Legacy by M.A. Foster

 

Seven years ago

_____________________________

Dylan

The prom queen was beside me singing along to “Written in the Stars.” Holding her phone up to her mouth like a microphone, she belted out the lyrics while rocking her body to the beat.

At least my date is fun.

Elaina Cortez was pretty, popular, captain of the cheer team, and Heritage Bay Academy’s senior prom queen.

As the song came to an end and blended into another, Elaina curled her slender arm around mine and leaned into my side. “Dylan, let’s go dance,” she pleaded, tilting her head and batting her eyelashes playfully.

I turned my attention to the overcrowded dance floor. I danced with her at prom. Three songs. That was enough for me. It wasn’t that I couldn’t dance. I just didn’t want to. It was hot, and I was in a tux. We were at a club called Splash, as was every other senior in the area who’d gone to prom, or so it seemed.

My best friend, Owen, was slouched in the booth across from me, his legs stretched out to the side, with Elaina and his date, Macie, sandwiched between us. His eyes were half-lidded, and a lazy grin was permanently fixed on his mouth. He was high as fuck.

“Why don’t you two go dance?” Owen suggested as he slowly uncurled from his position and stood. “We’ll get drinks.”

Splash was an eighteen-and-up dance club and not really my scene. The place was overrun by high school and underaged college kids who didn’t own a fake ID. Our drink choices were limited to water, soda, or a sports drink. They didn’t serve alcohol. Not that it mattered. Just a few minutes ago, I witnessed a guy in the bathroom pull a mini bottle of whiskey out of his sock and pour it into his Coke before shoving the evidence into the trash under a stack of damp paper towels.

“Dylan, will you get me a Diet Coke?” Elaina asked as she gently nudged me with her hip, gesturing for me to let her out.

Sliding from the booth, I held out my hand and helped her stand. Even in heels, she was still a few inches shorter than me. Her strapless dress was bright pink with jewels sewn into it and a slit running up the right side, exposing one tanned leg. A crown sat on top of her head, and her long blonde hair was curled, hanging down just past her shoulders. She looked pretty.

Elaina threw her arms around my neck, and I smiled as she pushed her body against mine. Lowering my head, I pressed a chaste kiss to her lips before she moved her mouth to my ear. “I’m not wearing any panties.”

A groan made its way up my throat as my dick hardened in my dress pants. I rocked my hips forward, letting her feel what she did to me as I brushed my lips over the shell of her ear. “Tease.”

She pulled back and flashed me a naughty smile. “Not for long.” She tossed me a wink full of promise before sidestepping me and locking arms with Macie as they made their way down the steps and onto the dance floor.

Dropping back down on the edge of the booth with my body facing the dance floor, I tugged at the bow tie threatening to choke the life out of me until it finally unraveled and hung loosely around my neck. If I was at the Kappa Omega party right now, I’d already be balls deep in a sorority girl.

The last thing I wanted to do was waste my Saturday night at prom, but my dad practically forced me to go, insisting I’d not only regret it one day but that it would also mean a lot to my mom. I hardly doubted going to prom would be life-changing, but whatever. I’d let my mom have her moment.

Leaning with my elbows propped on my thighs, I looked over at Owen. “How much longer do we have to stay here?” I hollered over the loud music.

“I guess until they get bored,” he replied, clearly amused.

Turning my attention to the crowded dance floor, I spotted Elaina and Macie standing off to the side taking selfies.

“You gonna fuck Elaina tonight?” he asked.

I lifted a shoulder. “Probably.”

I didn’t really mess around with high school girls anymore. Other than the occasional function for the baseball team, Owen and I didn’t hang out with our classmates outside of school. We partied at the Kappa Omega house. The parties were better. The girls were hotter. The brothers didn’t care that we were still in high school. We were eighteen. I was a Mackenzie. My grandfather and father were both Kappa Omega alumni. My dad owned Mac’s in Pelican Cove, the most popular hangout for college students. Everyone in the bay area knew Mac’s was the place to go. Especially on Mondays for the five-dollar burger night.

“She told me if I took her to prom she’d sit on my face,” I admitted through a chuckle, and Owen grinned.

Elaina and I had fifth-period history class together. A few weeks ago, she’d walked up to my desk, leaned into my ear, and whispered, “Take me to prom.”

I’d pulled my head back, confused. “Isn’t Colby taking you?” Colby was the varsity quarterback and had been Elaina’s boyfriend for the last two years.

Her face twisted into an angry scowl. “He’s taking Brittany Blanchard.”

My brows jerked up in surprise. I didn’t indulge in gossip or rumors, but how had I not heard about Colby and Elaina’s breakup?

“What do I get if I take you?” I’d teased.

She shot me a flirty smile and replied, “I’ll sit on your face.” Her eyes lowered. “Among other things.”

I definitely wasn’t expecting that response. Colby was a decent guy. We gave each other a respectable “what’s up” chin lift when we passed each other in the hall, but we weren’t friends. I wasn’t breaking any kind of bro-code, and since my dad had been hounding me about prom, it was a win-win.

“I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“Great.” She’d straightened and looked down at me. “My dress is pink.” Then she sauntered back to the front of the class and slid into her seat. All I could think about for the rest of class was Elaina sitting on my face—and that there was no way in fucking hell I was wearing anything pink.

“That’s hot,” Owen said, nodding slowly in approval. “I need something to drink. Where’s that waitress?”

I scanned the club for a waitress, my gaze passing over the dance floor when it snagged on a pair of the brightest eyes I’d ever seen. I sucked in a breath as I stood quickly from the booth and went to the railing.

“What are you doing?” Owen asked as he moved to stand beside me. “Do you see her?”

I see her.

I nodded toward the dance floor. “The girl in the blue dress and long dark hair.”

Owen leaned with his arms on the railing to get a better look. Just then, she lifted her gaze, and those bright eyes locked with mine. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. Everything around me blurred, and all I could see was her. All I could hear was the pounding of my heart.

“Damn, she’s hot.” He paused. “I thought you weren’t into high school chicks?”

“How do you know she’s in high school?” I argued.

“Because she’s wearing a prom dress,” he answered sarcastically.

“I thought you were getting drinks,” Elaina said beside me, and I flinched in surprise before looking over at her.

“We’re waiting for the waitress,” Owen answered.

Macie huffed and rolled her eyes. “You need to lay off the weed, Owen. You have to go up to the refreshment bar. There are no waitresses.”

I turned my attention back to the dance floor, but the mystery girl was gone.