He smiled, but his eyes remained rooted on me. “Is this the dress you wanted?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s not too much.”
I swallowed. “I don’t want to embarrass you.”
His hand stopped on the pin. “Damien.”
“What?”
“You could walk in wearing a traffic cone, and I’d still be proud to hold your hand.”
***
Inside, music thumped behind the ballroom doors. I stopped with my fingers on the handle.
Noah waited.
I breathed once, then opened it.
The room went quiet.
Someone near the photo booth whispered, “Oh my God, Damien?”
A small laugh came first. Then another followed. Then more joined in.
Phones came out.
Noah’s hand tightened around mine. “Damien.”
“I know,” I whispered.
But I looked at the phones.
Jada appeared beside me, close enough that her shoulder brushed mine. “Don’t give them fear.”
I swallowed and lifted my chin.
