. There was a good crowd of people there, although no one was dancing yet. It was still too early. Most folks were just milling around and chatting.
On the opposite side of the stage from the DJ were the thrones for the prom king and queen, the same as she remembered from high school.
Blake led Ivy over to a table at the edge of the room where Grant was already seated with his date, a woman Ivy didn’t recognize. Blake had been right about his tuxedo. It was awful. It had black pants and a rust-colored jacket with black buttons and piping along the lapel and pockets. The ivory shirt underneath had ruffles down the center with matching rust thread on the edges.
Ivy bit her lip trying not to laugh. She got the chance to turn away when Blake leaned down to speak to her over Prince’s cries blaring from the speakers.
“Do you want some punch?”
“Sure,” she said. “I’m going to walk around a little bit.”
“I’ll find you.” Blake turned and disappeared across the room to the refreshments table.
Ivy waved at Grant and his anonymous girl before turning and taking a stroll around the edge of the room. She was too nervous about tonight to sit idly. Gloria had assured her that none of the paps would be allowed into the dance—that was probably why Simon was outside—but that didn’t make her feel much better. They’d find their way in, one way or another.
She waved at people, weaving around tables and decorations. She saw Pepper and Brian getting their picture taken. Pepper was right. He’d gone from nerd to geek chic, quite the handsome guy these days.