Little White Lies (6 page)

Wyatt crossed the threshold a moment later. Charley’s breath quickened. Like Stuart, he’d opted for less traditional formal wear. His tux, a black that shimmered, opened at his waist to reveal a simple vest in a color Charley could only call Swiss chocolate. He’d left the top button undone and added no tie. More casual than she’d have thought, his suit held an elegant simplicity.

His eyes remained fixed on hers, his lips twitched as he made his approach. A simple red rose and a solid black box rested in one hand.

“You … are amazing,” he said.

She spun to give him the full effect. “You like?”

He closed the distance like a lion to its prey and crushed his lips against hers. The rose and box slipped behind her as he pulled her in, bending her backward into his body. Their lips merged, as they had countless times, like magnets drawn together by sheer force of attraction.

“I guess you do,” she said when he released her lips but not his hold.

“I do.”

Charley would have sworn he meant more than he should have.

Wyatt pulled her upright again and brought the rose to her nose. Charley breathed in the delicate scent—one she’d forever associate with the start of their night.

“Thank you.” She twirled it between her fingers as Wyatt opened the box he’d held.

He lifted the lid, eased back on a hidden hinge.

That’s not from Sears
.

An aquamarine stone sat in between two smaller amethysts. The trio hung from a silver chain that sparkled like the moon on a cloudless night.

She took a deep breath, hands over her lips. In more than two hundred years, Charley had never been given a gift like it.

“Wow.” James whistled over her shoulder. His “oof” reached her hair as she elbowed him in one quick move.

“You like?” Wyatt mimicked her.

“I do.” She reached for the necklace.

Wyatt held the box wide as she lifted it and let it fall into the palm of her opposite hand.

“May I?”

Charley nodded as he took it from her. She turned her back to him as his hands came down like a curtain—the necklace glittered with the room’s light. Her hair tickled as Wyatt moved it to one side, clasped the necklace and let her hair fall back into place.

James whistled again—from farther away.

“Shall we?” Wyatt extended one arm toward Charley.

She draped hers over his. “Absolutely.”

6

Charley’s fingers found her pendant whenever her hand fell free from Wyatt’s. She’d see the sparkle as it reflected in a window, on her plate or in her glass. The need to reach out and touch it prevailed over every other desire. Cool against her naked skin, it lay as if glued. Only when she leaned too far forward would it dangle free before it returned to its exact spot when she straightened. Each glance from Wyatt chipped away at her resolve, her strength to let him go.

She could love him, provide for him, and still push him through the experiences of life. James had all but given his blessing. Cael would be pissed, but she always came back to the promise she made to Lily.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Wyatt’s hand caressed hers.

“That’s an old saying,” she said through her smile, tilting and righted her head. “Just remembering.”

“Night’s young. We got loads of time to make stuff to remember.” Wyatt stroked her back.

Charley leaned into him, laid her lips upon his, moved her hand behind his head and pulled him closer.

“Dude. You got company here.” Stuart’s voice carried through the wide expanse of the leather and lights in the limo.

Charley ignored him.

“Ahem!” Lily coughed into her hand.

Charley drifted from Wyatt, turned toward Lily and Stuart and graced them with an extended tongue. “Spoil sports.”

As their limo slowed, her heart raced.
So little time
.

Due to kick off the event, they arrived before the other students, and their entry rivaled the Oscars’ red carpet. Flashes of light popped as Wyatt exited the limo, and they continued as she stepped from within. Students who weren’t invited had lined the make-shift runway—cameras in hand.

“Oh my, there are a lot of kids here.” Lily leaned toward Charley’s ear after Stuart helped her to her feet. The dress pulled tight as she maneuvered out the door.

Wyatt held himself and Charley still for a moment and let the underclassmen get their assignments completed before he nodded and motioned the group forward. Cat-calls, whistles and screams of ‘Go Wyatt!’ followed.

“Where did they come from, man?” Stuart asked.

“Just a little something the Events Committee cooked up.” Wyatt walked Charley onto the dance floor. “We got the underclassmen to show up as paparazzi along with some of the parents.”

The first to arrive, on purpose and alone in the space, she and Wyatt waltzed to a pure symphonic classic. The croon of a male’s voice pushed them forward. Left foot, left. Right foot, right. He led. She followed both Wyatt and the music.
Barry Manilow?
Charley grimaced to herself.
Where did they find this DJ?

She gave up trying to figure it out and put her focus on Wyatt as the piano keys tinkled along with the regular low swish of cymbals. “I didn’t know you knew how to dance,” she said.

Their bodies moved to a slow cadence as words of love poured through the speakers and warmed her heart. No matter the singer, the lyrics were enough.

Wyatt pushed them through the steps as the voice and keyboard came to a close. “I learned. For tonight.”

Together, they made the rounds as the school’s silver and gold glittered above them, reflecting across a dozen disco balls and bouncing against the stage. Their eyes stayed riveted to each other as they came to a halt. Wyatt pressed forward as he dipped Charley into a low bow. He traced her contour with his eyes until they reached her lips where he placed the softest of kisses before he moved to her neck.

