January Dreams Carrigan Richards (the mitten read aloud TXT) 📖

dance to almost every song. I enjoy every minute, and it keeps my mind off of things.

He makes me smile and I’m so lucky to have him. I love Vincent, but I can’t escape this stupid nagging feeling. Why does it bother me?

After an upbeat song, Vincent sighs. “I hate to do this, but I need to call and check up on my mom. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.” He kisses my forehead and walks away. I’m left alone on the dance floor.

Someone taps me on the shoulder and when I turn, my heart lodges in my throat. “Casper.”

The DJ plays a slow song with a haunting piano tune and a beautiful female voice begins singing.

Seeing Casper in a tux makes me want to lose my inhibitions and kiss him. His brown eyes are dark with intent and I can’t seem to move or speak.

“May I have this dance?” he asks.

My heart is thundering inside my chest. I nod and he takes my hand and places his other hand on my waist. I shudder from the pleasurable touch and hope he doesn’t notice. We move blithely as if we’ve been dance partners for years.

“I thought you weren’t coming.”

He lifts a shoulder. “I wanted to see you. You look stunning as always.”

I brave a look into his fervent eyes, and it’s enough to take my breath away. “You can’t be here,” I say, averting his gaze.

Casper pulls me closer to him and his lips are close to my ear. “It’s my prom, too. I have every right to be here.” His fingers interweave through mine with the most tender touch.

“You know what I mean.”

“I know. I’ve been thinking, Megan.”

“About?”

“I’m not sorry about the kiss. And if Vincent’s the one you want, I will wait for you. Because I know deep down inside, I won’t ever love another woman the way I love you.” He lowers his lips to my ear again. “I know you feel it, too.” He draws back and kisses my hand.

The feelings are too intense, and I can’t fight them anymore. Cherry’s right. I’m pushing away something that feels so right and it’s making me crazy. I know what I have to do.

A breath escapes my lips. “It’s you.”

“What?”

“It’s you, Casper. But you have to get away from me. I can’t be seen with you.”

Casper stares into my eyes with an edge. “Megan—”

We stop dancing and I reluctantly pull away from him. I can’t let Vincent see us dancing. I have to end it with Vincent without him getting angry.

He nods. “I get it,” he says, and I don’t miss the bitter tone, but he has it all wrong. He walks away before I can explain myself. My heart won’t stop beating so fast and for some reason I want to cry. I shake my head and take deep breaths.

“You know, I didn’t mean that literally,” Vincent says behind me which startles me.

Confused, I turn around to see his smile. “What?”

“When I said not to go anywhere.”

“Oh.”

“Are you okay?”

I nod.

“Are you ready to leave?”

“Yes.”

We ride in silence in the car. I don’t want to push the issue, but he never explained the visions to me. I have to talk to him, and I expect him to take me home, but he’s going the wrong way.

“Where are we going?”

“My house. I have a surprise.” He smiles.

“I can’t stay out late.”

He sighs. “None of that will matter soon.”

I’m nervous. I’m not ready for anything and as much as I hate to think it, I’m so ready for this night to be over. I want to tell Vincent about the kiss, but tonight isn’t the night and I’m too scared. As I look at Vincent in the soft orange glow of the limo’s interior lights, I realize that what I feel for Casper is so much stronger than what I feel for Vincent. I knew this already. I don’t want to break his heart, but I have to tell him.

When we get to his house, he blindfolds me and takes me inside. I can hear him flicking a lighter and I start smelling candles. My palms begin to sweat. I wring my hands and feel him behind me.

He unties the blindfold and there are hundreds of red and white rose petals leading upstairs with the tea light candles.

“Vincent,” I whisper.

“I wanted to do something romantic for you.” He brushes his lips against mine. “Do you want something to drink?”

“Sure,” I say, my throat suddenly dry. I put my purse down on the table and he hands me a glass of water. I chug the whole glass.

His lips tickle my neck, my shoulder. Vincent takes my hand and leads me toward the stairs, but I don’t budge.

“What is it?”

“I-I’m not ready.”

He smiles sweetly. “But it’s prom.” He shakes his head. “We have all the time in the world for that.” I feel a stabbing pain in my chest. “Your surprise is upstairs.”

I follow him, losing my grip on things. How can I tell him I don’t want to be together anymore? My heart is lodged inside my throat making it hard to breathe or swallow. We get to his room and I sit on his bed.

He hands me a small box and gets down on one knee. I’m trying not to jump to conclusions, but my whole body is shaking.

“Vincent.”

His eyes hold mine. “Megan, I love you. I always have and always will. I see no reason why we can’t be together forever. You are my soulmate. You are the sun in my life. You’re everything to me. Will you marry me?” He opens the box revealing a white gold ring with a sky-blue aquamarine stone surrounded by swirls and flowers.