Vodka Kisses

0609- Last Dance

"You have to be kidding." My eyes widen. This was it, this was supposed to be the big finish. The line between before and after.

The line that separates high school and college.

"I'm so sorry, really I am." My dad puts some coffee in front of me.

"No prom and commencement is harsh." Logan puts his hand on my shoulder to squeeze it.

"You're telling me! Dad you have to do something to fix this." I tell him and he puts his hands up.

"My hands are tied pip, I want you to go to the dance and I want those pictures of you at graduation in a cap and gown. On the bright side, the Hastings have offered to throw you guys a prom in their barn?" My dad offers.

"The barn?" My eyebrows jump at that. It sounds truly awful.

I let out a groan and just move towards the fridge to find something to eat.

"This is shit." I complain. The prom thing is a joke, the graduation thing is an even bigger joke and now there's nothin in the fridge.

"I thought we could go after breakfast?" Dad offers.

"What breakfast?" I slam the fridge door.

"Someone's hangry." My dad laughs with Logan.

"You better be ready to go grocery shopping in like half an hour." I glared at them.

"On second thoughts, I'll run out and grab some stuff, you get ready because Steph will be here within the hour. She's freaking out." My dad tells me.

Of course she is.

****
"Grace." Steph smiles, puts her coffee down and rushes over to me as I step into the kitchen.

I step towards her, away from Logan as she throws her arms around me.

I pull back from her hug and she glances over at Logan.

"Did you try on your suit? I can make adjustments today if I need to, I brought bits with me." Steph says as she heads back over to her coffee.

She takes a sip of her coffee and waits for Logan.

"No, all is good." Logan smiles at her.

"Great, I found you a perfect tie." Steph claps her hands excitedly.

"I wish we could do this in New York, it would be so much more fun." Steph gives me a sad smile. "But I trust your mom's recommendations and I can make just about anything work." Steph is so excited, it's written all over her face.

Growing up Steph was always treated like an aunt to me, but the way she stepped up since my mom died, she well and truly is the best auntie anyone could ask for.

"We should get going." Steph grabs her purse.

"Hold on." My dad takes his wallet off.

"Ugh." Steph rolls her eyes at him and brushes him off before turning me to face the door.

"This is my day with my niece, you pay for her all the time, let me pay for her for once." Steph argues with my dad.

I laugh. They're fighting over who is paying, it's crazy.

"Stephanie come on. It's going to be expensive, you already paid for her dress." My dad argues back.

I turn back to face them whilst this happens.

"Don't full name me." Steph rolls her eyes. "This doesn't make you any less of a man. I'm taking care of Grace, I don't see her and this will be the last time I see her before you guys jet off to London." Her eyes tear up at that.