I look down at my bags, then back at the bus. After how adamant I was that this meeting was too important to miss, heading back to Bramble Falls and telling everyone it was canceled feels too daunting. I could go back to the city and stay with Fern or just lie in my own bed, but being back in New York without seeing Dad somehow feels even worse. I wanted to spend time with him. Iwanted him to want to spend time with me, to ask me about how things were going here.
What’s the point if he doesn’t care enough to make time for me? What could possibly be more important than his daughter, especially on a Saturday night? It’s not like he has work.
Although even if he did, the reality is, it would be more important to him.
The bus pulls away, leaving me crying on a bench thirty minutes outside Bramble Falls.
The sky is a marbled canvas of pinks and purples as we head back into town. Mom’s quiet in the driver’s seat, letting my sleeve absorb my silent tears without commentary. By the time we pull into the driveway, my eyes are puffy, my nose is red, and I’m ready to sleep until Monday. But when we go in, Mom follows me to the attic.
I stop on the steps and turn to face her. “What are you doing?”
“We’re going to get you ready for homecoming.”
“That’s almost funny.”
“I’m not joking,” she says. “You worked your butt off making that gorgeous dress, you got yourself a date—”
“That date probably hates me now,” I say. Even though I know he doesn’t. Or, at least, I don’t think he does. But another boy—the boy I can’t stop thinking about—definitely does.
“Jake doesn’t hate you. He will be thrilled when you show up. Don’t let your dad ruin this for you,” she says.
“My eyes are red and puffy,” I whisper, tears springing to them again.
“That will go away while I fix your hair.” She gives me a gentle shove. “Get going. You’re already going to be late.”
When I turn the corner at the top of the stairs, Aunt Naomi is sitting on the bed in front of a mirror that wasn’t up here when I left.
“What’s going on?” I ask, slowly walking into my makeshift room.
She points to the supplies on the dresser. “Your mom said we were going to have some last-minute homecoming primping to do. I wasn’t sure if you would need a straightener, a curling iron, or a crimper, so I plugged in all three. Hoping like hell it doesn’t blow a fuse in this old house,” she laughs. “But they’re all ready to go. So sit.”
She stands and gestures at the bed. I sit on the edge, and Mom climbs onto it and kneels behind me.
“Okay, honey, tell me what you’re thinking.”
I blink away the urge to cry again—grateful tears this time—and explain what I have in my head while Aunt Naomi stands beside us holding clips, bobby pins, and a massive can of hair spray.
When it’s time to put my dress on, my mom disappears downstairs for a few minutes before returning with a shoebox. “Don’t forget the final accessories!” she says as she lifts the top. Inside are her black patent-leather Louboutin So Kate pumps.
I let out a small squeal and look up at her, grinning. “What happened to packing appropriately for Bramble Falls?”
“You never know when you’re going to need a pair of dress shoes.” She smiles back. “I brought them just in case.”
My body practically slams into hers, and she lets out a grunt as I wrap my arms tightly around her. She squeezes me, and I realize I can’t remember the last time we hugged.
How is that possible?
“Thank you,” I say into her hair.
“You’re welcome.” She kisses the side of my head.
An hour and a half later, we pull up to Bramble Falls High. The sun fades on the horizon, leaving behind embers of pink, but as the car comes to a stop, the sky is lit mostly by the giant moon and a million bright stars.
I consider not getting out.
Or maybe getting out and waiting for Mom to pull away, then walking the two miles to the diner.
Because I don’t know if I can face everyone. Cooper’s mad at me. Slug probably is too. And even if Jake isn’t, he probably should be.
