At five thirty, Leigh stood in front of her dresser, admiring the handiwork of the day spa artists. French manicured nails, makeup, hair swept up and held back with a sparkly headband. Jo had insisted she get a stylish hairdo. It sure didn’t go with her T-shirt and shorts. Jesse would be picking her up in half an hour, so she had to wear something that fit her pampering better.
The longer she browsed through her wardrobe, however, the more she groaned. Work had been her priority for so long that most everything she had could be classified as business casual. She finally settled on a black silk blouse that could pass as less business and more casual without her usual blazer. It would go well with her jeans. The new black strappy heels would look good with it too.
"Comfortable yet fashionable, and not too tall in the heel, please," Jo had insisted to the shoe store clerk.
The poor guy had looked confused, and after a half dozen tries, he eventually emerged from the stock room with just the right ones. Leigh wouldn’t be able to wear them for hours on end without her feet hurting, but they were some of the most comfortable heels she’d ever worn. Granted, she didn't wear heels often.
“Not bad,” Leigh said, giving herself a final check in the mirror. She grabbed her black clutch purse and came into the kitchen.
Jo and Roscoe were deep in quiet conversation at the table. They both looked up and beamed smiles at her.
Then Jo shook her head, frowning. “You can’t go out like that.”
“Yeah, that’s all wrong, young lady. We can’t allow it.” Roscoe was trying to sound stern, but a smile flickered on his lips.
Leigh stared down at her clothes and shrugged. “What, did I miss a button or something?”
“No, you look lovely, Leelee, but you’d look even lovelier in this.” Jo stood and took a garment bag off the hook behind the door. She cleared her throat, and Roscoe got up. He held the hanger while Jo unzipped the garment bag. Inside hung a plum, off the shoulder evening dress.
Leigh’s jaw dropped. She tentatively touched it, sliding her fingers down the cool, smooth fabric. “How fancy is this place Jesse’s taking me? I don’t think there are any restaurants in town that require this kind of dress code.”
“Time’s wasting,” Jo said, turning her around and pushing her back toward the hallway. “Let’s get this on you. I’ll help you zip up.”
“I haven’t tried it on,” Leigh protested. “How do we know it’ll fit?”
Jo didn’t answer, which was all the answer Leigh needed.
“Avery sent this, didn’t she?”
“Of course.”
Not a surprise that her fashion-obsessed friend would be in on this. Whatever this was. She insisted on keeping Leigh’s measurements up-to-date for fashion emergencies. Though Leigh didn’t know how this would qualify as an emergency. It was just a dinner date at a restaurant that probably used cloth napkins and had bathroom attendants. They'd have to drive to Louisville to find a place like that. She smiled. A two-hour ride with Jesse? She could think of worse ways to spend a couple hours.
Five minutes later, Leigh was tucked inside the elegant dress. It fit perfectly, thanks to Avery’s OCD quarterly measurements. Jo finished zipping it up and stood behind her at the dresser. Jo’s eyes welled with tears. She rubbed Leigh’s shoulders and sighed.
“Oh, Leelee, you look so beautiful.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
Truth be known, she hadn’t worn anything like this since the disastrous senior prom. Her eyes told her she did indeed look great in it, but her mind kept bringing up memories of being drenched and running from the embarrassment. This time, though, her hair wasn’t fresh off remission. She’d spent a long time growing it out and giving it so much TLC, it didn’t have a choice but to be full and healthy.
“It is a beautiful gown,” she admitted. “But obviously, you know something I don’t. Spill it, Mum.”
“I plead the fifth.”
The doorbell rang. Both women jumped.
Jo giggled and bounced up and down on her tiptoes. “He’s here!”
“How do I look? Am I missing anything?”
“Not a thing. Let’s go greet your date, shall we?” Jo hurried down the hall, calling over her shoulder. “Hurry, you’ll be late.”
“Late for what?” Leigh knew running was out of the question thanks to her amateur heel-wearing status. She fast-walked as best she could, wobbling a bit, but able to stay upright so she didn’t do a face-plant in front of Jesse.
