A Prom to Remember(39)

“How do I let him talk me into these things?” she muttered as she circled another rack. The only good news was that most of the dresses weren’t too expensive, even though she hated the idea of spending any of her hard-earned Hot Potato money on a dress she’d only wear once.

Her mom had offered to give her money for it, but it felt wrong. Paisley had gotten herself into this mess; she didn’t need a bailout from her mom.

She was well aware that if she hadn’t accidentally nominated Henry for prom king neither of them would have to go to the prom.

This dress was her penance.

She grabbed a black spaghetti strap number in a heavy satin with a peacock feather print across the front in whites and blues. She didn’t love it, but it had pockets, which after more thought had started to feel essential. Far more important than liking anything else about the dress.

In the fitting room, she stared at herself in the mirror, sticking her hands in the pockets and posing casually in one direction and then turning to pose casually in the other direction.

It honestly wasn’t so bad. She looked pale but not sickly in the dark, rich fabric, and it came in at the waist, making her feel feminine and a little bit flirty, even if she wasn’t a flirt.

She couldn’t resist giving a spin in the mirror, ignoring the goldfish-printed socks on her feet that totally ruined the look.

At sixty-eight dollars it was too good to pass up. Especially since she’d been willing to spend a hundred if she had to. She might even be able to wear this to her cousin’s wedding next fall.

There was a knock on her dressing room door just as she started another round of twirling.

“Do you need anything? Anything I could help with?” the saleswoman asked.

“No, I’m fine, thank you,” Paisley called back, feeling exposed. She quickly slid off the dress and put her Hot Potato uniform back on. Her shift started in fifteen minutes, so twirling time was definitely over.

Paisley purchased the dress and even had enough time left to run it out to her car. She didn’t want to get cheese sauce on the satin.

When she got to the potato stand a few minutes later, Lizzie was there and Madison was seated in her usual hiding spot.

“You should really get a job here; I’m sure we’re hiring,” Paisley said.

“It’s way more fun coming in to bother you guys. Besides, babysitting has been far more lucrative for me.”

“The potato business is nothing to frown upon,” Lizzie said in a fake haughty voice. “Potato futures are looking up.”

“What does that even mean?” Paisley asked.

“I have no idea, but sounded funny in my head,” Lizzie said.

The girls laughed.

“So here’s another funny thing, at least to me,” Paisley said. “I’m going to the prom.”

“Ugh. So am I,” Madison said.

“Me three,” Lizzie said.

“Yes, Lizzie, we know all about you,” Madison said. “So why are you going, Paisley?”

“Henry needed a favor.”

“Henry is no longer going with Miss Amelia Vaughn?” Lizzie asked, placing a scandalized hand on her chest.

“He is not,” Paisley said with grin.

“She must be on the warpath.”

“I don’t know,” Paisley said. “She was out sick today. Why are you going, Madison?”

“Well, I want to see what happens with Mystery Boy, obviously,” Madison said. “But also. It’s the prom. I might as well go.”

“Well, at least we can all have fun together,” Paisley offered.

“Ugh, fun,” Madison said.

But Paisley did feel a little better knowing her other friends would be there.

“Come on, maybe it won’t be so bad,” Lizzie said.

“Ever the optimist,” Paisley said.

“I’m definitely sneaking booze in,” Madison said.

That worked for Paisley.

Otis

Otis’s dad returned from his business trip Friday night, but Otis knew enough to wait until Saturday to talk to him. The prom was less than two weeks away, and he’d already blown his opportunity with his mom. She was a firm no on the whole situation.

After mowing the lawn on Saturday afternoon, Otis found his dad out in the garage looking through a box of pool supplies for a pool they didn’t even have.

“How was your trip?” Otis asked.

His dad held up a length of tube. “Do you think your sister could use this for a robot she needs to make for the science fair?”

“Jillian’s participating in the middle school science fair?”

His dad rolled his eyes. “Your younger sister,” he clarified.

“A working robot or a model robot?”

His dad paused. “I don’t know.” He threw the tube in the laundry basket where he was apparently gathering things for Lindsey’s project.

“And my trip was okay.” His dad eyed Otis thoughtfully. “I hear you had a little adventure.”

“Funny you should bring that up.”

“Oh, very funny I’m sure.”

“Listen, I understand that I deserve to be punished. I shouldn’t have gone out, but I would really like to explain why I should be allowed to go to the prom.” Otis had decided to make a good show of arguing about his punishment with his dad even if he was feeling more and more relieved about this turn of events.