RUTHIE HAD HEADED DOWN without me and I could hear her parents oohing and aahing over her. I descended the stairs, carefully placing each foot in front of the other. Grasping the railing with one hand, I concentrated so hard on walking that I forgot to be nervous. Halfway down I glanced up. Zander stood at the bottom, slack-jawed. I looked him over from head to toe and almost missed the next step. His auburn hair was slicked back, the sides flat. He wore a slim, slate grey tuxedo with a matching vest and bow tie. His hands held a clear corsage box.
Suddenly, bright lights flashed between us and I blinked. Ruthie's parents were going all paparazzi.
"Mom! Dad! Seriously!" whined Ruthie.
The spell broken, I noticed Maverick standing next to Zander. He was trying not to gape at his date, a