Roscoe had the kitchen door open and stood by it, a big smile crinkling the wrinkles around his eyes. He looked like he might cry. What was up with them? Sure, she’d never been on an actual date, but did it warrant this amount of fuss?
As she got closer, a man’s blurry form stood beyond the humidity-covered glass of their storm door. Roscoe opened it to reveal a tuxedo, and inside that, an amazingly handsome Jesse Maddox. Gooseflesh prickled along her arms and legs. This man was hot. Seriously, mind-numbingly hot.
His gaze found hers, and his eyes widened. His smile went slack.
“What? Did I spill something on my dress?” She covered her nose. “A bat in the cave? Mum, do I have a bat in the cave?”
“No, you’re fine.” Jo leaned close and whispered, “I think he’s just smitten.”
With a quick shake of his head, Jesse snapped out of his daze and flashed a pearly white smile. “You’re…just…wow.”
Leigh smiled back, ducking her head as heat climbed up her cheeks. Lower, her stomach fluttered, and lower still, she ached with a need she had felt on the dock with Jesse. Her fingers twitched. She could imagine them freeing those black buttons on his jacket, whipping his bowtie off in one silken swipe, not sparing the shirt or its buttons. She could rip that right off to uncover a firm block of man, warm and willing to take her again and again. One look into Jesse’s eyes told her he might be imagining a very similar scenario. Oh crap. Her parents had witnessed their mating time on the Serengeti ritual. Her cheeks flamed.
Gotta go.
“Thanks,” she muttered, stepping out on the porch. “I’m ready if you….” Her gaze landed on a long, black car at the curb, the paint job polished to perfection. A guy in a suit and black hat waited by an open rear door. “What is that?”
“A limo,” Jesse answered matter-of-factly.
“I know what it is, but why are we taking that?”
“Because you deserve it.” He took her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed her knuckles.
Leigh risked a glance over her shoulder, then wished she hadn’t. Jo was all snuggled up under Roscoe's arm, dreamy-eyed, dabbing her cheeks with a tissue.
Roscoe’s chest puffed out like a proud papa. “Gave the limo guy a great deal on a Suburban.”
The driver replied with a thumbs-up.
Jo gasped. “We have to take pictures.” She rushed back into the kitchen.
“No, that’s not necess…”
Jo had already returned, cell phone in hand. “Okay, you two, go out to the sidewalk.”
Jesse offered his arm, and Leigh took it, casting him a what-the-hell glance. He grinned. Once they reached their photo op spot, they turned around while Jo held up the phone with trembling hands. Jesse slid his arm around Leigh, taunting that fiery need monster inside her. She slipped her arm around him, her hand resting at the soft rise where his back merged into a perfect, firm butt. Her fingers dug into the fabric of his jacket to keep them from roaming any farther. He glanced down at her with a one-sided grin and molded his fingers to the curve of her waist.
“Bee’s knees!” Jo said, invoking her old trick to make Leigh smile for photos when she didn’t feel like smiling. It still worked. She snapped the photo, then held the phone down, shielding it from the evening sun. “Perfect.”
“Ready to go?” Jesse asked, giving her waist one more squeeze that suggested he’d like to squeeze a lot more than that.
“Oh yeah. But where the heck are we going all dolled up like this?”
“You’ll see.”
Leigh let out a frustrated groan then hugged Jo lightly and waved to Roscoe where he stood on the porch, his chin trembling. Did all dads cry over their daughter’s first date? Being out of the loop on the dating scene had never been so frustrating before now.
“Go and have fun, Leelee,” Jo said, nudging her toward the limo.
Leigh groaned again. “Fine, let’s go already. This better be a darn good dinner.”
The driver bowed slightly and swept a white-gloved hand toward the red leather seats and velvet interior. Leigh held up her skirt and climbed in, accepting Jesse’s hand to assist. She scooted over to make room for him. The cab smelled like Febreze and the faint hint of champagne. Many a bottle had probably overflowed in there. And many a make-out session following that.
Jesse slid into the seat beside her. The driver closed the door and within a few seconds, they were pulling away from the curb and off to their top-secret dinner date. They waved through the dark tinted windows to her parents.
