The Tragic Love Story of Hector and Imelda’s opening night performance closes to a standing ovation. Christian and I are in the front row along with Blair and Gabby and a bunch of Katrina’s screenwriting friends. Katrina's family and the entire Moreno clan are coming tomorrow to the Friday night finale and I’ll be right back here where I belong, watching Kitty become a star. The number of people coming to see the screenwriter probably outweighs the number for the actors and that makes me so happy. My girl has worked so hard and she nailed it.
I hold Christian up high as Katrina takes the stage for her bow. He waves the roses we got for her and she grins down at us. When the applause dies off, she walks down the side stage stairs and Christian and I meet her halfway. She picks Christian up, hugging him tightly and accepting the kiss I drop on her lips.
“Congradu…” Christian looks to me. We practiced the word a dozen times before the show because he wanted to get it just right.
“Congratulations,” I say quietly near his ear.
He grins. “Congratulations, Mommy.”
“Thank you, buddy. What did you guys think?”
“It was amazing,” I say without hesitation. She killed it. I motion to where Blair and Gabby hang back. “The girls are waiting to shower you with praise. I’m gonna take little man outside to meet Karla.”
Karla has no idea what she’s in for. I predict Dylan and Christian will be thick as thieves in no time. And Karla may never agree to babysit again.
She kisses Christian and hugs him again. “Have fun tonight and be good.”
He nods. “Dylan is gonna teach me magic!”
I snicker as Katrina and I raise our brows in unison. She hands him over and says, “Meet you in the lobby when I’m done.”
“Take your time.”
Once I get Christian in the car with Karla, I call Wes. "It's time to buzz the tower."
Silence.
"Dude. Top Gun? Never mind. Just pull around."
When the limo pulls up to the curb, I open the back door and laugh. Wes and Z are dressed up - a rare sight. They step out, Wes looking grumpy and Z out of place.
"You look pretty, Z."
He makes a strangled, gruff noise.
“That look in your eyes is a pain in my ass, you know that, right?”
He stares at me blankly and I shake my head. “Mission Impossible. What is wrong with you two tonight?”
"Nothing, just, why am I here again?" Z asks, pulling at his shirt cuffs, a poster board tucked under one massive arm.
"Because it was you or Nathan and I needed him to get the party going. All you gotta do is stand there and maybe smile. Well, and hold the sign."
Wes hands me a clear box, that matches one he and Z carry, and I smile. "Let's do this."
We head for the lobby. The theater has cleared out, only a few people still linger talking to the cast and crew. The girls are huddled in one corner talking and laughing animatedly in that way chicks do with their hands and facial expressions.
Gabby sees us first and I nudge Z. “The sign.”
He groans, but unfolds the glitter bomb cardboard sign that reads, “Go to prom with us?” and holds it in front of his chest. I hear Wes snicker, but I focus on Gabby’s face as she takes in the scene. Her mouth forms a little O and she turns red. We reach them as the other girls realize we’re here and turn to face us.
“What’s going on?” Blair asks.
“Prom do-over, babydoll,” I answer and then look to Katrina. “What do you say?”
“Really?”
I hand her the corsage in the box. “Really.”
The girls squeal as we lead them to the limo parked outside.
I open the door as Blair studies me. “How did you guys pull this off without us knowing?”
“I had some help.” I motion inside where Vanessa and Mario sit waiting for us.
We pile in and I pop the champagne.
“This is amazing.” Katrina looks me over like she’s ready to reward me for good behavior. Excited for that, but first… we prom.
“You’ve got glitter sort of… all over you.” Vanessa’s voice temporarily distracts me from all the dirty plans I’ve got in store for later.
I look over in time to see Gabby biting back a smile as she tries to wipe glitter off the big man.
Tonight is gonna be baller.
The White House is madness. The eight of us pile out of the limo to an already wild party. A Thursday night party wouldn’t normally attract this many people, but next week we’re off for spring break, so everyone is looking to let loose before they head out of Valley for a week. Plus, the guys and I pimped the hell out of it to make sure it lived up to every expectation Gabby and Kitty could have possibly had.
Clutching my arm, Kitty smiles at her corsage and back to me. “Did you pick the biggest one you could find?”
“Custom ordered, Kitty. Nothing but the biggest and baddest for my girl’s prom.”
“What exactly awaits inside?” Gabby asks.
It’s that moment that a group of squealing girls runs around from the back of the house covered in foam, stripping off clothes like they’re about to go streaking through the quad.
“This may not have been the brightest idea you’ve ever had,” Wes says as two girls stand in the front yard in their bra and underwear.
“Don’t look at me.” I chuckle. “This was all your girlfriend’s idea.”
“A foam party?!” Gabby screeches and jumps with such excitement even Z cracks a smile.
Gabby kicks off her heels and makes a run for it, Blair follows behind, and Wes and Z have little choice but to do the same.
“Impressive,” Katrina says to Vanessa and I don’t even try to take the credit for this because as long as that smile stays on her face, it’s moot.
“Oh no, this was all Joel. I only kept it a secret so I could see the looks on your faces when we got here.” She grins and holding hands, Mario and her, walk away.
“Shall we?”
Instead of following the others, I take her through the front door and up the stairs toward my room. She’s quiet but wears a smile that tells me she thinks we’re going to bang. I mean, maybe that too if there’s time, but it’s not why I’m taking her to my room.
“I know it’s not quite as cool as the Zack Morris surprise prom, but…” I open the door and watch her expression carefully.
“Oh my God, what did you do, Joel?” She enters the candlelit room, hands covering her shocked face. She stops in the middle of the room and turns to me. “This is better. So much better.”
“There’s more.” Taking her hand, I lead her out to the balcony. The music pumps and we’ve got a view of the foam party going on below. I pull her close and wrap my arms around her waist. “It wouldn’t be prom if you didn’t get to check out my awesome dance moves.”
She rolls her eyes at me but places her arms around my neck and we sway to the music. “Were you always this cocky?”
“Always.”
She lays her head on my chest and I wonder if she can feel my heart pounding inside. “Thank you for this. It’s better than any high school prom could have possibly been.”
“Only one thing that could make this night better.” She lets out a little snort, clearly thinking I mean better by bringing my penis into the equation, but nah, I already mentioned I didn’t bring her here for that. Summoning more courage than it takes to pull a spin move on Z, I drop to one knee all dramatic like.
“What are you—”
“Relax, sweetheart. I have a proposal for you, but not the kind you’re thinking.”
At least not yet. Took Zack Morris five seasons to seal the deal with Kelly, I don’t have any intention of waiting that long, but I want that NBA contract first. Preferably in LA. Not just because the Lakers is my dream, but because it’s where she wants to be too. Not quite sure how we’re gonna work that out yet, but I’ve got an entire year to figure it out and I think my dedication to getting what I want is clear.
“O-kay.” My fearless girl looks nervous.
“Prom tonight.” I pull out the key to my family’s vacation house in Puerto Vallarta from my pocket. “Spring break trip tomorrow after the show?”
“Really??!!”
I expected a whole slew of questions about logistics for Christian – and I’ve thought of them all, but it’s just excitement she wears as she jumps up and down. A whole lot of things she gave up to be the most amazing mom and still work toward her dreams. But I’m gonna give them all to her, one Thursday at a time.
And every day in between.
Thank you for reading The Fadeaway. You can read Gabby and Zeke’s story in The Tip-Off.