SAVANNAH
Riley looked out the window while I put on a necklace in front of the mirror. She was now dressed in a purple silk evening gown she had prepared weeks ago. Her perfect wavy hair graciously fell over her shoulders.
“Rafael Sebastian really is something, isn’t he? He sent us a limo. Won’t your boyfriend come with us?” she asked.
“He said we should go first. He suddenly has some important last-minute thing to do. But I didn’t know he was going to send a fancy chauffeur.” I wore my pearl earrings, perfect for my black designer off-shoulder maxi dress with a front slit on the right thigh.
Riley shut down the blinds and joined me in front of the mirror. “Damn, Savi. We look hot.”
I made a pose, sticking out my butt. “Yeah. It’s been a while since we dressed up like this.”
“Hey, Riley, Sav.” Wesley knocked on the door. “Are you going to be there long? I’m going out first since I’m picking up Lana.”
“Yeah, sure! You go first,” Riley answered. “Oops. I just have one more thing to do. Tada!” She lifted her pair of Dior sandals.
“Those are pretty! You already bought it?”
Riley liked to collect luxurious shoes that had at least a few thousand dollars in price. But it was thanks to her collections I was now wearing her Jimmy Choo pumps with crystal embellishments.
She giggled. “I’ve wanted this pair for a long time.” She brought down the shoes and put them on. “Let’s go! We’re going to be late. We should be there before the party starts.”
“I’m still worried about the dance!”
I still remember the steps Edward and I used to dance. He would dance with me at home when we had nothing to do. But I wasn’t bothered by the steps but by my partner himself.
The divorce papers arrived in my email yesterday. We were now officially divorced. Although Edward probably already knew about it. I wondered what he would say.
When we left the apartment, Eddie, Rafe’s personal driver, was waiting next to the sleek black Bentley limousine. He greeted us with a good afternoon and opened the door for us. Riley came into the limo first.
“Did Rafe say when he’s coming?” I asked the driver before stepping in.
“No, ma’am. He’s usually occupied at this time of the day. But if he says he’s coming, he is coming.” He gave me a reassuring smile.
“Thank you, Eddie.”
“You’re welcome, miss.”
I smiled back and slipped inside.
“Whoa,” I said as soon as I perched comfortably on the seat’s cushion. Not only did the interior smell like an expensive hotel, but a bouquet of red roses was also sitting on the empty seats, and a complimentary drink was served.
Riley was beaming at me like it almost tore her lips. “I really, really like this guy, Savi.”
I chuckled. I took out my phone and sent Rafe a message because we were texting now.
Nice ride. Thank you for the flowers x
His reply came a minute later.
You’re welcome, beautiful.
***
Cars were lining up at the driveway of St. Louis Arts and Sciences High School. Long, yellow, white, and pink lanterns swung over the drive, and as we edged to a Chevrolet, I could see them everywhere. They looked enchanting in the early evening sky right after the sunset. I glanced at my best friend, who couldn’t hide her fascination.
Eddie pulled into the driveway, and a valet opened Riley’s door. Eddie leaped out to open mine.
“Since when does our school have a valet?” Riley joked.
“I know, right?” I looked around and already saw familiar faces. A red carpet ran along the entrance to the school’s event hall head. “How many people are coming?” I asked Riley. Her restaurant and her people were in charge of the catering tonight.
“More than three hundred, including the teachers and their dates. Pretty big, huh? Let’s rock it tonight, sister,” she said. “Arthur said he’s waiting for me inside.”
We walked through the red carpet, where cameras were flashing everywhere. A string quartet played softly in the venue, and black-suited servers holding trays of glasses brimming with cocktails were roving across the hall.
“Girls! Thank God you’re here.” Lana approached us with her silver dress glittering against the disco ball light. Wesley, who’s in a black tux, was standing behind her. “Especially you.” She snatched my arm and pulled me to her.
“Why?”
“We’re going to start the first dance in ten minutes! I’m tonight’s host, remember?” Lana said.
“Right now?” I questioned incredulously. “I haven’t said hi to anyone.” And I wasn’t mentally prepared.
Wesley shrugged.
“You can do that later.” She yanked my arm and escorted me to the side of the venue backstage.
