She could hear the urgency in his voice for her to believe him, like it mattered very much that she didn’t think he was involved in something dark or sinister.

  “Okay,” she said. She wasn’t really sure what else she could say. Tara wanted everything he said to be true. And she truly hoped it was, but she had only known Elias for a month, and during three of those weeks their only contact had been through text messages. Trusting him wasn’t a hard thing for her heart to do, but her head was telling her heart what a stupid organ it was.

  “I guess I need to let you go so you can get ready for your evening,” he said after a minute of silence. “I really do hope you have a lovely time.”

  Tara laughed at how forced his words were. “It sounds like you’d rather jump off a building than tell me that.”

  “No,” he said. “I really do want you to enjoy yourself. I just want it to be without that wanker.”

  This made her laugh even harder. He was completely sincere and unapologetic about it which just seemed to make it all the funnier to her.

  “I’m glad my jealousy is a form of entertainment for you, luv. Let me tell you, it’s a right laugh for me.”

  Tara sighed as her laughter died. “I’m not laughing at you,”

  “You’re not?”

  “Okay, maybe I am. But only because you sound so forlorn about something silly. It’s a dance and I’m not even arriving with him. I’m riding with Shelly.”

  “So you won’t be alone in the car with him?”

  “Hadn’t planned on it,” she said.

  “Are you going to dance with him?” he asked. Tara heard some deep voices in the background, and then Elias sighed and said, “Yes, I know I sound like a jealous boyfriend, you overgrown troll.”

  “Are you talking to Jax?” she asked, her eyes going wide. She couldn’t imagine a man like Jax being okay with being called an overgrown troll.

  “No, princess. I’m talking to a dead man.”

  There were more voices in the background that sounded suspiciously like a group of men chuckling. “Answer the question, Tara,” he said gently. “Are you going to dance with him?”

  Tara shrugged. “I guess, if he asks. I mean, it is a dance.”

  “Could we make a compromise?” he asked.

  “Um, I’m not sure how it will be a compromise when I will be the only one making any concessions,” she pointed out.

  “That is an excellent point, and like the shameless man I am, I’m going to ask you to make it anyway. Can it be a fast dance that requires plenty of space between bodies to move?”

  She smiled to herself as she shook her head. “You are too much, Elias Creed.”

  “Right you are. I’d tell you that I will change, but there’s no sense in making promises I know I’m not going to be able to keep. No slow dances?”

  “Fine. No slow dances. What do I get in return? I never agreed that this would be a one-sided compromise. That was you.”

  “I sort of thought not having to rub your delectable body against the git was the selling point, but I like an ambitious woman. What would you like?”

  Tara headed for her bathroom as she considered her answer. She grabbed her underclothes and a robe on the way. As she stepped inside and shut the door, she paused as she stared at the lock. She never locked the bathroom door, but the memory of the eyes she’d felt on her as she’d walked home was still vivid. She flipped the lock and didn’t point out to herself that if someone was able to get past the deadbolt on the front door then a flimsy turn lock on a bathroom door wasn’t going to keep them out.

  “Luv?” Elias’s voice reminded her that he’d asked her a question.

  “Sorry,” she said. “Got distracted. What do I want in return for not dancing with a handsome guy who will no doubt make me feel beautiful and wanted?”

  “To kick me in the balls? Because that’s where I feel like this conversation is headed.”

  She chuckled. “I don’t know. I like your British accent, but it’s the deepness of your voice that makes it really hot. Kicking you in your man parts might have an effect on that quality.” Tara tapped her chin. “All right, I’ve got it.”

  “This sounds serious,” Elias said.

  “In exchange for every declined slow dance that I give you, you must answer a question, any question, with the absolute truth.”

  There was a pause, and then he asked, “When will the questions begin?”

  “Right now.”

  “He’s already asked you to dance?” Elias’s voice rose just a hair. “Is this a dance where you have a dance card and people fill it out beforehand? Is your card already full?”

  “Dude, you sound like a creeper,” a deep, male voice in the background said. “You need to back off, or you’re going to lose your chance with her.”

  “Nobody asked you, Liam,” Elias said.

  “Studies do show that women are attracted to confident men who—”

  “I sure as hell didn’t ask for your input either, Aston,” Elias barked at the new voice.

  Who are these guys? Other employees of TGTE, she guessed.

  “You do realize this is 2020 not 1820, right? There are no dance cards,” Tara said. “And who are Aston and Liam?”

  “A couple of goobers. They work for two of TGTE’s sister companies,” he said. “So, if there are no dance cards, why do the questions start now? Are you simply assuming he will ask you to dance?”

  “I think it’s a pretty safe assumption since he did ask me to be his date and he’s already attempted to kiss me on a previous date.”

  “Both very good points,” he growled. “Any other questions besides the one you just asked about Liam and Aston? I know you probably need to get ready.”

  Only a million. “A few,” she said. “But I do need to go … so you’re off the hook for now.” She pretended not to hear his sigh of relief. “I’m glad you called,” she admitted because she wanted him to know that she’d missed him, too.

