“We’ll be here waiting after school,” Miller said as he pulled up outside Empire High.
We’ll? As in him again?
“Will you need a ride after football practice, Matt?” Miller asked. “I can have someone sent for you.”
This was too weird. I unbuckled my seatbelt.
“Nah, I’ll catch a ride with Mason. Thanks for driving us,” Matt said.
“And Miss Pruitt?” Miller added. “If Isabella does anything at all to you, please notify either of us right away.”
“Like what?” My voice was so small, I wasn’t sure Miller or Donnelley had heard me.
But then Donnelley turned around to look at me. “She’s not supposed to talk to you at all. Mr. Pruitt and her are still negotiating the specifics, and until something is signed she’s not allowed to have any contact with you. She understands this. So if she talks to you at all…you text us right away and she’ll be removed from school.”
“She’ll be expelled?” I asked.
“No. This is a family matter. One of us will come escort her out for your safety.”
My safety? I nodded. This was a good thing. Isabella wasn’t allowed to speak to me. That was great. Except…the knots in my stomach didn’t feel great. Since when did Isabella ever do anything she was supposed to? “Okay,” I said. I had a feeling I’d be texting them in no time. I followed Matt out of the SUV.
Matt threw his arm over my shoulders as we made our way up the front steps. He waved at one of his football friends and then kissed the side of my forehead. “Today is going to be a great day,” he whispered in my ear. “Don’t worry about Isabella. Let’s just enjoy this moment. No more wasting time.”
It was what I’d always wanted. For him to love me in public. What was I doing worrying about Isabella? I wouldn’t let her rob me of this moment. And Matt knew how much wasted time weighed on me. He’d said the exact right thing to get me out of my head.
He held the front door for me and the hallway hushed. Everyone was staring at us as Matt walked me to my locker. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the prostitute rumors, the fact that Isabella had tried to murder me, or that Matt was holding my hand. Probably a combination of the three.
Matt seemed to think it was the last one, because when we reached my locker, he pulled me against his chest and kissed me, showing our relationship off to the whole school. I didn’t care about the rumors swirling around. For the first time at Empire High, I felt safe. As long as I had Matt - really had him - everything would be fine. And I did. His hand slid dangerously close to my ass and I laughed.
I heard a few whistles. A few laughs. A few cheers for Matt. And then the hush was gone.
“Nothing for them to whisper about now,” he said. “By the first bell, everyone will know you’re mine. And everyone will know not to mess with you,” he said a little louder for the benefit of the passersby.
“Brooklyn!” Kennedy yelled. She almost toppled me over in a hug, but Matt was there to keep us both upright.
“What is on your hand?” she said with a gasp. “Oh my God.” She looked at Matt’s smiling face and then mine. “What is going on?”
“It’s a promise ring,” I said at the exact same time that Matt said, “We’re engaged,” loud enough for anyone nearby to hear.
I laughed and Matt smiled down at me.
“What? Well, which one is it?” Kennedy lifted up my hand to stare at the ring. She didn’t wait for me to respond. She just threw her arms around me again. “It doesn’t even matter. I can’t even remember the last time I saw you this happy. And I’m so happy for you. Did you know that Matt and Mason sat with me at lunch yesterday?” She pulled away from her hug.
“No, I didn’t know that,” I said and smiled up at Matt.
“I’m going to let you two catch up,” Matt said. “See you at lunch?”
I nodded. I couldn’t stop smiling.
He leaned down and gave me one last kiss.
I heard the flash of Kennedy’s camera capturing the moment.
Kennedy waited for him to walk away before continuing. “I’ll definitely get that one developed for you,” she said and looked up from the screen. “You guys are so adorable.”
I opened up my locker to hide my face. After what she’d been through this weekend it felt inappropriate for me to be smiling so hard. But she seemed to be in a good mood. A great one, actually. She snapped another picture as I pulled out my books for first period.