Page 57 of Tainted Love

We all gathered for a group photo, posing in the classic prom stance. However, to my surprise, Sascha purposely positioned herself in front of Landry while Kerri subtly stepped in front of me.

It’s no secret that Landry has been crushing on Kerri for a while now, so this move seems intentional and calculated. I can’t help but feel a pang of discomfort as we pose for the picture as just friends (aside from Corey and Ivy, who are sickeningly cute), knowing the complicated dynamics at play here.

The girls’ actions may be their way of ensuring we know where we stand with them. It threatens to pull me back into my funk, but I’m able to shake it off and eventually find myself having a surprisingly enjoyable time at the dance.

The boys and I huddle together, discussing our years playing hockey and our plans for the future. We sway along to the upbeat songs, letting loose and enjoying each other’s company. As a slow song begins to play, I look at Landry with uncertainty.

“Are you going to ask Kerri to dance?” I cautiously raise the question, my eyes squinting as I wait for a fist to pound my face. But instead of anger, all I hear is a low chuckle from my friend.

He shrugs nonchalantly. “I don’t want to push my luck,” he responds.

“Why not ask Bell?” he suggests.

I shake my head. “Same reason you won’t ask Daisy Duke.”

He nods in understanding. “Ah, gotcha. Well, go ahead and ask her. Just make sure to keep your hands off her ass, or you’ll be kissing your hockey career goodbye.”

“Good talk,” I mutter before walking away and smoothly gliding over to the group of girls. Sascha’s eyes widen in surprise as she sees me approaching. With a charming smile, I address the group of ladies before me. “Hello, ladies,” I say in a suave tone. “Kerri, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?”

I can see the surprise in Kerri’s widened eyes as she turns to look at Sascha for approval. A faint blush spreads across Sascha’s chest as she tries to maintain a composed expression. When Sascha offers her a small smile, Kerri smiles and extends her hand to me.

As the lively music fills the air, I take Kerri’s hand and guide her onto the dance floor. A crowd of people surrounds us, swaying to the beat, but my eyes keep drifting back to Sascha on the other side of the room. She narrows her eyes at me, a clear message that she won’t forget my actions tonight.

But I push those thoughts aside as I focus on Kerri. “Are you having fun?” I ask over the loud music.

“I am,” she says with a grin, her adorable twang adding to her charm. “It’s a nice break from working on the farm.”

“Tell me about the farm,” I say, hoping to steer the conversation away from Sascha. But it turns out to be a wrong move, as Kerri spends the rest of our dance telling me about her grandparents’ farm and its daily operations. It sounds less like a typical farm and more like an animal sanctuary for disabled pets.

When Kerri shares a story about her grandmother’s favorite chicken named Betty Davis Thighs, I can’t help but laugh until tears fill my eyes. By the end of our dance, I’m convinced this girl is the perfect match for Landry. He needs someone sweet and innocent like Kerri to balance out his quiet and introspective nature.

The rhythmic beats of the music begin to slow as the dance winds down. We go to the parking lot, where our cars await us after the limo ride.

I’m driving Sascha and Sarah in my truck, while Kerri is likely entertaining the others with stories from her farm in Delzy's car.

As we drive, I meet Sarah’s eyes through the rearview mirror and ask, “Did you have a good time tonight?”

Her face lights up as she exclaims, “I did! My feet are killing me from all the dancing.”

I then turn to Sascha and ask, “And you, Sash? Did you have a good time?”

She looks at Sarah, who is now absentmindedly gazing out the window, and then reaches over to squeeze my knee as she says, “I did. But the night is still young.”

Damn. The look on her face is a mix of desire and invitation, and I know I’d be a fool to turn down what she’s offering. My heart races as we arrive at Kerri’s, the anticipation building with each step closer to her grandparents’ home.

They give us a tour of the area, with a breakdown of the rules, which we set about breaking approximately five minutes later.

I grab my duffle bag from the car, and we sit and chat, reminiscing about the night and our senior year in general. The air is filled with laughter and nostalgia, and I can’t help but feel grateful for this moment.

Before long, Delzy and Ivy slip away to their own corner of the barn. I remember giving him a hard time when he first showed interest in her—something I now regret deeply.

I couldn’t understand how someone could become so consumed with another person back then. But now, as I feel myself being drawn toward this girl who has captivated me in every way possible, I finally get it. The intensity of emotions and longing that come with being truly connected to someone else.

As the night presses on, Sarah lets out a yawn and announces that she’s feeling tired. She wearily makes her way over to where she had laid out her sleeping bag when we arrived.

Kerri and Landry are engrossed in conversation, their voices carrying through the barn as they chat and laugh about something. Sascha, who had been leaning against a wooden post nearby, gives me a sly smile and gestures toward the back of the barn.

I practically leap to my feet and eagerly follow her.