All the time I’d been around Kiera, I never knew she could dance. Never learned much about her at all, really. I hoped her college date was better about that sort of thing than most in her orbit were. She deserved that.

On the outskirts of the dance circle, covetously watching the show, were Mason Miles and his soldiers. Him and her hadn’t lasted very long after New Year’s, but she still drew his attention. Mine, too.

I’d learn to pull away.

After a circuit around the room, Angie materialized, grabbed Qwan by his jacket sleeve, and dragged him into the next dance battle. He loathed dancing, but didn’t fight it. Angie had her way with him, and I thought it made my best friend better somehow. It put me on alert, though. Was Shianne going to swoop in and demand the same?

A quick search confirmed I didn’t have to worry. She was with a couple of the other new mothers who’d made it out this evening, swapping phones—likely sharing photos of their little ones. Which left me looking lonely.

I gravitated to the preferred loner destination, the punch bowl, being watched by an eagle-eyed MJ. He saw me coming, popped the collar on a tuxedo jacket nearly identical to mine. “I see you’ve got good taste in attire, young man.”

“Thanks, MJ. How long they got you on guard duty?”

“I’m doing this and the After Prom. My lady’s going to bring little man so he can play some games. He’s been excited all day.”

He wasn’t the only one. After Prom was back at the high school gym. Everyone knew it was the community’s way of keeping us off the roads, or away from hotels, or from drinking. We all tried to play like it was goofy and childish. But, for real, the school went all out with games, and fire prizes. GoPros, iPhones, TVs, and game systems. The best stuff got raffled off closer to sunrise to make sure you stayed. A brother could use a new TV.

I dipped the ladle into the icy pink potion, and filled a cup. “How you been?”

MJ said, “Making it, Del. Everyone’s tired by this point in the year. You know. I take it you’ve heard the good news.”

“Healthy Living?”

“Well, it’s going to be called ‘Positive Prep,’ but that’s one of those ‘ketchup’ or ‘catsup’ things. The big difference is the committee agreed to make some adjustments, focusing on a wider variety of safe sex practices, consent, and self-care. In other words, things that were proven to actually be helpful in reducing unwanted pregnancy, disease, even sexual assaults. Plus, no questions will be off-limits. I’m sure you can appreciate that.”

“Damn right.”

A petite gloved hand extended over the punch bowl. “Question: Are you going to drink all this?”

I glanced sideways, almost didn’t recognize her. “Mya?”

She looked, literally, like a princess. Not just any princess either. Her green-and-cream dress, those gloves, and the tiara fixed in her hair were familiar. “Your outfit? I’ve seen it somewhere.”