Page 110 of Unhinged Kallie

“I’m sure we can find a way to rectify that after freaking everyone out.” Carter laughed.

“You don’t care if they talk, do you?”

“No. Not even if someone wanted to try and sell the story one day when I’m all rich and famous.” He smirked, and his dimple showed. I wanted to jump across the seat, say, ‘Screw the prom,’ and have him right now in the car. “I’ll just produce my birth certificate and prove them all wrong. Then the person will look like a money-grabbing liar, and that will be that. But, as far as them staring and gossiping, I couldn’t care less. I love you. That’s what matters.”

I squeezed his hand tighter and fought the urge to rub the spot over my heart. The guilt was eating at me, and if I opened my mouth, I would blurt out my plan. Now, I understood where my dad’s superpower had come from. His ability to stay focused on the kill and not let emotions cloud his judgment was unparalleled, which was why Darryl still being alive confused me.

Limos and fancy cars obviously belonging to ‘Daddy’ were lined up around the school as we pulled up. Carter ignored the long line and headed for the parking lot instead of the drop-off. We got a spot not far from the door, and now that we were here, an electrical charge of excitement rippled up my spine. I knew I looked incredible, and my date was the definition of walking sex. Even though I never wished to be popular, I wanted everyone’s eyes on us tonight.

Carter opened my door and held out his hand for me, and the little gesture made my heart race. Taking it, I stood and opened my clutch.

“You might as well put the keys in here,” I said, and he dropped them in. Once more, nagging guilt ate at my stomach.

With my head held high, I slipped my arm through his as we walked to the front door. The first group of girls we passed stopped talking and stared, and I knew it had nothing to do with me.

“Isn’t that her brother,” I heard one of them ask, but I didn’t bother glancing her way.

The theme for tonight was A Night in Italy, and I had to give Talon and her Pussybots some credit. They did a great job with the decorations. Black and gold balloons filled every corner while images of Italy were plastered on the walls. We walked over a small wooden bridge built over a fake canal and waited in line for photos. Someone had taken a large canoe, cut out wood shaped like a gondola, and painted it to look like the real thing. As we stepped behind, I couldn’t help but smile.

I’d changed and grown so much in the four years I spent here. Even though I never wanted to return after graduation, there was a finality to the night that felt like a door closing. Troy would’ve hated tonight, yet I could picture him smiling for the cameras with some hot girl on his arm while fantasizing about killing them all. I really missed him.

“Good, you two are beautiful. Now wrap your arms around her waist,” the photographer said, and I smirked at a few shocked expressions as Carter did just that. Turning in his arms, I wrapped my hands behind his neck, and the photographer cheered us on as Carter leaned in for a kiss.

The click of the shutter on the camera floated away, and so did the gasps of those waiting in line. Carter filled my world as he always had. I had many hopes and dreams and things I wanted to do and see, but none of them seemed important without Carter by my side.

Carter kissed me on the nose, then ushered me into the main hall. Lights were flashing in time to the loud music from the DJ. People danced while others took photos with the decorations spread around. There was a long table piled high with desserts, and I had no idea where they found it, but there was a Leaning Tower of Pisa that looked just like the mural painted on the wall. This was a perfect celebration of us leaving high school and moving on with our lives.

“This theme is much better than the one they did for you,” I said as we neared the dessert table.

“How the heck would you know that?”

“You don’t really think I let you go to prom with a girl I hated and didn’t follow you, did you?”

Carter stared at me and then shook his head. “You’re the reason Amanda left early. She said she felt sick after going to the bathroom.”

“I may or may not have had something to do with that.” I teased him as I picked up a chocolate-covered strawberry. Putting it in my mouth, I took a bite and moaned as the sweet flavor hit my tongue. The heat in Carter’s eyes was instant. Holding the other half up to him, he bit into it, and a little bit of the juice dribbled down his chin. I leaned in and licked it off before he could grab a napkin.

“Do you mind that I chased her off,” I asked, kissing his cheek and leaving behind a light imprint of my lips.

“Not really. I only went with her because she asked me to go.” He picked a bite-sized brownie off the table and took a bite before offering me the other half. “Do I want to know how often you follow me out that I don’t know about?”

“No, probably not, but someone needed to keep an eye on you. You had deplorable taste in women, me excluded, of course.”

“Why yes of course.”

Glancing around, I spotted Talon and Bo walking in, and she dragged him straight to the dance floor.

As I slipped my hand into Carter’s, he stole another square off the table before I pulled him to the dance floor. For the first time, I felt like I was a normal girl, doing normal girl things. I didn’t want to fit in, not really. But I wondered what it was like to worry about the color of my nails instead of if blood was left under them and wearing what was in fashion instead of what would conceal my knives.

“Have I told you lately how fucking sexy you are,” Carter asked as he twirled me out and back into his body.

“Yes, but I love hearing you say it.”

His hands circled my waist and pulled me flush against him. “The principal looks like he’s going to have a heart attack,” Carter said, and I glanced over to see the man staring and holding his chest. He actually looked like he was in the middle of one.

“Wanna give him an extra show?”

“You don’t have to ask me twice,” I said and moaned as Carter dropped his lips to mine. This was no sweet peck on the lips. It was a battle as I tasted the sweet chocolate flavor left on his tongue. I would’ve stood like that with him all night, but he broke away, and I could feel the horrified expressions from the people around us.