  “I’m glad you answered.”

  Tara’s lips turned up. “Who knows? I might answer again if you call in the future. But I won’t promise it. I don’t want to become predictable. That would get boring.”

  “Oh, lovely Tara. Of all the things you could be, boring is not one of them. I look forward to getting a picture of you in your dress.”

  “I never said I was for sure sending you one,” she reminded him.

  “I know,” he said simply. “It’s been wonderful hearing your voice. Be safe tonight, all right?”

  “Yeah. You, too.” she said.

  “Bye, luv.”

  “Bye.” She hit the End button and set the phone on the bathroom counter. Tara stared at herself in the mirror for several minutes, trying to process the fact she’d just had a phone conversation with Elias Creed. And that she’d promised him she wouldn’t slow dance with Tucker in exchange for answers to her questions. She laughed because she knew Shelly was going to get a kick out of the whole situation. And after the fact that Tara had been a bit of an ass about the whole prom, her BFFF deserved a kick of the good variety. Tara shook off the past half hour and focused on the task at hand.

  She cranked up her favorite playlist and began to fill the tub with steaming hot water. She added a capful of bubble bath and then undressed. Tara slipped down into the water until her ears were submerged. She loved it when all she could hear was just the muffled sound of her music, and the rest of the world was muted by the water. Peace flowed over her as she tuned everything else out. The only sound she heard other than the muted music was Elias’s deep voice agreeing to answer her questions. Wait. Her eyes snapped open and she sat halfway up out of the water. Did he ever agree? She thought back through their conversation. “Son of a monkey’s tit!” She hit the top of the water with her hand. He hadn’t agreed, not really. All he’d done was ask when the questions would begin. But, she thought as she lowered herself back into the water, he hadn’t disagreed either.

  Tara blew out a breath and resettled herself into her water cocoon. There was no point in trying to dissect his words. He either would answer any questions she asked or he wouldn’t. Life would go on, though it might be less exciting and intriguing if Elias didn’t answer her curiosities.

  It wasn’t long before she slipped off to sleep. Her mind was drifting peacefully until she woke with a start, her teeth beginning to chatter. The water had turned frigid. She pulled the plug and climbed quickly from the tub. After blow drying her hair, she was sweating and felt like she needed a cold shower to get clean again. Sometimes, being a chick sucked.

  She went into her room, turned her ceiling fan on high, and then laid on her bed, letting the cool air caress her skin. Her phone chimed and Tara glanced at the screen. She swiped open the message from Shelly.

  * * *

  You’re not getting cold feet are you?

  * * *

  Tara rolled her eyes and responded. It’s a dance, not a wedding.

  * * *

  Not the point. The point is that you don’t want to go.

  * * *

  You’re not wrong. But for you, I will.

  * * *

  Shelly sent her a smiley face emoji followed by a heart.

  * * *

  Don’t go getting all sentimental on me.

  * * *

  Right. My bad. Here. She added a hand emoji that was flipping her off and then a meme of a girl bowing and ‘You’re welcome’ written over her head.

  * * *

  Tara grinned. That’s more like it. Now leave me alone so I can finish getting ready.

  * * *

  Fine. See you soon, you epidermis-selling woman of the night.

  * * *

  Tara set the phone back down and began applying her makeup. When she was done, she shrugged at herself in the mirror. She wasn’t going to win any beauty contests, but she didn’t look like a clown, so that had to count for something.

  Her phone chimed again with a text from Carol telling her she had to work a double again. It seemed like Carol was working doubles more and more. Tara hated that Carol worked so much but also knew that she felt real responsibility toward her patients. If they said there wasn’t a nurse to come in and take care of them, then her foster mom would be the first in line to volunteer. That’s just the kind of person she was. It was why she had taken Tara, and so many other kids before her, in.

  Tara sent a quick text to Elias.

  * * *

  I’ll send you pics of me and Shelly in our dresses. Please be safe and have a good night.

  * * *

  When she glanced at the time on her phone, she realized it was already seven o’clock. Apparently, her little nap in the tub had been a bit longer than she’d first thought.

  Tossing the phone down, she headed for the closet and plucked the dress off the door. She removed it from the hanger and then slipped it over her head. Just as it had in the dressing room, it slipped down her body like a glove, molding to her form. The material was cool and instantly made her feel more feminine. Next, she pulled out her shoes and put them on. They made her two inches taller, but that was as ambitious as she dared to get with the height of the heels. The finishing touch was the earrings. They were simple diamond teardrops. She put them in her ears and then stepped in front of the full-length mirror hanging on the inside of her closet door. She’d left her hair down after blow drying it. The natural brown waves were shiny and flowed around her shoulders. Overall, the dress and her appearance were simple, but elegant. She liked it … a lot.

  She still had ten minutes until Shelly was due to arrive, so she figured she’d better get some food in her so she didn’t get cranky. Just as she finished the last bite of a sandwich, the front deadbolt turned. Tara headed for the front door and reached it just as Shelly pushed it open, key in hand.

