The Perfect Prom Date (17 page)

My mom leaned in and reminded me for the hundredth time, “Don’t forget to call us when you get there.”

“I won’t,” I promised, stopping myself from rolling my eyes.
 

“And have fun.” My dad winked.
 

“I will,” I smiled, settling back into the seat.
 

It took about ten hours to get to Orlando with a stop for dinner and several potty breaks. We checked into the resort and went straight to bed. It was already past midnight. As promised, I shared a room and a king sized bed with Madison.
 

When I woke up in the morning, little Maddie was staring at me with a strange look on her face. I began to panic, reaching my hands up to smooth out my hair. It was probably such a mess I was scaring her.
 

“What the matter?” I asked, sitting up. “Is it my hair? Is it my makeup?” I was so excited about going on vacation with my boyfriend, that I never once stopped to think about the fact that he would see what I looked like first thing in the morning – before I showered or even brushed my hair.
 

She giggled, “No, silly. We really
are
sisters now. We’re sharing a room just like my brothers do.” She stood up and started jumping on the bed, shrieking with laughter. My body relaxed and I laughed too.
 

By the time Madison and I finally got out of bed, Brennan was already gone. He had early morning practice for the tournament that started later that afternoon. I thought it would have been weird to hang out with his family without him, but it wasn’t. His family was so easy-going that I felt right at home. We spent the morning swimming in the resort pool and running through the sprinklers until it was time to leave for Brennan’s game.
 

We arrived at the game just as his team finished warming up. Brennan saw us and waved. I hadn’t spoken to him yet, so I went to say a quick hello before the game began.
 

“Hi B-Man,” I said shyly, suddenly feeling embarrassed. I still couldn’t get over the fact that I was actually here. It looked like some of his baseball buddies couldn’t believe it either. A couple of them were whispering to each other near the dugout, and then every few seconds they’d look over at us with disbelief in their eyes, as if they were talking about us. I often felt awkward around his teammates. Brennan said I was imagining things, but I wasn’t so sure. Something didn’t seem quite right. I pushed it out of my mind though, because I didn’t want anything to ruin this trip.

“Hi.” He leaned over the fence and quickly brushed his lips against mine. “How did you sleep last night?”
 

“Good.” I smiled, remembering Maddie jumping on the bed just a couple of hours ago. “How about you?”

 
“It was tough, knowing you were in the next room,” he whispered.
 

I blushed. I knew the feeling. It had taken me forever to fall asleep last night. As I listened to Maddie snore lightly, I kept thinking about Brennan, wondering if he was snoring too. I could hear sounds coming through the wall, but I didn’t know whom they belonged to, Brennan or one of his brothers. I guess I had my answer. I’d have to tease the boys about it later.
 

“I just wanted to wish you luck,” I said, giving him a quick hug. “I’ll see you after the game.”
 

“Thanks.” He smiled.
 

Brennan played a great game. It was fun sitting in the stands with his family, all of us cheering him on. By the end of the game, my voice was horse from yelling so much. His team won, 7 – 2.
 

On Sunday his team played a double header and won both games, bringing home
 
the first place trophy for the tournament. Brennan was named MVP for pitching a perfect game and hitting three home runs. I was so proud that my eyes filled with tears.

“Congratulations, Brennan.” I rushed toward him.
 

He picked me up and twirled me around before setting me back down.
 

“Thanks for coming. It meant a lot to me to have you here.” He brushed a loose hair from my face. “It’s easy to focus on playing ball, when I know you’re watching.”

My face turned as red as my hair at his compliment. “You do all the work. I just watched,” I said with a scratchy voice.

Brennan laughed. “It sounds like that’s not all you did.”

His family gathered to congratulate him too. His dad took lots of pictures of the team posing with the trophy.
 

“Can we go see Cinderella now?” Madison asked, tapping her foot. “Baseball takes forever.” She put her hands on her hips and let out a huge sigh.

Everyone burst out laughing. She had been waiting patiently for three days to see her favorite princess.
 

