There’s a guest room, but there’s no discussion of me sleeping in it; Jasmine has as big a bed here as she does in the Outer Banks. We change into pajamas and brush our teeth and slide in together like I belong with her here as much as I do there.

I imagine these sheets still smelling like me when she comes back, even though they won’t.

“Hey, thank you,” I say softly, curling up in the mound of pillows on my side of the bed.

“For what?” Her voice is thick with sleep, her eyes already closed.

“For bringing me here to meet your mom. For Shabbat dinner.” I inhale her sweet shampoo, the light trace of perfume that’s been pressed into her skin from Sylvia’s throughout the night. “For not laughing at me about the whole writing thing?”

“Why would I laugh at you?” she murmurs, halfway to dreamland. I feel fingers brush mine, intertwining, holding tight. “You’re gonna do amazing things, Tinkerbell.”

A few moments later, her soft snoring fills the air, and I let it lull me to sleep, her hand warm in mine.

Chapter Nineteen

NOW

The dance isn’t much better than the limo ride, but it’s easier to blend in with the crowd and get some space from the other girls. Chase is having a great time—that much is clear—and it’s a little infectious. I do my best to let go of the digs and champagne headache and enjoy the night like I’m supposed to. When Chase kisses me, I kiss back. When he grinds against me on the dance floor, I press right back against him, feeling how badly he wants me. I smile for pictures, smile when people comment on how adorable his asking me to the dance was, smile when recent graduates come over to say hi and compliment him on his season, smile when Dee Harker, who was on the JV squad with me when I was a freshman and she was a sophomore, says, “I guess it’s true that patience is a virtue!” and nods in his direction.

Even people who’ve graduated can’t see me as anything more than The Girl Who’s Always Loved Chase Harding.

Onstage there’s a tap at the mic and a screech of feedback. My stomach sinks. The time has come to announce Homecoming King and Queen. Even through all my dreams of standing alongside Chase in our crowns, I’ve never really believed that Homecoming Queen is a title I could win—not as long as Shannon’s around. And that’s fine; it’s only a cheap plastic crown. But it was a fun dream … or it was until I realized it might be more than that. Judging by the amount of attention we’re getting tonight, I might actually have a shot.

I don’t think anyone has ever wanted a crown less.