He put his finger under my chin. “And I need to tell you out loud, Alice, that I can’t explain it. I don’t know why or how except for destiny and magic, but I love you in a way that feels like breathing, in a way that I cannot stop, even when I try.”

In that moment, on top of that billboard, in the dark, with the music of the Belle Epoque orchestra floating up and encircling us, I finally decided to let myself fall—into Elliott. Not off the billboard, to be clear. As he slipped his arms around my waist, I lifted my head, just a little, and let myself melt back into the kiss that I had missed for so long, the one that I had dreamed about. I let myself savor the way his lips, plump and soft, felt on mine, the way his hand felt in my hair.

It wasn’t a first kiss. Not really. But in some ways, it was. Because it was my first kiss with Elliott where I knew that I was willing to change my life for him, that I was willing to move into this next step together, that I was willing to set aside my fear and my pain and the routines that felt like they were saving me to create something that might set me free in a way I had never expected.

I would let go. I would take the leap. Because, as Elliott had reassured me dozens of times this week, he was man enough to catch me if I fell.

Iris Golden Boy

“Chloe, you have got to quit drinking the wine! People are going to notice!” I scolded, as firmly yet quietly as possible. Out in the party area, everything was elegant and calm. In our staging tent, things were utter chaos. The real catering staff was buzzing about, not even trying to hide their disdain for the high schoolers.

The chef was shouting orders. Pans were sizzling, plates were clanking, everyone was tense. This chaotic scene made it perfectly possible for several of my classmates to sneak wine without anyone being the wiser. I didn’t care if most of them got in trouble. But I needed Chloe. She couldn’t get suspended.

“Oh, relax,” she said. “Don’t you have mini crab cakes to serve?”

“You do now,” said Ben, looking oh so very handsome in his tuxedo. He handed me a tray. “Hot out of the pan. You should sneak one before you take them out.” No wonder the real catering staff hated us. We were super unprofessional. We ate the food, we drank the wine, and we viewed being here as a fun and glamorous way to spend a Saturday night.