  “Could you at least holler through the door as you’re unlocking it so I know it’s you and not some person trying to pick the lock and break in?”

  “It’s Buffalo freaking Kentucky,” Shelly said. “Who’s going to break into your house and why? To read your diary?”

  “No, I’m sure you’ve posted that all over social media. No one needs to break in here to get to it.”

  “Puulease, you know me better than that. I wouldn’t just give that stuff away for free. You write money-worthy stories in that book of yours. I’m going to make bank on it before I’ll just let any Joe Blow read it.”

  “Glad to know you have my best interest at heart,” Tara said flatly.

  “Always.” Shelly smiled. “Oh, and wow, you look beautiful.” She pulled out her phone and snapped a few quick pics of Tara and then waddled over in her ridiculously high heels. She held the phone out in front of them and said, “Smile for the selfie.”

  They both smiled at the camera and leaned their heads toward each other. Tara forced herself to ignore the fact that it looked like she was laying her head on Shelly’s boob because that’s where she reached her BFFF who was apparently wearing stilts for her shoes.

  “There,” Shelly said as she stared down at her phone. “I just texted you those pictures so you can send some to Carol.”

  Tara laughed. “She texted you to remind me, didn’t she?”

  “She knows you too well. You aren’t about to whip out your own phone and go selfie crazy. So, yes, she contacted the only one in this duo who happens to like dressing up and getting her picture taken.”

  “For your information, I did tell Carol I would send her some pictures of us in our dresses.”

  “That may be, but what you didn’t tell her, and what she already knew, was that you were lying. Now”—Shelly slipped her phone in the small little purse she carried-—“Let’s blow this popsicle stand. My feet are itching to move, and my hips are ready to groove.”

  “Don’t ever say that again,” Tara warned as she grabbed her phone. She didn’t bother with a purse or money. They were just going to the school and would be coming straight home afterward so she really didn’t need anything else.

  Tara’s phone chimed on the way. She looked at it, hoping it was Elias regardless of the fact that she’d gotten to talk to him only a little while ago. It was Tucker.

  * * *

  I’m already inside when you get here.

  * * *

  He was probably wondering if she’d stood him up, considering the prom had started over half an hour ago.

  * * *

  We should be there in a few minutes. She texted back.

  * * *

  “Tucker is already there,” Tara told Shelly.

  “Did he think you’d ditched him?”

  “He didn’t say as much. But he said he was already inside. Maybe that was his way of asking if I was still coming without really asking.”

  Shelly nodded. “Probably.”

  “Elias called me after school,” Tara said.

  Shelly’s head whipped around as she turned into the school parking lot. “Seriously?”

  “Yep.”

  “And what did mister curious-ass-cat have to say?”

  “He’s not an ass cat.”

  “For now. I’m sure he’ll do something at some point that will once again make him an ass cat. There’s no reason to remove the once deserved title so hastily.”

  Tara shook her head at her friend. Not that Shelly was wrong. Everyone was an ass cat at one point or another.

  “So what did he have to say?” Shelly asked again. She parked the car and cut the ignition.

  “Honestly, I think the whole point of the phone call was to convince me not to slow dance with Tucker.”

  “What?” Shelly laughed. “Dude has got it bad if he’s off on some work emergency— which, damn, that’s a long emergency, by the way—and is so concerned about you falling for another guy that he has to stop his work emergency and call you to ask you not to slow dance with him.”

  Tara nodded. “But I didn’t give him what he wanted for free.”

  “Oh my, do tell.” Shelly purred.

  “I told him that for every slow dance I turn down, he has to answer any question I ask, completely honestly.”

  Shelly’s eyes widened as she tipped her head at Tara. “Well played, Ms. Thompson. Well played indeed.”

  “I thought so. All right, ready?” Tara asked as she pushed her door open.

  “I’ve been trying to get you to go to a school dance for four years. Hell yes, I’m ready.”

  “You could have gone without me,” Tara pointed out as they both shut their doors and headed for the gymnasium.

  “Batman doesn’t fight battles without Robin, and Piglet doesn’t stutter without Tigger. Why would I go to a dance without you?”

  “Okay, I get the whole Batman and Robin connection, but what does Piglet’s stutter have to do with Tigger?” Tara asked.

  Shelly scoffed. “Piglet only has a stutter because of Tigger. Tigger’s always bouncing off the freaking walls, literally, and all his motion makes Piglet nervous. Hence the stutter.”

  “Oddly, that isn’t crazy.”

  “My mom says even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.” Shelly grinned and pointed at Tara. “Blind squirrel”—then she pointed at herself—“meet nut.”

  Tara snorted out a laugh. “Got that right.” She pulled open the gym door. The laughter and music assaulted them.

  “Sounds like people are getting their dance on,” Shelly practically sang as she walked into the building. Tara followed behind and forced herself to keep her arms down at her sides instead of folding them in front of herself. She wasn’t self-conscious, but she’d never worn anything like the dress she currently had on. As they moved deeper into the gym, despite the dark interior, she felt eyes on her.