Charley let go, her balance resting in his hands. She ran her fingers through his hair, buried her face in his neck and shifted to offer him a kiss better left for darkened spaces.

Students who’d arrived while they danced broke into a rumble. Feet pounded and cell phones raised as shouts rang through. They gathered on the dance floor with and around them.

Wyatt laid his lips against hers again before they rose together and moved to the DJ’s table. Cheers grew until Wyatt smiled and raised both arms. He flipped his watch toward himself, grabbed the mic and signaled with a wave of his hand that everyone should ‘get their groove on’ as the DJ said it.

As laughter rang out, Charley smiled. She couldn’t remember a time she’d been happier.

• • •

Music blared, lights flashed, bodies bumped, and spiked punch crept its way into cups. Charley’s curls lost their strength as a light sheen of sweat coated them. Lily’s dress paid the price of her wild antics on the dance floor. With every song, the decibel level grew as did the speed at which dancers moved—Charley and Wyatt no different than the rest.

“I’m gonna get a drink!” Charley cupped her hands, shouting over the beat of the music.

Wyatt nodded and led her out of the foray toward an open table.

They fell into chairs as Stuart and Lily did the same—new drinks in hand. Mr. Miter found the punch, the culprit and a replacement. The whispered groans from many disappointed students passed in near-silence from one to the other.

Lily pulled her dress back down for the hundredth time after it inched its way up yet again. “This is fun!”

“You guys act like you’ve never done this before.” Stuart’s voice, while clear to Charley, barely broke over the decibel in the room.

Lily shook her head. “Haven’t!” As the music shifted, a new beat pumped out. Lily’s eyes grew large. “I love this song!” She pulled Stuart back out onto the dance floor.

“He’s going to crash when he gets home.” Wyatt’s lips brushed Charley’s ear. “Want to get some air?”

She nodded.

They rose from the table, passed couples in various states of physical engagement and broke through the line of those who waited for the photographer. The cool night air rushed through the double doors as they pushed through.

“Oh! It feels good out here.” Charley strolled to a low ledge and leaned her back against it.

Wyatt shifted his body in front of hers; his hands found their place at her hips. Hers snuck their way up his chest. Eyes on one another, their lips met with no hesitation.

“It does feel good.” Wyatt grinned.

Charley moaned. “It’s quiet out here, too.”

She could see at least two other couples who’d taken refuge in the night’s calm. Music from inside added to the ambiance of Christmas-light twinkles under a clear sky. The moon lit the space enough to see but not be seen.

“I could stay out here all night.” She murmured words against his lips and started the kiss again.

He teased her lips open, pressed with his tongue and built a fire within Charley. She grew as hot inside as she’d been indoors.

His hands crawled up her uncovered back, caused a shiver to run her length. Their lips remained fixed as Wyatt tangled his fingers in her hair and curled a lock taut. His gentle tug brought forth a sigh of pure pleasure.

Charley dug her nails into his back, raking a path through his vest. She wanted more. She wanted his skin against her own. She pulled her hands back around and glided up the front of his vest, undid each of the three buttons. Wyatt continued the kiss, shifting to give her better access.

In one swift move, Charley pulled his shirt out from the waistband and ran her hands from his abs to his chest, leaving the buttons in place. Wyatt’s finger pushed at the fabric against her neck, let it fall to her elbow. He did the same to the other side. Their hands, given mutual access and unsaid permission, roamed super-heated surfaces.

Their breaths came fast as they explored. Wyatt dropped one hand to Charley’s back and pressed her against the short wall—her only other support. His hand traveled down her leg until he found her knee and pulled it up to wrap around him. It would take no more than a flip of a zipper to drive their experience further.

Charley realized the position they’d put themselves in well after the line had been crossed. She bit at his lip. “Wait.”

Neither withdrew. Wyatt set off a lick of heat wherever his fingers grazed her skin.

“Wait.” Charley stopped.

He pulled his lips away, but kept her body melded to his. “Why?”

She let herself fall against him. “One reason.”
Or two.
She glanced left and right. “Public.”

Wyatt followed the path of her gaze each way, rubbed against her as he did. “Oh.”

The exit doors burst open, letting the sounds of the party escape.

“Yo, lovebirds.” Stuart stuck his head through. “Come dance.” He disappeared back inside and the doors slammed.

Charley let a bubble of laughter escape. “You realize we’re half undressed, right?” She buried her face in his chest as her cheeks flamed. The heat would not cease. Behind them, the doors opened and closed twice. “Guess we oughta go.”

“I don’t want to.” Wyatt kissed her again. “We could ditch.” He pressed his hips against hers.

Charley groaned as she pushed him away. “You’ve got a reputation to uphold, Wyatt.” She held him back when he tried to touch her.

