The Perfect First (Fulton U, #1)(89)

Declan - Prom





*



The Rittenhouse Prep prom committee had gone all out again this year. Limos and luxury cars lined the entrance to the building. Those cars cost more than my house was worth, but you couldn’t tell that from the way people called out our names as we walked by. Me and the guys who’d had my back since our first practice together freshman year, The Kings, were State Champions—again.

I’d been to every prom since freshman year. It seemed even senior girls had no problem being seen on the arm of a freshman, as long as it was me. The thumping of the music guided us through the entrance of the building with a slightly fishy smell. Being right on the water, the building had a distinct salt-and-sea tinge to the air.

My rented tux fit well. Working my magic, I’d done a deal with the shop. Told people where I got mine from, and the shop rented it to me and had it altered for free. It was a pretty sweet deal. I figured if I was going to be uncomfortable in the thing, at least I’d look good.

And from the way heads turned as we walked in, I knew I did. Lots of guys walked in with their custom tuxes, but I didn’t care because all eyes were on me and the rest of the Kings. Rittenhouse Prep Kings and state hockey champions in the flesh. People on the dance floor clapped and cheered when we came in through the double doors of the ballroom.

“Declan!” Someone whooped from a few tables away. A bunch of woo-hoos and Kings’ chants later and we could finally leave our spot at the door. If Ford got any redder, he’d be ready to explode. He tugged at his collar. They’d had to special order his tux. But he had that strong silent thing chicks went wild for. Jet black hair, serious scowl that melted away in an instant. He hated the attention; that was fine. I could soak up more than enough for all of us.

The warm buzz from the pre-prom drinks we’d had at Emmett’s meant I was feeling good. Nothing too crazy. We didn’t want to get kicked out, but just enough to kick up the fun a notch.

“What did I tell you? We don’t need dates.” I grinned, and my eyes swept over a few of the more plunging necklines of some of the dresses our fellow students wore. We moved through the room, and people’s heads turned as we walked past some classmates already seated. High fives were doled out for all of us as we strolled by.

“Declan, guys, this way, I’ll show you to the table.” One of the bubbly juniors rushed up to us and looped her arm around Heath’s, tugging him forward. I rolled my eyes. Heath never had to bat an eyelash to get the women to fawn all over him. Blond hair worked for guys as well. He was easy to spot with the surfer look on the East Coast.

“We took the liberty of putting your tent cards on the table already. We didn’t want you to have to find your names.” She had a mountain of blonde hair piled up on top of her head. The curls were so tight it looked like she could bounce around on her head like Tigger.

Our spot was a prime location in the center of the ten-seater tables dotted around the dance floor.

“I have a feeling we’re going to be dancing a lot,” Ford grumbled, elbowing Colm as he took his seat. He looked as uncomfortable as I felt. The fabric of his tux was stretched to its limit on his shoulders—if he wasn’t a gentle giant, who’d mastered the art of chilling the fuck out, I’d swear he was ready to Hulk out at any second.

“Don’t worry, big guy; I’m happy to intercept any dance requests someone might throw your way.” I lifted my glass of water to him as a toast.

Colm slid his flask across to my lap, and my eyes got wide. He was our resident mischief maker lately. Having your life thrown into chaos had a way of making people act not quite like themselves. Emmett by far got into the most trouble out of all of us, but with his parents’ power and influence he never really had to worry about the consequences. Heath, Ford, and I were scholarship kids who knew how to toe the line. “Is this the older brother breaking all the rules?” I covered my mouth in fake outrage.

“Shut up. Olivia’s not here, so what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” Colm had become the guardian of his younger sister when their parents died earlier that year in a car accident. He’d always taken on the protector role, but that had gone into hyperdrive now that Olivia relied on him.

I drained the water and put my glass under the table, pouring some of the vodka into it.

“Declan, can I have a dance later?” A girl, Hannah—or was it Anna?—asked as she passed by on the arm of her date.

I winced and shrugged my shoulders at the guy. Sorry, dude. I’d convinced the guys to go solo. Well, except for Emmett. He’d of course brought, Avery. They’d been joined at the hip since sophomore year. But Heath, Ford, and Colm were by my side at our table. Blue light skated over the room from the massive fish tank that took up one entire wall.

Not many people got to say they had their prom at an aquarium. A group of other students crowded around one end of the tank where a fish that looked almost as big as Emmett hung near the glass. All it was missing was the giant bushy beard.

This was one of our last nights all together. The prom, the big pep rally, a final blow out at Emmett’s, and then we were all off to college. Bittersweet in a way. Leaving most of the guys behind. Heath and I would be playing locally at the University of Philadelphia. Colm and Ford would be up in Boston, and Emmett was being cagey with his plans for next year.