Elite (Empire High, #2)(72)

“Oh, honey. You have a boy blowing up your inbox. And another hunk of a man staring at you with googly eyes.” He waved his hand in the direction of the door, and I assumed he was talking about Miller. “I don’t see the problem.”

I wasn’t really sure if I did anymore either.

“I’d kill to be in your shoes. All the good men are straight.” He started working on my hair again.

Maybe he was right. Not the straight thing. I honestly had no idea if that was true. But my shoes seemed pretty great right about now. I looked down at my Keds. What the hell was I doing?

Kennedy put the phone down on my lap, with another text message opened on it:



“Brooklyn, I love you. I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it. I’ve never told anyone else that. I’ve never felt like this about anyone else. I don’t want to give up on us. Please talk to me. I need you.”



I pressed my lips together.

“You have to text him back,” Kennedy said. “What if he’s telling the truth? What if he didn’t sleep with Rachel? What if it’s all just a crazy big misunderstanding?”

I stared at the phone. I needed to hear Matt out. I owed him that much.

“Before you text him back,” Justin said. “What in the name of Judy Garland is a relationship contract? Is that some kind of kinky sex thing? Because if it is, I need a copy ASAP.”

“No.” I laughed. “It’s because my dad’s a crazy person and needs to know all my business.”

Kennedy gasped.

But I’d already heard what I said. It was the first time I’d ever referred to Mr. Pruitt as my dad. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy. I had a dad. And he acted like it too.

“Well, your father tips well,” Justin said. “So how bad could he really be?”

If good versus evil was so easily defined by a tip, my life would be so much better. But Justin did have a good point. A monster wouldn’t leave a tip at all. My dad wasn’t a monster. I looked down at the texts. Maybe the monster was me.

I quickly typed out a response to Matt. “Are you still going to homecoming?”

Matt’s response came almost immediately. “Yes, I’ll pick you up in an hour.”

Of course he jumped to that conclusion. I wasn’t going to give in to him taking me. I already had my date. Kennedy and I were going to have a fun, drama free evening. “I’ll just see you there.”

The phone buzzed. “Save a dance for me?”

“Always.” I clicked send before I could change my mind. I’d give Matt the length of one dance to explain himself.





Chapter 27


Saturday

“Wow,” Kennedy said when Justin finished my makeup and hair. “You look so amazing, Brooklyn.”

I smiled and looked over at her. “No, you look amazing.” Justin had finished her makeup first and she was flawless. The eyeliner and mascara made her eyes pop even more than usual. The hair rollers that Justin had taken out had given her updo more volume. Cupcake was going to eat his heart out.

“Thank you,” she said with a smile. “But I’m serious.” She grabbed the handheld mirror and lifted it in front of me.

I looked just like my mom. I swallowed hard. My loose curls cascaded down past my shoulders. I wasn’t used to wearing much makeup. I looked all grown up. I blinked fast, making sure my tears wouldn’t fall. Everyone always said I looked like my mom. But it was almost like I was staring at her reflection.

Justin was the most talented person I had ever met. I wanted him to do my makeup every day. I felt closer to my mom than I had in months. I didn’t know whether to cry or try to hug the mirror. But then my eyes settled on the crown on top of my head that sparkled with crystals.

“I…I can’t wear this,” I said.

“What do you mean?” Kennedy pulled the mirror back. “You look just like that picture of your mom that you had on your nightstand back at Uncle Jim’s. You look beautiful. You’re going to make Matt lose his mind.”

“It’s not that.” I shook my head and turned to Justin. “You did a fantastic job, but you have to take the crown out of my hair.”

“Why? Honey, you look fabulous. When you step into the room everyone will be looking at you.”

“Isabella’s homecoming queen,” I said. “She’s supposed to be the only one wearing a crown. She’ll kill me if I go like this.”

Justin laughed. “Well, maybe you should have won,” he said. “That’ll show that nasty bitch. Maybe it’ll teach her some manners.”

He almost made me laugh. Not because it was super hilarious, but because Rob had said something so similar about Isabella before. Was it possible that Rob was gay? What am I even thinking about? I need this crown off my head! “I’m a sophomore, I couldn’t have won. Please just take it out.” I lifted up my hand but Justin smacked it away.

“You’re a masterpiece,” he said. “A vision. And you will not ruin my work. Now let’s get you girls in your dresses before you give me a coronary.” He sashayed off toward our dresses. It seemed like the angrier I made him, the more his hips swayed.

“Really, Brooklyn,” Kennedy said. “Screw Isabella. She literally destroyed every piece of clothing you’ve ever owned. And then had her demon dog pee on everything. And then tried to blame it on me. She deserves to be knocked down a level.”