What—
I turned slowly, and my heart almost burst out of my chest when I spotted her.
“Holy shit,” Zane breathed. “She looks—”
“Incredible.” The black dress clung to Harleigh’s curves like a second skin, the delicate magenta flower pinned in her long glossy waves, the exact color of my shirt—my team.
She looked… fuck.
I couldn’t think, let alone form words.
Harleigh approached me, but stopped just short of touching distance. And holy shit, did I want to touch her.
“What do you think?” Slowly, she rotated in a full circle.
“You look… fuck.” I inched closer, needing to be near her. “Is this real?”
“I’m pretty sure I’m about to have a heart attack.” She grabbed my hand and pressed it right over the curve of her chest.
“You came…”
“I did. I wanted to be here to watch you crowned Homecoming King. And I wanted to get all the rumors and gossip over before I transfer back.”
My heart stuttered in my chest. “What did you say?”
“You heard me.” Harleigh gave me a coy smile.
“For real? You’re transferring back?”
She nodded. “I don’t belong at DA. I never did.”
“But it’s a good school. You can—”
“Too late. Michael already signed off on all the paperwork. As of Monday, I am officially a senior at Darling Hill High again.”
I picked her up and spun her around, her laughter better than any music to my ears. “I can’t believe you go here.”
“From Monday.” She chuckled as I lowered her back to the floor. “Technically, I’m gate-crashing right now.”
“What did Celeste say?”
Harleigh’s eyes flickered over to where Chloe and Celeste were busy talking to Kye, Zane, and some of the other players from the teams.
“He can’t take his eyes off her,” she murmured.
“Just because he thinks she’s hot doesn’t mean he’ll act on it.”
“It’s probably best he doesn’t.”
“You’re here.” I cupped her face, aware that people were staring. “Do you want to get out of here? I don’t care about a stupid fucking crown.” I only care about you.
“Let them stare, Nix. I want the world to know that Phoenix Wilder is mine.”
“Say that again.” The grin on my face spread.
“I want the world—”
“No, the part about me being yours.”