Running From You

Chapter 43

NORA

"How much time do we have left?" Olive asks while dabbing setting powder on her pale skin.

I check my phone. "Five minutes, tops."

"Can't believe we're actually on time," she grins at me over her shoulder. "I was sure we'd be running like headless chicken at this point, nowhere near ready to go."

"Same," I pick up a can of strong hairspray and add a last layer over my fabulous hairdo. I've curled the dark strands and Olive has pinned it all up in an elegant low bun and added a silver rhinestone hair vine.

"Ta da!" Olive twirls on the spot, showing off her pale pink A-line dress. She looks absolutely gorgeous. The top layer of her long blonde curls have been pulled up with a pearl barrette, a few stands up front left loose to frame her face.

"Ah-mazing," I clap my hands giddily. We've been getting ready for hours, and now that the time is almost here, I'm starting to get really excited.

Olive smiles brightly. "Thanks. You know, Tyler is going to lose his shit when he sees you," she wiggles her brows at me wickedly.

I roll my eyes but can't help the smile that tucks at my lips. "Yeah, yeah, right."

"I'm serious," she sings, checking her make-up for the last time.

I purse my lips. I have no idea where Tyler and I stand, exactly. We've established we're in a relationship, but neither of us truly, completely trusts the other. And that's a problem. But then again, it's not something that can be fixed right this minute. We just need to give it some time and hope we can make it.

But tonight's prom. And prom's supposed to be this magical thing, and I want tonight to be perfect. I don't want to wallow in our problems when we could be having the time of our lives. Plus, this is kind of our first official date date. Which is why I'm kind of getting nervous.

The doorbell rings just then and we exchange a little panicked look before hurrying downstairs in our heels. 

I open the door with Olive right behind me, and my jaw drops down. Damn. Evan and Tyler stand on the porch shoulder to shoulder, but I only have eyes for the latter.

Tyler's wearing a black tux with a white dress shirt and a silky champagne vest and bow tie to match my dress, and he couldn't look better. He's undoubtedly the most handsome guy I've ever laid my eyes on.

His brown eyes are twinkling as he takes me in, his lips parted in surprise. 

"Hi," I'm the first to break the silence. "Come on in, guys," I step aside to let them pass and close the door behind them. I distantly notice Evan and Olive disappearing into the kitchen, leaving Tyler and I alone in the foyer.

"You look beautiful" Tyler gazes down at me. No one's ever looked at me like that before. Not with that intensity.

My heart skips a beat and I find myself twiddling with my dress. It's the color of champagne and has thin straps and leaves my shoulders bare. Shiny solid fabric hugs my torso and cinches at the waist, cascading down to the floor. A second layer, sheer and encrusted with glitter, tops the first and catches the light when I move.

"Thank you," I push a curled strand of hair behind my ear, suddenly nervous. "You look really handsome, yourself."

"I try," he grins, fixing his bow tie. "Give me your hand," he shows me a clear plastic cube I hadn't noticed. A corsage.

I smile and offer him my left hand and he takes out the flower arrangement and slips it in my wrist. It's beautiful. His fingers stay on my hand, slowly moving up my arm, sending shivers of pleasure down my body.