He hasn’t done it in six months.
When the song ends, the band marches off into the darkness and disappears.
I sit gazing at Trey’s flawless dark skin and chiseled features that have made more than a few girls try to steal him from me over the years.
“Love ya,” he says as he gazes into my eyes.
“I love you,” I say back instinctively.
The sound of loud, obnoxious fake gagging makes me look up. “Okay, seriously, you guys are nauseating.” It’s Jet, wearing a white button-down shirt with black pants. He holds a plate of food as he stands over us.
“What are you doing here, Jet?” I ask.
“I’m one of your personal waiters tonight. Anything you need, just ask. Here,” he says, holding out a plate filled with miniature, bite-size barbeque-beef sandwiches on little homemade buns like he’s a trained butler. “My dad made these appetizers for you at his restaurant. It’s an experimental recipe, so if you puke or die don’t blame the chef. You’ve been warned.”
“Everything your dad cooks is delicious,” I tell him as I reach for one of the sandwiches. Trey follows my lead and we both dig in while a very satisfied and proud Jet watches us devour the food.
“Damn, Jet,” Trey says. “Tell your dad this is the bomb.”
My mouth is stuffed full of mouth-watering tender beef, fresh homemade bread, and spices that blend together perfectly. “Mmm” is all I can manage.
“That’s just the beginning.” Jet waves to someone in the announcer’s booth on top of the bleachers. My brows furrow in confusion as I look at Trey, who rubs his hands together in pure joy like he did last Christmas right before he opened the watch I bought him.
Ashtyn and Derek come walking down the bleachers and onto the field. They’re both wearing the same attire as Jet. I can’t believe Trey orchestrated this whole thing with our friends, the same people who have been with us since we started dating. Ash is carrying a big stuffed penguin, and Derek is carrying a basket.
“Where’s Vic?” I ask. He’s the only one of our core crew who’s not here.
Trey shrugs and checks his cell. “He’s supposed to be here.”
“I haven’t heard from him,” Jet says.
“Me, either,” echo Derek and Ashtyn.
“Maybe he got in a fight with someone just for the fun of it,” Jet jokes, but we all know there’s some truth in his words. “Or maybe he’s reeling over the fact that he’s going to homecoming with his ex.”
His ex?
“Vic is going to homecoming with Cassidy?” I ask.
Jet nods. “Yep.”
A sinking feeling settles in my heart. Not that I care who Vic goes to homecoming with. He can go with Cassidy. So why is jealousy racing through my veins?
Are they back together?
Ugh, I shouldn’t care. Vic and his love life have nothing to do with me.
Ash says, “Forget about Vic and enjoy the food and this special night.”
Trey checks his phone again, then mumbles something about a cake and Vic and that the entire night will be ruined if he doesn’t get here soon.
“I can’t believe you guys got all dressed up.” I open the lid to the basket and am shocked with all the goodies inside: chicken and mashed potatoes and some kind of vegetable casserole. I pull out each item and place it on the blanket.
“This is awesome, guys,” I tell them. “Thanks so much. I love all you guys for being here.”
Trey takes the stuffed penguin from Ash and hands it to me. “Here,” he says.
“I love penguins. Trey, this is perfect.”
We start eating while Jet, Ashtyn, and Derek play music through the loudspeaker and act as our personal butlers. After dinner, the three of them leave so we can be alone.
Trey wraps a blanket around us, then turns off the fake candles so we’re almost in total darkness.
But as close as we are physically right now, I feel like our thoughts and emotions are a million miles away from each other.
I sit up.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
I don’t want to tell him, but I don’t want to keep up the façade any longer. It’s not fair to either of us. I want to be in a relationship, but I suddenly realize I don’t want to be in a relationship with him.
“This seems so fake, Trey.” I turn to face him. “Don’t get me wrong. I love what you did for me tonight. It just seems so… forced.”
“I concur.” He sits up. “Let’s just make it through homecoming, Monika.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to go to homecoming with you. Everyone knows you’ll be voted homecoming queen…”
“And you’ll be king,” I say.
He runs a hand through his hair. “I just don’t want to shake things up right now.”
“Then why are you obsessed with texting a girl named Zara? I think that’s pretty much shaking things up.”
“You don’t know anything about her,” he says, defending her like he’s her boyfriend.
“Because you won’t tell me! You pretend like there’s nothing going on between you and this girl, but it’s obvious. I mean, you’re so preoccupied with texting her, it’s like you don’t even care about me anymore. On top of that, you taking those pills freaks me out. I’m not blind or clueless. I know what’s going on.”
Trey’s cell rings.