“Mom, can we? Can we go see Cinderella now? She’s been waiting for me since we got here.”

“Madison, honey. We can’t go right this minute. We’ll go tomorrow. Brennan needs to go back to the room and shower. We’re going out to dinner with his teammates and their families to celebrate.”

Madison pouted. She was desperate to see Cinderella, but what she didn’t know was that Mrs. Fisher had booked a breakfast with Cinderella in the castle for tomorrow morning. It was a surprise.
   

“Madison, you can sit next to me when we go to dinner, and I’ll teach you a magic trick,” I said, hoping to boost her spirits. She looked like she was about to cry.

Brennan leaned down and whispered something in her ear, and that made her smile. My heart melted.
 

***

The next morning I quietly tiptoed out of the room. I didn’t wake to disturb Madison. We were all going to the Magic Kingdom, and I wanted to use the bathroom before Brennan saw how hideous I looked in the morning. He had gone right to practice the past two mornings before I even got up, so he hadn’t seen how scary I looked when I woke up.
 

I had my hand on the bathroom door when it opened, and Brennan walked out with only a towel wrapped around his waist. My mouth fell open as I admired his muscular frame and washboard stomach abs.
 

“Oh, sorry,” I sputtered, closing my mouth.
   

“I didn’t think you’d be up this early,” his blue eyes sparkled. He was enjoying the effect he had on me.
 

“I was hoping to be first in the shower.” I cringed, remembering how horrible I probably looked. I glanced down at his bare chest, and my face burned red. Stating the obvious, I said, “I guess you beat me to it.”

He laughed. Here he was with a towel wrapped around his slender waist, carrying on a conversation with me like it was the most normal thing in the world. I hoped his parents didn’t choose this moment to walk down the hall.
   

I shook my head to clear it because I was completely distracted by the sight in front of me. “I should hurry and shower. I know your parents want to leave by 8 a.m. to get to the Magic Kingdom.”

“Yeah, I should get dressed.”
 
He pointed behind him to the room he was sharing with his brothers.
 

I closed the bathroom door and turned the shower on cold. I needed to cool down before spending the day with Brennan and his family. It was going to be difficult to forget how hot he looked this morning, and it was going to be even more difficult to think clearly when my blood boiled whenever I was around him.
 

Three hours later we were all seated at Cinderella’s breakfast. I looked around the room at all the little girls in their make-believe ball gowns and tiaras. Madison was the cutest of them all with her blue dress just like Cinderella’s and her blonde hair in a bun.
 
It all reminded me of the upcoming prom. Cinderella got to go to a ball wearing a beautiful gown, and she even danced with Prince Charming. When was Brennan (my very own Prince Charming) going to ask me to the prom? Would he ask me while we were on this trip? Has that been his plan all along? I suddenly felt as excited as all the other little girls here.
 

Brennan played the perfect part of Prince Charming. He pulled out my chair for me and even stood when I excused myself to use the restroom. Madison giggled at his over exaggerated gestures. I really didn’t think he’d ask me in front of everyone, but I couldn’t help feeling a tiny bit disappointed when breakfast was over and I still didn’t have a date to the prom.
 

We spent the next couple of hours with his family going on rides. By early afternoon Madison and Cameron were getting tired, so Mrs. Fisher took them back to the resort, while Mr. Fisher stayed behind with Will and Owen. Brennan and I headed off on our own for the first time since the trip started.
 

“What do you want to do first,” he asked, raising his eyebrows. “Would you rather get some food or go on Space Mountain.”

I knew he wanted me to say Space Mountain. The whole drive to Florida he kept saying that it was his favorite ride, or at least it was when he was nine years old. “I would rather…” I patted my stomach, teasing him.
 

“No - ” His forehead crinkled.
 

 
“Go on Space Mountain.” I shouted. A big smile spread across my face.
 

Brennan cheered. He grabbed my hand, and we raced toward the entrance.
 