“Savannah.” Edward’s head lifted. He was already there, looking like the typical prom king in his white dinner jacket with black lapels and bow ties. He was undeniably handsome, one of the qualities I wanted about him. But it was surprising how his looks didn’t affect me now.
And, of course, Sofia. She was holding him on the arm. She wore a peach-colored chiffon dress that hung lightly on her body.
I didn’t have time to chat with them.
Lana stood in the middle. “I’m going to the stage now to start the program. I will greet the attendees and the teachers, but the theme is a ball, so the first dance starts on my cue.”
“Is that okay? We didn’t even practice,” I asked.
“It doesn’t matter. You two had danced all of your lives. No offense, Sofia—” Lana glanced at her, “—so you two can just be yourselves and dance. The steps don’t matter,” she told me and Edward.
Edward looked at me. “Is it okay?”
I nodded. “It’s fine. It’s just a dance,” I murmured.
“Where’s your date?” Sofia asked me with her on-point brows knitted together.
“Oh, God, Sofia. Don’t talk to me,” I said. It was still painful to look at her pretty face.
Her cheeks reddened, and she lowered her head. Her tamed reaction was surprising, given how prideful she was when we first talked.
“Hey, Lana! Are you ready?” Richmond, from another class, and her co-host called out from across backstage.
“Yes, I’m after you!” she yelled back, then turned at us. “Guys, this isn’t the time to argue, okay? I’m going ahead. Most of our classmates and batchmates are here.”
“Yes, go on. We’ll be fine.” I flashed a smile.
Lana nodded in acknowledgment and then marched to the stage.
I was now alone with these two cheating idiots.
Could this be more awkward?
What did I do so wrong in this life to deserve this?
I wondered how Edward hadn’t mentioned the divorce. Oh, well. At least now, I was totally free of them. They could now do whatever they wanted, and I wouldn’t care.
While Lana began with her lively opening speech, Sofia and Edward were murmuring like teenagers at my side. I didn’t want to look out of place, so I drew out my phone again to text Rafe.
Me: The program is starting now, and I’m participating in the first dance. I’m missing you already.
His reply came right away.
Rafe: I’m sorry, baby. Something else came up, but I’m leaving the penthouse now. Isn’t the first dance with your ex?
Me: Unfortunately. Hurry up here. I miss you.
Rafe: Don’t dance with anybody after that until I get there. I miss you more. Can’t wait for tonight.
I bit my bottom lip and looked up dreamily. He was talking about going to Long Island to his family’s house tonight. Yes, I couldn’t wait either.
Lana shared a joke with Richmond on the stage after greeting the guests and our teachers. I heard most of them were here, but two had already died because of old age and illness. Richmond shared a memory he could never forget in his senior year, and Lana supported her co-host’s story with another event during our junior year.
Lana laughed at her own revelation about crushes, much to the delight of their audience. I only had one crush. I loved and married him, but he was already in someone else’s arms. I wanted to cherish the happy memories I had in the past like them, but it was too early for that. I knew I was not completely healed.
Richmond then began announcing the first dance.
“I guess that’s our cue,” I said glacially to Edward, not knowing he was already staring at me.
“It is,” he whispered. “Shall we?”
“Yeah. Let’s get this over with.”
Edward draped his arm on Sofia’s shoulder and gave her a light kiss on the temple. She gave him a nod and forced a smile. I could tell in her face how insecure she was. Well, she brought this to herself.
However, this night would be the turnaround for the three of us. I would now formally end things with Edward. Taking my hand, he led me to the dance floor.
The hosts announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, our prom king and queen…”
A solemn atmosphere replaced the joyous ambiance of the event hall. The lights dimmed, and only one spotlight served as our light on the enormous dance floor.
The crowd swayed to the hall’s sides and fell silent as a live string quartet played the same music when we danced at prom a decade ago.
Edward’s hand glided to my waist, and we began to dance. The music started slow, just enough to make my body relax. The last time I danced with him was in our living room, on his birthday last year.
“So, here we are. I can’t believe they had us do this,” I said.
“Faculty’s request. Let’s just do this dance like we used to. It’s not so hard.”
I sighed. “Fine.”
Edward bent me backward with his arms supporting me and then brought me back. “Or just follow my lead…”