Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 100612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
He needed me as much as I needed him.
Without me driving him the remaining distance to our school, which was clear across town, he would have been in more danger of being discovered, and I don’t know about you, but who has the stamina to haul all that gear six miles?
This required stealth.
Because of all the security cameras on campus, I had to park my car down the hill near the old water tower. Together, we trekked up a short side road, then put on baseball caps and some old pandemic face masks that I happen to keep hanging on my gear shift.
Don’t ask me why.
I carried the rhino head while Easton carried its furry body, and somehow, by the grace of God, we managed to hook all of it to the pulleys. They miraculously bore all the weight, and within five minutes we completed his task.
My heart has never beat so fast.
Never.
Now, back at my house, I roll over so I’m facing the wall in my bedroom, placing a hand on my fluttering stomach.
Is this guilt I’m feeling? Or anticipation?
Or gas.
Should I feel like an asshole for blackmailing Easton?
Absolutely.
Do I, though?
Eh.
Ask me again later because I HAVE A DATE FOR PROM!
And not only is he my date, he’s agreed to be on the decorating committee with me when none of my friends would. Under duress, sure. But on the committee all the same.
Before he got out of my car—after discarding the mascot and driving him home—I gave him my phone number. Since then, I’ve been anxiously waiting to see if he’ll text.
He has to. We have a deal.
I have photos of him doing shit he isn’t supposed to be doing, and because I’m a major dick, as extra insurance, I snapped a pic of him dumping the mascot by the flagpole, too.
Sorry not sorry. Do you blame me?
This entire evening was bonkers. Coercing a guy into being your date feels shittier than I thought it would, but after those words were out of my mouth there was no turning back.
He was in the wrong place at the right time and he needed my help, I reason to myself. Shouldn’t I get something in return for saving his ass? This is a fair exchange. All he has to do is put on a suit and show up and I can handle the rest.
He owes me.
It’s a win-win.
He doesn’t get kicked off the hockey team, doesn’t lose his precious scholarship, doesn’t lose his offer from a good college—and I have a date for prom.
I sigh contentedly.
We can both rest easy.
At least, that’s what I’ve been telling myself the past two hours.
And now I’m lying here, wide awake, worrying I’m going to get struck by lightning, but at the same time…
I have a date.
To prom.
And just like that, my phone goes off.
Chapter 7
9:53 PM
Unknown number: I think we should lay down some ground rules.
Harper: Um, who is this?
Unknown number: Easton. Westermann? You literally just gave me your number like an hour ago.
Harper: I know, I was kidding. I’m trying to be funny.
Easton: You know you can still let me off the hook, right? Coz I would really rather not be on the prom decorating committee.
Harper: We already worked out the details of our agreement.
Easton: You’re actually going to call it an AGREEMENT?
Harper: Blackmail sounds so icky…
Easton: OMG. You need people because only losers aka people with free time are on the decorating committee.
Harper: Ouch, that stung a little. But actually, that is false. We have PLENTY of cool people on the decorating committee—I just happen to need help painting the knights.
Easton: Knights????
Harper: Did you not know the theme is Knight Under the Stars? Isn’t that fun?
Easton: If you say so.
Harper: You were planning on going, right?
Easton: NO. I was not.
Harper: Why would you miss your senior prom???
Easton: Um, because I DON’T CARE about it. For one. For another, my friends and I were going to see Star Warriors 3.
Harper: Your friends are going to prom.
Easton: I have friends that don’t go to Lancer, Miss Know-It-All.
Harper: Oh. Well, in that case, sorry, I didn’t mean it like that…
Easton: Can you blame me for being pissed right now?
Harper: I mean—I did you a favor, now you can do ME a favor.
Easton: I literally do not have time to be on a decorating committee.
Harper: You literally do, hockey season is over.
Easton: Ha, hockey season never ends—go ahead and ask my mom. LOL I train and I’m on the track team and I work out to stay in shape so I don’t shit the bed when I’m a freshman at college.
Harper: Wow. Shit the bed?? LOL
Easton: Don’t act offended, you swore at me twice last night.
Harper: I did not!!
Easton: You did! I counted. Anyway, that’s not why I’m texting you.
Harper: Are you going to make me scroll back and look at your original message?