Page 54 of Like You Know

Harlow and Easton used the distraction to have a chaste kiss.

“Can I meet the boy who has my daughter smiling so wide?” Mom gripped my elbow and looked between Jet and me with a smile.

“Sure! Mom, this is Jethro. Jet, my mom.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Ellis-Lahari.” Jet took Mom’s hand in a polite shake and turned on the charm. “I can see where Amaya gets her beauty from.”

Mom threw her head back and laughed. “Yes, well, she gets her stubbornness from me too, so good luck with that.” She didn’t even bother to correct him on her last name. She was an Ellis, and I’d gotten both my parents’ last names.

“She knows her mind. I love that about her.” And just like that, he had my mom in his pocket and me falling a little harder for him.

“Mom, you look amazing.” I took a step back to take her in. I’d sewn the skirt on the night before, and she had on the outfit I’d put together for her.

“Thanks to you.” She beamed at me before taking a spin.

Mom introduced Cal, who shook Jet’s hand and gave him a cold greeting before moving away to talk to Donna and Harlow’s dad. I frowned, wondering what was up his ass all of a sudden, but Jet didn’t seem to notice.

After approximately sixteen hours of cameras and phones in our faces, the parents finally waved us off, and we piled into a limo after saying bye to Harlow and Easton.

As soon as the car was moving up the drive, Hendrix turned to Donna. “Your tits lookamazing!” He released something between a groan and a whine, and we all busted out laughing.

“How long have you been holding that in?” Turner teased as he popped the cork on a bottle of champagne.

“Since they started bouncing down the stairs.” Hendrix adjusted his junk and stared at Donna’s boobs, getting his fill now that the parents weren’t around.

“Excuse you, we did not bounce.” Mena crossed her arms. “We floated down the stairs like ladies.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure he’s referring to Donna’s boobs,” I said before taking a sip of champagne.

We laughed and joked all the way to Fulton Academy. The school could more than afford to hire out a venue for the prom, but why bother when we had a ballroom already? Because no one at our school would be seen dead wearing designer formalwear inside a high school gym.

Nicola squealed when she saw us and gushed about our matching dresses. We joined our friends at our table, and not long after, I felt my phone vibrate. It was one minute past the hour, and there was a message from Mom.

She’d sent a selfie, a spacious powder room in the background. I smiled and sent one back.

The night seemed to be going by in a flash. Everyone was in a good mood, there was no drama, Mom kept checking in as promised. There was food and (spiked) punch, Headmistress Perry gave a speech, and we danced.

When a slow song came on, Jet pulled me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and gave in to the cliché prom moment as we swayed from side to side.

“You are so damn beautiful.” He looked me right in the eyes as he said it, drawing me a little closer.

“Thank you,” I whispered and rested my cheek on his shoulder. I was responding to his compliment, but I was thankful for so much more. He’d been there for me when I hadn’t even realized I needed him. He made me feel safe. I was thankful forhim.

The official prom ended not long after, but in true Devilbend fashion, the party was set to go on. Nicola was hosting an afterparty at her place—a penthouse apartment in the tallest building in Devilbend.

We all piled into the limo once more, a little more disheveled than we’d arrived but in high spirits. Drew and a few of the football team guys joined us for the ride, so the car was rowdy.

It still didn’t stop Donna and Hendrix from making out as if no one was there. Mena and Turner were giggling about something, their heads together.

I pressed my body against Jet’s side, and he gripped my thigh.

“I miss you,” I breathed against his ear, then gave it a little nibble. His chest rose with a deep breath.

“I’m right here, beautiful.” He turned to capture my lips in a soft, lingering kiss.

“I know, but ...” I sighed. I saw him every day at school, but everything had been so hectic with exams and my mom that we’d hardly had any time together. I was so ready to get into his pants. “My mom and Cal are still at that party, which means the house is empty.”

“Hmmm?” He flashed me a little smirk.