The moment the limo pulled out of the neighborhood, Jesse picked up Leigh’s hand and kissed her knuckles again. “You’re gorgeous.”
“Thanks. You’re....” Her eyes were glued on his lips as he turned over her hand and brushed them over her wrist. Featherlight kisses sent tingles up her arm and straight into her core, which brought on a full-body shiver. “You’re h-hot.”
"I'm what?" he said against her skin.
She mumbled some unintelligible syllables. Say werdz, Leigh. "Uh...you're cute. Handsome. Hot. Yeah, that."
He lifted his head with a mischievous grin. His fingers brushed her cheek. She captured his hand, turned it over, and pressed her lips to his wrist as he had done, smiling at his sudden intake of breath. His racing pulse vibrated beneath her kiss. This kind of power could be intoxicating if she wasn’t careful.
Then again, why should she be careful?
Leigh guided his hand to the side of her breast. Her nipples peaked against the pasties covering them. She’d been self-conscious about wearing such scanty things, afraid a boob would pop out at the wrong moment. But now, it seemed like the perfect moment to have a wardrobe malfunction.
Jesse’s relaxed eyes flew wide open. He chuckled and slid the divider window between them and the driver closed. The driver’s amused expression was reflected in the rearview mirror before he was out of sight.
Leigh let out a quiet gasp and whispered, “Do you think he saw us?”
“We haven't done anything that naughty...yet,” Jesse said, pulling her close. He searched her eyes a moment before taking her lips in a deep kiss.
Wet heat unfurled between her legs. Most virgins would have been nervous, but most virgins weren’t twenty-four-year-old counselors either. Her body had lived in silent hunger for too long. Why deprive it any longer?
Jesse reached down toward the floorboard. His hand disappeared beneath the hem of her skirt. Warm fingers skipped up her bare leg. Breaking from the kiss, she sucked in a breath, not from shock, but from the sensation. Simple, yet intimate, every millimeter he drew closer to her sex brought on a more intense ache. Her legs parted of their own accord. His lips roved along her jaw and down her neck. Head held back to give him better access, she moaned quietly as his soft, warm lips settled on her pulse. He sucked gently, licked her skin while his fingers reached her inner thigh. They brushed against the front panel of her thong, another item Jo had insisted upon so no panty lines showed. Had her mother wanted her to lose her virginity tonight? What kind of bizarro world did she live in?
His hand went still then withdrew. Warm breath swept across her cheek. “I’m sorry. I had meant to be a gentleman. At least for now.”
Jesse sat back, eyes closed, head resting against the back of the seat. His chest rose and fell as though trying to calm himself.
Leigh’s heart thudded so hard, she feared it might jump right out of her and land on his lap. The reason for his deep breathing became obvious when she looked at his crotch. So surreal—this effect she had on him. But she wanted more. She wanted to experience what it was like to take a man completely over the edge, to know how it felt when he drove her there too.
Except she didn’t want to ruin this beautiful gown, nor did she wish to contribute to some of the questionable stains on the floorboard.
“You’re right,” she said in a breathless whisper.
The limo stopped. Through the tinted windows, she couldn’t make out where they were. Shadowy people hurried by, heading into a lighted building.
“Are we here? Where’s here?”
“Leigh, before we go in, I need to say something.”
The conversation she’d had with Jo about the prom poked at her conscience. “I need to tell you something too.”
Jesse slid back the divider and called out to the driver, “Just a minute, okay?”
The driver waved back. “Sure thing.”
“You first,” Jesse said. He sounded almost relieved.
“Um, I… Okay, when I was seventeen…”
Tap, tap, tap. Someone stood at the window on Jesse’s side. Avery’s muffled voice followed. Specifically, Avery’s tipsy voice. “Are you two making out in there, or what? Put your clothes back on, and let’s party!”
Leigh scrunched her forehead. “Party? What party?”
Tap, tap, tap. Louder this time.
Jesse sighed and rolled down the window slightly. “We’re coming. Shouldn’t you be inside?”
Avery peered in, hands cupping her eyes. “Thank God you’re presentable. Damn, girl, that dress is killer on you. I knew it would be.”
