She’d argued with her actual date for the dance—Jerry Rogers. They weren’t an official couple or anything, but he’d asked and she’d accepted. He’d tucked a flask into his jacket and sampled it liberally all night. He’d gotten more and more handsy with her as the night went on. She knew why—she’d made the mistake the year before of sleeping with another football player. It hadn’t exactly been a stellar first-time experience, made worse by the fact that he bragged to his pals about their sweaty, uncomfortable fumbling around in the guy’s basement. She’d finally convinced herself it didn’t matter if kids were whispering about her. She’d held her chin high and looked down at everyone as if they were the ones in the wrong, not her. They couldn’t hurt her if she didn’t let them.

But she didn’t want to miss her senior year homecoming dance, so she’d accepted Jerry’s invitation. He seemed like a good kid, and it wasn’t like they had to pretend to be in some lovey-dovey relationship. She’d found a navy blue bridesmaid dress at the secondhand shop and her grandmother had shortened it and made a few alterations so that it fit like a glove. Grandma told her she looked like Audrey Hepburn.

When Jerry first saw her, he’d looked as if he’d just won first prize in some contest. He wouldn’t leave her alone. Pinching her ass, groping her chest, leaving a trail of wet sloppy kisses on her shoulder. When he’d tried pulling her behind the bushes near the steps to the gymnasium, she’d swung her purse at him. It was a glittery cocktail bag on a narrow chain. It had a hard plastic case, and it impacted Jerry’s nose with a loud whack. When he realized he was bleeding, he’d taken a threatening step toward her. That’s when Gordy had stepped between them.

She didn’t know what he’d said to his football teammate, but it was enough to send Jerry stumbling away, muttering curse words. Gordy asked if she was okay, and the kindness of his words had broken through her icy shields. She’d started to cry, and he’d led her to his car. They drove around for a while, then parked and talked for hours.

And somehow, her head had ended up on his shoulder, with his arm around her. They’d kissed. And sweetly, tenderly, slowly...they’d made love right there in his mom’s car. It wasn’t sweaty or awkward at all.

“The girl I remember from that night...” Gordy was now at her side, his hand touching her arm, pulling her closer. “Was vulnerable and real. She dropped all those protective walls and let me in, if only for that one, perfect time.”