The me from just a few months ago would never in a million years wear a simple dress to any wedding, especially not my own. And yet, here I am. And I don't care about any of the trappings of who I was before I met Crosby, because at the end of the garden path is the beginning of my whole life.
I may be the Queen Bee, but Crosby is the king.
Not that I would ever tell anybody that.
27
Crosby
I wonder if anyone before Ridley has shown up to prom with a husband before.
I wonder if any of the other prom chaperones are secretly here to keep an eye on their girl?
The swim coach, Weston Ford, hovers by the punch table, and I’m a little star struck. I never attended this school but that doesn’t mean I haven’t heard of him. I half expected him to be on the Olympic team by now.
I reach for a glass and pour a glass of punch for my girl.
Weston smiles and nods at me. Then, to my complete shock, he points at me and looks quizzical. “Hey, you’re that game designer, right?”
I nod, explaining that he’s probably seen me around school.
“No,” he said. “Well, yeah, I have, but I haven’t had a chance to introduce myself. I’m pretty much hooked on your games. I read an interview with you on CNet. I just hadn’t worked up the courage to talk to you yet.”
My jaw drops. Never has anyone recognized me out in public from that article.
With as much shit as my now-wife gives me about my nerdy career, and about all the stacks of games I have lying around, I have to admit it feels pretty good to my ego. Pretty soon, Weston and I are geeking out over each other in a mutual bromance love fest.
28
Ridley
Just like on New Year’s Eve, I find myself scanning the room again for the sake of looking out for Maddie…or Addie…something.
She seems to be involved in conversation with Hunter, and Crosby seems to be deeply involved in conversation with Coach Ford. I use this opportunity to talk to Roland about what his intentions are with that other girl.
I plop down next to him at his table, and take the flask out of his pocket to get his attention and smell it. “Hey,” he drawls. “What the hell?”
I smirk as I hang on to it and hold it away from him, although he could easily snatch it back. “What is it you think you’re doing with that girl from the swim team?”
He guffaws, sounding either drunk or high. “Why? You jealous?”
I huff. “Hardly. I know you’re just using her to get back at me for dumping you last year. So get over it and leave her alone. She might be a goody-goody, but she doesn’t deserve to be played with like that. Besides, I’m pretty sure Coach Ford will kick your ass if you mistreat her.”
He reaches for the flask again. I try to hold it away but he’s stronger than me and takes it back. Just then, his date returns and, to everyone’s shock, asks for a drink from the flask. “There’s my girl!” Roland says, sounding as fake as ever. “Where’ve you been all my life?”
I hiss at him. “Shut up. We don’t want the newbie drawing attention to what we’re doing.”
In the next second, Hunter comes back to collect her friend, and Roland pulls me to my feet and tries to slow dance with me. I let him for a little while, but then he starts to get handsy. Well, better me than his sweet, innocent date.
When I push against him, he reacts even stronger and walks us forcefully away from the dance floor. His body closes in on me. It’s then I realize we’re in a dark corner of the ballroom. This was probably a mistake.
29
Crosby
When the conversation ends, Ridley’s punch is warm. I go to slam it down and refill it so as not to let anything go to waste. But my hand crushes the empty plastic cup when something at the other end of the ballroom catches my eye.
Roland Peek, my wife’s ex-boyfriend and loser extraordinaire, is cornering Ridley behind the ficus tree.