The ding from my cell phone catches my attention. I rushinto the kitchen, pick up my phone from the table, and read the text from Olivia.
Olivia
We’re fixing to head that way.
A wave of nausea hits me, and I begin pacing the room. The unknown of how Raine is going to react to what I have planned has been eating at me, and keeping this secret from her for the last few weeks has been the hardest thing to do.
“Ryland, what did I say about biting your nails?” Mom’s voice booms, causing me to jump slightly and rip my fingers away from my mouth. She gives me a sympathetic smile before closing the distance between us and places her hands on my shoulders. “I’ve never seen you so worked up before.”
“I’ve never gone behind my girlfriend's back before.”
“She’ll be thrilled. Trust me. Now, I’m going to go upstairs and get things ready for the girls. Holler at me when she’s here, okay?” she says before giving me a little squeeze and patting my cheek softly. “You look handsome.”
I release a pent-up breath after she leaves the room and return back to my pacing. What if she’s mad at me? Surely she wouldn’t think about breaking up with me because I changed our plans. Why is it so hot in this house?
I take off my suit jacket and loosen my tie a bit before making my way onto the front porch of the farmhouse. I’m met with a cool breeze, and I take a seat on the porch swing. I reach into my pocket for the paper towels I placed there earlier and dab against the sweat dripping down my brow.
“Getting cold feet?” Johanna asks as she steps up onto the porch, a basket of flowers from her garden in her hands.
“More like a hot flash,” I say, earning one of her snort laughs that I’ve grown to love.
“Mind if I take a seat?” she asks, and I shake my head, gesturing next to me. She studies me for a moment as she sits down, giving me a small smile, and turns her attention onto theflowers in her basket and gets to work on making them into a corsage.
She pieces different kinds together, holding them up to my chest, and hums a sound of approval. “You have nothing to worry about. She’s going to love that you’re doing this for her.”
“You don’t think she’ll be mad that I did this behind her back?”
Johanna exhales, shaking her head, and a sad smile pulling on her slightly wrinkled lips. “No. I know deep down that she wants to go to prom with you. My sweet girl deserves some normalcy in her life. That Davis…he’s ruined so much. You know, in the past we’ve tried to reason with her mother. Just when we thought she was going to let Raine live with us full time, she met Davis and he made sure to not allow that to happen. Earl and I have felt hopeless with the situation but are thankful that her mother has allowed us to have our weekends with her. I hate witnessing how she’s wilted these past few years.”
My jaw twitches, and my hands ball into fists. I inhale a deep breath to try to calm the storm brewing inside of me at the mention of Davis’ name.
“God knew that she would need you.”
Those words draw my attention back to Johanna. The breeze picks up, swaying her white curls over her shoulder, and the scent of flowers hits my nose. Her hands keep moving as she wraps string around stems and looks up at me, a smirk deepening her smile lines.
“You bring the sunshine into her life. When she’s with you, she blossoms.” Now it’s my turn to smile. I like knowing that I make Raine happy. That she can let loose and be herself around me. “Ryland, can you promise me something?”
I nod, confident in knowing that I would do anything for Johanna.
“That you’ll make sure she gets out of this town.” She’s stillsmiling, but I see the worry that fills her brown eyes and draws her brows together.
“You’d want her to leave?” I ask, knowing the answer before she replies, but it feels necessary to ask.
She places the flowers down in her lap and turns slightly so she’s facing me. I feel the warmth of her hands slide over top of mine, a slight tremble in her fingers telling me all that I need to know. My spine stiffens as I prepare myself to listen wholeheartedly.
“Selfishly, I want her to stay so I can keep her close and see her every day. But I understand that when you love someone, sometimes you have to choose to let them go. If she stays here, it’ll smother her. She needs to be replanted somewhere new so that she can truly grow.”
I let her words sink in, knowing that she’s right, and I make the promise to her because it's the promise I’ve already made to myself and to Raine. I will do whatever it takes to get her out of Covewood and away from Davis. Johanna pulls me in for a quick hug.
“You’re such a blessing.” She grins before standing up and disappearing into the house. I stand up to do the same, but the sight of headlights making their way down the driveway has me freezing in place. I blink away the nerves and go into action.
I toss my jacket back on, tucking everything into place before fastening each button and tightening the tie around my neck. I swing open the front door, and I pop my head inside to yell that Raine has arrived. My hands are trembling with the nerves growing inside of me. I feel like I look weird. Should I lean against the post by the steps? Go inside and stand by the stairs? Hold my hand out like Leo did inTitanic?
Before I can turn and run inside, I catch sight of Raine at the bottom of the steps. Her eyes widening in shock as she takes in the sight of the black suit I’m wearing. Her pink lips open, and naturally, I’m drawn to them. I want to rush down the steps, tell her I’m sorry, and wrap her into my arms.
She’s wearing a hoodie and a pair of blue jeans. Her honey-blonde hair with purple tips is worn in waves that touch her shoulders. My fingers twitch with the need to run them through her strands. Her eyes are wide, taking the sight of me in, as if she, too, is frozen in place. Olivia bounces beside her and squeezes Raine’s arm.
“Surprise!” she squeals, shaking her arms out in excitement before pointing to me. “We’re going to prom!”