“What the heck is going on already?" Leigh asked, getting impatient with this whole thing. "Are you putting a let’s-confuse-Leigh video on YouTube?”
Avery sneered. “You haven’t told her yet?”
Through gritted teeth, he said, “I was trying to when you interrupted us.”
“Oh! Sorry. I’m not known for my patience.”
“She’s got that right,” Leigh said, laughing. “So how about we just go in?”
Jesse smiled at her as he rolled the window all the way down. Avery stepped aside, wobbling slightly. She'd probably already had a drink or two from wherever they were going. The venue came into clear view. She’d entered this hulking concrete building exactly once in her life. The blocky, navy blue letters above the front entrance still looked the same: Greenwood County High School.
“What is this? Some kind of joke?”
“No.” Jesse reached into his tuxedo jacket and pulled a piece of paper from it. He unfolded it to reveal his list.
She looked up at him, but he nodded at the simple piece of notebook paper. She scanned it quickly, seeing the ten familiar names he’d written and crossed off in black ink, but in blue ink, a number eleven had been added: Leigh Meriwether.
Jaw trembling, she fought back the impulse to cry as memories of that night bubbled to the surface. She raised her eyes and locked on Jesse’s gaze. His forehead was creased, and an apologetic smile quivered on his lips.
“You knew I was there?” she whispered.
“No, not until a couple days ago, thanks to Avery.”
Leigh glared at her best friend. “You told him?”
“Yeah, I told him. You weren’t going to.”
“I was just getting ready to do that when—”
Avery waved her argument away. “Yeah, yeah, when I so rudely interrupted you. I get it. But it’s out in the open now. You don’t hate each other, right?”
Jesse took Leigh’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Trepidation flashed in his eyes. “Right.”
Leigh let her head fall back and let out a frustrated sigh. This would have been the perfect moment to go off on him, to hurl all those nasty insults she’d practiced after the prom and watch him squirm before she walked away, satisfied.
That was what she would have done before the day he walked into her office and turned all those grudges she'd harbored upside down.
Finally, she squeezed Jesse’s hand in return. “I don't hate you. Not anymore.”
He exhaled as though he'd been waiting for her response with bated breath.
“See?" Avery said. "He’s grown on you like warts on a toad’s ass. Let’s party!” She stuck her fist in the air and whooped.
The driver, who’d been awkwardly waiting nearby for this exchange to play out, opened the car door. He bowed and swept his white-gloved hand toward the school. Jesse got out then turned and offered his hand. Leigh took it, being careful to hold the skirt of her dress up so her heels didn’t snag it.
"Is this what I think this is?" She had a feeling her makeup wouldn't last long if it was.
"Maybe." Jesse smiled and helped her out.
He offered her his arm. She took it but went a step further and held his hand, intertwining her fingers with his.
Avery opened her mouth as if she might say something, then snapped it shut. She hurried as fast as her tipsy legs could take her to the door, opened it, and held it for them.
Leigh rested her head on Jesse’s arm as they walked. She couldn’t have wiped the smile from her face even if she tried. Neither of them spoke, but Leigh knew just what she’d find. Music drifted through the open door. When they passed over the threshold, she could hear the lyrics. It was Jason Mraz’s “I Won’t Give Up.” It grew louder as they neared the gymnasium.
Avery, breathless, ran ahead and opened the gym door, too. She poked her head in and yelled, “They’re here!” Then she opened the door wide, grinning from ear to ear.
People cheered. People Leigh knew very well. Reverend and Mrs. Donner were there, as well as Marge, Mrs. Jenkins, Reverend Simpson, Avery—who was chatting it up with Jesse's brother—and at least a dozen others. All of them were dressed in suits and dresses, some more Sunday best than prom, but it didn’t matter.
Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away. This makeup had taken too long for her to mess it up. Jesse led her to the middle of the gym where a disco ball spun overhead, casting glittering lights that danced across the floor. She gazed around the gym, amazed. It wasn’t decorated quite to the extent of the original prom. A lone disco ball and a few pink streamers hung from the rafters, but it served the purpose.
