Page 12 of Ruthless Court
He is beside Brooke but leaves enough space between them to explain away.
His tie matches the school colors.
Her dress is red.
The boutonniere Dad bought is pinned to his jacket.
The caption reads:
Prom with my favorite people.
Nothing suspicious.
Nothing Ryan couldn’t show my father.
Then the candid pictures begin.
Someone captures the group walking into dinner.
Brooke is ahead of Ryan.
He is watching her.
Not her dress.
Not her body.
Her.
His eyes are warm. His smile is unguarded, as if she said something that reached a private part of him.
He never looked at me that way.
The next photograph is taken during a slow song.
The dance floor is crowded. Brooke’s official date is laughing with someone near the DJ booth. Ryan stands behind her, one hand close to her waist but not quite touching.
Careful.
His face is turned toward hers.
That look again.
The one I spent months pretending he gave me.
Another picture shows Brooke leaning close to speak into his ear.
Ryan’s eyes are closed.
He is smiling.
Not the charming smile he uses on teachers, parents, or girls who can help him.
A real one.
Each photograph finds a new place to cut.
They never kiss.