We waited over an hour in line because the fast passes were already sold out for the day.
 
I thought maybe now – he’ll ask me. We had time, and we were alone. Only he never did.
 
We passed the time playing “Would You Rather,” sticking to silly questions.

“Would you rather eat fried worms or drink curdled milk?” I joked.

“I’d rather eat the worms,” he laughed. “At least they’d be a good source of protein.”

I grimaced. I couldn’t picture myself doing either one of those things.
 

After many rounds, it was finally our turn to be loaded onto the ride.
 
It was cool and dark inside Space Mountain, but I felt safe with Brennan sitting right behind me.
 
The rush of the ride and the pure excitement of sitting close to Brennan made me forget all about prom.
 

We spent the remainder of the day riding our favorite rides and laughing. He spun us so fast on the Mad Hatter Teacups that tears were running down my cheeks from laughing so hard.
 
t also felt great to hold Brennan’s hand as we walked through the park and waited in lines. It was easy an easy relationship. I never pretended to be someone I wasn’t – he liked me just the way I was.
 

Finally our feet were tired from walking around all day, and we returned to the resort in time for dinner. I smelled hamburgers when we opened the door and my stomach began to growl.
 

“Perfect timing,” Brennan chuckled.

“Oh, I’m glad you two are back. You must be starving,” Mrs. Fisher commented.

We spent the next four days visiting the different Disney theme parks – Epcot Center, MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Blizzard Beach. I didn’t have time to stress about prom. Brennan and I would hang out with his family at the parks in the morning, and then after lunch we would break off and do our own thing. Each day went by faster than the one before.

I couldn’t believe it was Saturday already. We were leaving tomorrow to go home. Everyone else wanted to do some last minute shopping at Downtown Disney, while Brennan and I decided to spend our last day of vacation relaxing by the pool.
 

Even though I was a swimmer, and I spent a lot of my time hanging out in a bathing suit, I still felt self-conscious when I tied on my Tony Bahama blue and white striped bikini top. I usually wore an Uglie bathing suit that covered a lot more than this one did. I sighed as I looked in the mirror and put my hair up in a clip. Brennan still hadn’t asked me to the prom, and I was beginning to think he wasn’t going to. Today was my last chance, hence the string bikini. I kept my fingers crossed that it would work.
 
Brennan hadn’t seen me in it yet. Up until now, I had worn a bikini that was a little more modest, because his family had been around. Today it was going to be just the two of us.
 

I threw a sundress on over my bikini. Tossing sunscreen and a couple of magazines that I hadn’t even opened into my bag, I was as ready as I’d ever be.
   

My heart swelled when I saw Brennan. He was wearing his board shorts without a shirt and his sunglasses were perched on the back of his head. His skin was the perfect shade of golden bronze after spending a week in Florida. Meanwhile with my red hair and fair skin, all I had gotten was more freckles.
 

He looked up when I came into the room and smiled. “Okay, Madison. It looks like you win,” he said, as she turned over the last match. It looked like they had been playing memory, another one of her favorite games. Brennan was always such a sweet older brother, often spending time with Madison.
   

“It’s okay, Brennan. Maybe you’ll win next time.” She smiled, and her curls bounced.
 

“You’re on, little sister.” He stood and ruffled her hair.

“We’ll see you all later when you get back from shopping,” he called out to his parents, who were still getting ready.
 

“Have fun,” his mom replied.

Brennan and I found two lounge chairs by the pool and laid our towels out. “Last one in the pool is a rotten egg,” I challenged. I grabbed the bottom of my sundress and quickly pulled it over my head, tossing it at him.

Brennan caught it easily, and looked at me with surprise. His eyes shone with approval. However, I didn’t wait for him to comment. I spun on my heel, and headed for pool. I jumped in, followed by Brennan a second later.

He came up laughing, and shaking his head to get the hair out of his eyes. “What I want to know is - where were you hiding that all week?” He nodded wide-eyed at my skimpy bikini.

“In my suitcase,” I answered, splashing him.