Marge stood at the punch table, serving up hors d’oeurves. She flashed a joyous smile and hurried over with two cups of punch. “Here you go. It’s fresh, and not at all spiked.” She followed that with an exaggerated wink. "I made some unleaded punch for the Baptists."
Leigh laughed. “That explains Avery’s state.” She raised the paper cup to have a better look. Disney princesses danced around its circumference.
Marge nudged her. “Hope you don’t mind. Best we could get with such short notice.”
"Did you make all this?"
"Yes." She beamed with pride. Then she patted Jesse’s cheek. “This guy’s a keeper, Leigh. Now you two just dance and have fun.”
They both drank down the punch, which had definitely been doctored with something for the over-twenty-one crowd. It was delicious. They had refills then Jesse pulled her to the dance floor, where other couples slow danced to the new song the deejay now played. They adhered to the old school dance policy—boy’s hands on girl’s waist, girl’s hands on boy’s chest.
Assuming the position, Jesse led her in the slow, side-to-side sway she had once seen and envied. Now it all seemed rather silly and childish, but that wasn’t what mattered. What mattered was right in front of her, his eyes filled with the kind of love she never thought she would have.
“Listen," Jesse said, "I need to tell you what I started to tell you in the limo. I need to explain what happened back then.”
“There’s no need.”
“For me, there is. Part of my therapy was being specific about what I was apologizing for.”
“Okay.” She gritted her teeth, steeling herself for a little time travel.
“My grades were terrible, so I couldn’t go to the prom. I pretended it didn’t bother me. Why would I want to dress up in a penguin suit anyway?” He glanced down at his tux and shrugged. “Anyway, I saw the neighbor kids getting all dressed up and posing for pictures with their dates. It got to me. They all had parents who loved them. Me—I had a mom who left us and a widowed grandfather who had no clue what to do with me. So, I drove his old pickup to the school and parked behind back where the lunch ladies usually parked. I snuck inside the cafeteria. They never locked the door. And then I climbed the stairs to the balcony right up there.”
Leigh followed his line of sight to the second story walking track that composed the upper level of the gym. She tore her gaze from it and shook her head. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Yes, I do. Please hear me out.”
Her chin trembled. She could only focus on his chest. If she looked him in the eyes, she’d lose it. Finally, she nodded.
“The lights were all out up there, so no one saw me, or so I thought. I went to the side over the gym doors, lit a match, and held it up to the smoke alarm. It worked. Soon as I heard the screams, I laughed as they ran for the doors. Laughed my head off. I got out of there, went home and drank my grandfather’s whiskey until I passed out. Come Monday, I was expelled. They’d caught me on surveillance camera. My grandfather said I better shape up or ship out. I realized he was right. I never really tried to make amends until I met you. Didn’t think I could. But I’m sorry for all of that. Your name should have never needed to be on my list.”
She glanced to her right, where George and Sarah Donner were dancing. Sarah's hands slid down and gripped George's butt. Leigh sniffed back her tears and smiled. Good things really could come from life’s crapshoot.
Then she dared to look Jesse in the eyes. Her voice broke, but she made herself say the words anyway. “You went to all this trouble for me?”
“You’re worth that and a lot more.”
“And you’re forgiven.”
His pure, wide smile suggested that he finally believed he was a good man. Her heart swelled with pride, not that she had worked any magic, but that she had helped him let go of such a painful past. And he'd done the same for her in the process.
They danced in silence for a while until she got up the nerve to speak again without sounding weepy. “If we’re going to be a thing, I want you to be sure you’re sure. We could never have kids.”
“We can adopt.”
“I could get sick again.”
“So could I. So could anyone. Doesn’t matter.”
“Even if—”
“Yes, even if anything. I’m ready if you are.”
They ignored the dance rules and pressed their bodies close. Jesse’s arm felt so wonderful wrapped around her waist, his fingers splayed across her bare back.
Jesse sang along with the song, his voice barely above a whisper, but music to her ears. “And I can’t help falling in love with you.”
She rested her cheek on his shoulder, closed her eyes, and savored the miracle that was her life.