I’ve been dreaming about this night with Aubrey for months. This night . . . it’s all ours.

I feel beautiful. I feel like a woman.

Sure, part of it is the dress, red satin that hugs my upper body before dropping away into a full skirt with a high-low hemline, giving me an illusion of a train. Layers of mascara and glossy lips are framed by an upswept do that Marissa helped me style specifically so that a crown wouldn’t disturb it. If I get to wear one, that is.

I thought about wearing white, but Aubrey says I look great in red. He says that I remind him of strawberries and all he wants to do is gobble me up. So when I saw this dress, I knew it was the one.

“You look beautiful, Sis. If you don’t win prom queen, there’s no hope left in the world,” Trey says.

“You’re too sweet,” I say as I turn to him. “I’ll be excited if I win, but I’m not holding my breath.” Despite my casual front, I’m nervous as fuck. While I initially didn’t care, standing up there on Aubrey’s arm would feel so wonderful, and now I’m secretly hoping that dream comes true.

“Aubrey isn’t gonna know what hit him when he sees you,” Trey says.

Before I can respond, the doorbell rings and Trey runs to open it. “Mom, get the camera!” he yells.

“Hey, my future queen, your king is here!” Aubrey calls. I hurry toward the door, feeling a ball of nerves in the pit of my stomach. Aubrey hasn’t seen my dress and I hope he likes it. And I can’t wait to see him in his tux.

Aubrey’s jaw drops as I come into view, the red rose in his hand dropping for a moment before he regains his composure. “You’re so damn beautiful.”

“You look handsome yourself,” I manage to say through batted eyelashes as I reach him. He hands me the flower, and I feel a wave of faintness. “Thank you. I love it.”

“I spent an hour at the flower shop looking for one that I thought would be as perfect as you,” Aubrey says, unable to take his eyes from me, “and I’m happy to say I failed. You’ve never looked lovelier than you do at this moment.”

His words calm my nerves, and he pulls me in for a kiss, our lips light for now because I want to preserve my makeup, but it still takes my breath away.

Suddenly, I remember we’re not alone as I hear the click-click-click of my mom taking pictures and pull back. “So cute. Now, Aubrey, hold the flower again . . . click . . . now Ana, take the rose . . .” It goes on forever, Mom directing poses and taking pictures to commemorate the night.

Finally, Trey intercedes on my behalf. “Mom, they’re gonna be late.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize how long I was taking. You kids have fun, be good!” Mom says, her voice high with a note of happiness but I can see the bittersweet tears in her eyes. Her last baby is almost done with high school and leaving in mere weeks for college in another state. All things considered, I’m happy to take a few extra pictures for her.

I give everyone a hug, and Aubrey shakes their hands, both Trey and my dad giving him a bonus glare, knowing that prom night is supposed to be special for every girl and warning him without a word to not fuck it up.

“Come on, or else we’ll be late,” I say.

Aubrey helps me into his truck, all freshly-cleaned for the occasion. We meet the rest of our group in the parking lot, mostly Aubrey’s teammates and their dates. Marissa and Declan are the last to get there. I’d been surprised when she’d told me Declan had asked her, since they barely talk, but apparently, they’d decided to go as friends and it worked out since we’re all part of the same larger group.

The prom committee did a number on the gym, turning it into an island paradise with tulle streamers along the ceiling and palm trees around the basketball court dance floor. Even the punch has little umbrellas. It’s not over the top but lends a fun flair to the festivities.

Everyone’s looking their best, wearing dresses and tuxes that turn even the normal into something extraordinary. More than once, I have to do a double-take as I realize just who’s crossing the room. “Jeez, it’s like everyone is a different person. Everyone looks amazing.”

Aubrey laughs, sending a thrill down my spine. “And for every look you’re giving, you’re getting four or five. But there’s only one that matters. I can’t take my eyes off you, baby.”

“Thank you, though I’m still so nervous that I’m going insane,” I reply. “It just feels like a huge buzz in here tonight! Like anything could happen.”

“I know. Come on, I can at least solve your nerves,” Aubrey says as the DJ starts playing Sexy Back. Dragging me out on the dance floor, I’m quickly laughing and turned on as Aubrey moves like a cat, little touches and moves combining to send my pulse racing and my nipples tightening in my dress. “Enjoying yourself?”

“You know exactly what you’re doing to me,” I reply as he starts grinding behind me. I feel him press against my ass, and I gasp, looking back. “Are you popping wood back there? Careful,” I say with a wink. “This is prom.”

Aubrey growls in my ear. “That was my phone, but yes, I am. And you know what’s coming after.”

I do. And I can’t wait.

The song transitions, and after a few seconds, I realize the DJ is slowing the pace down. “May I?” Aubrey asks, pulling my hands behind his neck and then settling his on my hips.

I nod, swaying back and forth with him, memorizing the moment.

As the song wraps up, Mrs. Vereen, the school’s French teacher, takes the stage and grabs the microphone. “And now, Great Falls High, it’s time for Prom King and Queen!”

After applause, Mrs. Vereen continues. “Thank you to all who were nominated, and all who voted . . .” she begins her speech.

Aubrey gives my hand a squeeze. “We got this.”

“And now the new Queen of Great Falls is . . . Anabelle Tucker!”

I’m shocked, sure she made some mistake as the cheers start. Aubrey, though, sounds totally unsurprised. “Great job, my Sweet Ana. Now go on up there and get the throne warmed up. I’ll be right behind you.”

I nod, grinning widely as I walk up on stage. Mrs. Vereen, who was a pretty cool teacher, actually, grins back. “Our new Prom Queen!”

The crowd goes wild as Vicki Washington, the student council president, crowns me and hands me my scepter. I look out on the crowd, laughing as I do my best ‘Princess’ wave, mostly blinded by the lights. Everyone and everything’s just a dazzled dark blur in my eyes.

“Now, on to the King,” Mrs. Vereen says. “This one’s no surprise, but there is no doubt Great Falls High has spoken! Our new King is none other than Aubrey O’Day!”

I’m hopping up and down, clapping as the crowd cheers wildly, watching the direction he should be coming from.

The cheering continues, Mrs. Vereen speaking again. “Aubrey, come up here and accept your crown and new queen!”

The clapping starts to turn nervous as Aubrey doesn’t appear, and the spotlights swing off me enough to see him talking on his phone, his face white. Before anyone can say anything, he turns, shoving people out of the way to get to the doors.

“Aubrey!” Mrs. Vereen calls out as panic grips my heart.

I don’t know what I’m doing as I grab the microphone from Mrs. Vereen. “Aubrey? Where are you going?”

But Aubrey doesn’t respond and disappears, the door to the gym swinging closed, leaving me just . . . stunned. Why is he leaving me, deserting me in our special moment? Everyone is looking and the crowd starts to mutter.

“Aubrey!” I call out one more time, tears starting to flow. I’m so scared, and in the back of the crowd, I can hear someone start to laugh. The embarrassment starts to set in as I realize people are openly gawking, smirking and laughing . . . at me.

I turn, running from the stage to hide behind the curtain. Vaguely, I hear Mrs. Vereen directing everyone to resume dancing in honor of their prom king and queen, and the tears fall as giant sobs rack my body.

Marissa is at my side in an instant, gathering me to her and asking the question I want the answer to as well. “What happened? Where’d he go?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. I don’t know.”

She holds me, rocking me back and forth until Declan comes running up. He skids to a stop near us, obviously not sure what to do with a crying girl. But he rallies. “I tried to catch him, Ana. I tried. But he ran out and squealed out of the parking lot. He’s . . . he’s gone.”