Page 59 of #Lovestrong

Lena

Mrs. Carrigan banned the boys from her master bathroom for the next two hours while she helps me and Candice get ready for the dance. The protest Declan put up was comical. I've never seen him whine at his mother before. He and Jackson are downstairs playing video games until it's time for them to get ready, which won't be for at least another hour considering all they have to do is shower and get dressed.

I'm totally jealous of Mrs. Carrigan's bathroom though. It's got a marble floor with white tiles, accented throughout with these blue beach patterns. It's big enough to fit the entire soccer team. She has a standing shower, Jacuzzi tub big enough for at least four people, double sinks, and a separate vanity. Oh, and her closet is attached to the bathroom.

Mine and Candice's dresses hang in the closet in gown bags, and Mrs. Carrigan gave us big, fluffy robes to put on when we got out of the shower. I'm trying really hard to relax and have fun, but I'm so nervous about tonight.

"Take a breath, sweetie. It's just a dance," Mrs. Carrigan says as she finishes pinning my hair up. She’s done it in a beautiful twist that's pinned up with just a few pieces framing my face, which she curled.

"What if he doesn't like the dress?"

I keep my eyes on her reflection in the mirror and she smiles sweetly at me. "Honey, you're going to be stunning. And for the record, my son didn't give you that ring because of your looks."

As she moves to Candice, I stare down at the gold band on my left hand. I know she's right. Declan doesn't care about my clothes or make-up. I still can't help but be nervous. More than anything, I want tonight to be perfect.

"They're doing an early visitors event at the University in May, Lena," Candice says, wincing as Mrs. Carrigan pulls her hair back into a ponytail tight enough to give her a facelift. "Maybe we can go. It's never too early to see if we can get a dorm with Jaz."

"Yeah, that’d be fun," I say, still staring at the ring.

"It means forever. Did he tell you that?" Mrs. Carrigan stops in front of me and takes my hand, holding the ring up and turning it until the engraved message, ‘go deo’, faces upward. "It's Gaelic."

"I didn't know that." As she lets my hand go, I slip the ring off and study the words. It's crazy to think about forever at seventeen, but at the same time, it feels right. Like everything I've been through was leading me to Declan, to this moment in my life.

God works in some really odd ways sometimes.

Candice stands, turning from side to side, admiring her hair. She smiles at her reflection, and as I slip my ring back on, I smile at her too. She and Jackson are perfect together. I'm so glad I met her. She's my best friend now, and I can’t imagine getting through everything without her.

Over the course of the next two hours, the three of us do make-up and talk, laugh, and everything in-between. It's the first time I've really had an experience with someone in a motherly capacity.

"You never talk about your mom, Lena," Candice says as she sits in her chair.

Declan's mom leans against the vanity and stares at me, a sympathetic look in her eyes.

"Uh, she left . . . when I was five." I have to stop from picking my new nail polish off my fingernails. Mrs. Carrigan did too good a job for me to ruin them. I glance up at Candice and she's staring down at the floor, clearly wishing she hadn't asked me. Reaching over, I lightly touch her leg. "It's okay. Best friends are supposed to know this kind of stuff about each other."

She stares at me for a moment and then her face splits into a big smile. As much as I want to spend every minute with Declan, maybe Candice and I can have a girls’ night soon. Camilla, Jaz, and I used to have them all the time. I kinda miss just having other girls to talk to about stupid stuff.

"Okay. Dress time!" Mrs. Carrigan claps her hands together with a wicked and excited grin on her face.

I take a deep breath, praying Declan likes it and that tonight goes smoothly.