Like a three-year-old in mid-pout, Wyatt relented and buttoned his vest while Charley straightened her gown. She rechecked his lines, and he spun her in a complete circle—all layers fell, no accidental tucks. Both had seen enough movies to know the redress told all.

• • •

As Charley re-entered the hall, thumps and vibrations assaulted her ears. Scores of dancers jostled her and Wyatt as they passed, and the DJ continued to roll one song into the next. Lily and Stuart danced, surrounded by a circle of enthusiastic admirers. Lily threw her hair back and spun as Stuart held her waist and jigged to her lower half.

“She’s having fun.” One hand in Wyatt’s, Charley stood with him on the outside.

Within, the crowd chanted “Stuart! Stuart!” and egged him on with calls, claps and cheers. The faster the two danced, the more pumped the crowd grew. They only slowed when the song reached its finale, and the entire group applauded. At Stuart’s nudge, he and Lily graced everyone with a bow.

“Oh my!” Lily stumbled into Charley. “I’ve never had so much fun!”

“You had some of the original punch, I think.” Charley laughed.

“No! I didn’t. Am just havin’ fun!” She drained a bottle of water in one shot. “I’m lettin’ go.”

Stuart walked up, his own water in hand. He flopped onto a chair.

“Havin’ fun, man?” Wyatt mock-punched his shoulder.

Stuart pointed with his water to Lily. “She’s a maniac.” He added a wink that Lily returned with a giggle.

“Wyatt?”

He spun. “Julie! Hey!”

Charley bristled—the hairs on her arms standing on end.

Julie bit her lip as Charley saw her do so often when she tested the waters of a conversation.

“Um …” Julie stood as though someone else might speak first.

Wyatt’s eyes locked on Julie’s cleavage—everyone’s did. As much as it pleased Charley to see an interest outside of herself, Julie’s bold move on an otherwise engaged boy ripped Charley’s heart.

“What’cha need Julz?” Wyatt asked when his gaze returned to Charley’s.

Julie smiled. “I was wondering if … you wanted to dance?”

Coy. Why else would you infringe on a girl, knowing she’s going to leave.
Charley offered Julie one of her infamous smiles.

“Oh. Oh!” Wyatt’s head whipped from Julie to Charley and back. “Where’s Brady?”

“With his buds.” She thumbed across the room where a dozen guys stood, their faces the perfect picture of boredom. “He doesn’t dance.”

“Oh.” Wyatt hung his head, switched to Charley again.

Julie giggled.

Rather than let it upset her, Charley decided to take the less jealous route. “Go.” She flicked her wrist toward the dance floor. Before it returned to her lap, Julie took Wyatt’s hand, pulling him from his chair.

At that moment—or perhaps because Julie had made it the right time—the music turned soft and dreamy.

“Go figure.” Charley’s gaze remained on Wyatt, his neck circled by Julie’s arms.

“You okay?” Lily patted Charley’s leg with one hand. Blue eyes reflected a hurt Charley thought only she could feel.

She nodded. “No.”

“I’d be pissed as hell if Julie did that to me.” Stuart chugged from his water bottle.

“S’okay, Stuart. I’m leaving anyway. It’s … good for him.” Charley shrugged, forced it to sound believable, though even Stuart would see right through her.

Alone, her thoughts strayed to Wyatt and Julie. They swayed back and forth, hips connected, arms around each other—as intimate as he’d been with Charley. The way he held his body—stiff and controlled—suggested he’d not fallen under Julie’s spell.

Why did I suggest he date her?
Charley shook her head at herself.

“Um, Charley?” Lily whispered inches from Charley’s ear.

“Yeah?” She refused to take her eyes off the couple on the dance floor.

“Did you know it’s ten ’til?”

Charley widened her eyes, whirling toward Lily. “What? Midnight? It can’t be.” Charley searched for a clock—any of them—with a preference for one that ticked too slow.

Lily pulled her cell phone from her clutch, turned it to Charley. The numbers blinked a bright green. Charley’s mouth fell open as the digits shifted to eleven fifty-one.

Less than nine minutes.
“No!” Charley’s voice turned to a whispered cry. She kept her voice low to prevent Stuart from overhearing. “It has to be wrong! Lil, it has to be!”

Lily shook her head. “It’s not, honey.” She took Charley’s hands in hers, squeezed. “Go break in, dance with him until the last tick-tock. I’ll be outside with James.”

“How will I know the time?” She hadn’t thought that far ahead.

“You’ll know.” Lily rose. One tear slid down her cheek. She wiped it away with a finger.

“Stuart?” Lily tapped him on the shoulder. “Gotta pee.”

He saluted.

Lily disappeared into the corridor. Charley knew it would be the last time he and the girl he knew as Leena would see each other.

• • •

Charley’s hands shook. Her body radiated a pain she considered worse than any shift she’d gone through before, and still she sat and watched Wyatt dance with Julie.

“Get out there!” Stuart’s yell barely reached above the music. “Don’t let Julie spoil it!”