“The girls go because it’s the social event of the semester. The guys go so that they can get laid afterward,” I say bluntly.

“Nice. Well, you don’t have to sleep with Jordan after the dance. The bargain was for you to take her to the party and nothing else.”

“Bargain?” I’m losing my train of thought because Ella’s shirt is riding up and I can see a sliver of skin above her waist.

“For me being on the dance team and going to the away game.”

I swallow a groan. “So this is what you promised her? That I’d take her to Winter Formal?”

“No, it was just a debt to be called in later.”

“Why does she want to go with me? I thought she hated me.”

“I don’t think she hates you. I think it’s some kind of weird notoriety thing. You go with her and she gets to parade you around like a dog on her leash. The beauty and the beast sort of thing.”

“She’s the beast, right?”

Ella responds by tweaking one of my nipples. Which hurts, dammit.

“Oh, and she wants to be crowned Snowflake Queen or some shit,” Ella adds. “She thinks going with you will up her chances.”

I grab her fingers and drag them to my mouth. “I don’t want to go to a dance with Jordan. If I go, you’re holding the leash.”

“I’m not a leash holder.”

I place her hand at the base of my neck. “I belong to you. Everyone at Astor knows that.”

She turns an adorable shade of pink. “I belong to you, too. But I made a deal.”

“Why are you even paying off this debt? No one’s holding you to it.”

Her fingers trace my collarbone, sending a buzzing sensation down my spine. “Because a deal’s a deal. I always keep my word.”

“Deals with the devil don’t count.”

“If you don’t do it, then she’s going to tell Steve I lied about the away game,” Ella admits, pulling her hand away. “And she said she’ll try to convince him to send me to another school. Maybe even out of state.”

The school thing, I could handle, especially since I won’t even be around after January. But another state? No way. That means Ella wouldn’t be able to visit me. Plus, my brothers need her and she needs them. This is her family. She doesn’t deserve to be separated from them.

Still, I can totally see Steve doing something drastic like that. Ever since my dad told him about the plea deal, Steve’s been better about letting Ella spend time here, but he doesn’t want us dating. He’s made that more than clear. If he finds out I took her virginity at the away game? He’ll freaking kill me.

Ella sits up and swings a leg over my waist. “You have to do it, Reed. Please?”

One thing I’ve learned about Ella is that if she sets her mind to something, there’s no moving her. She’s that stubborn. She’s going to fulfill her end of the deal with Jordan no matter what the cost, and this cost isn’t that terrible, I guess.

I grab her hips and hold her still. “Are there any details to this deal? What does she expect from me?”

Ella picks up her phone and checks her text messages. “She said you have to wear something. Can’t remember what it is.”

“Did you already agree to this before you even asked me?” I demand.

“No, I swear. I just told her I’m okay with it if you are.” Ella’s hands drop to my chest. Her hips start moving.

My eyes flutter shut, but I hear myself respond, “We always wear tuxes. What the hell else would she want me to wear?” Another thought pops into my head. I snap my eyes open. “Are you planning to go, too, or are you leaving me at Jordan’s mercy?”

“Aw, I’d never abandon you like that. I thought I’d go with Wade. Val’s not going, so I can keep an eye on him.”

Oh hell, no. I don’t like this plan at all. “Wade can’t keep his dick in his pants,” I growl.

“I know. Why do you think Val’s not going?”

“So I’m supposed to go with the she-demon, and you’re going to hang out with a guy whose mission is to bang every available chick along the Atlantic coast?”

“Give your friend more credit,” Ella chides. “Wade knows better than to hit on me.”

“He better,” I say sullenly.

She leans down to kiss me, but pulls back before I can slip her some tongue. “So you’ll do it?”

“Yeah, I’ll do it,” I grumble. “Even though I still can’t believe you’d be okay with me going to a dance with Jordan.”

“Hey, at least it’s not with Abby,” she grumbles back. “I can handle you going with Jordan because I know you hate her, but Abby would bother me a lot.”

“Because she’s my ex?”

“Because she’s your ex.”

“But she’s my ex. Meaning, I no longer want to go out with her, haven’t wanted to go out with her for a long time, and do not intend to go out with her in the future. That kind of ex.”

Ella makes a growly sound. “She better stay that way.”

A chuckle escapes. “I like jealous Ella.” Something else occurs to me. Winter Formal is in two days and this is the first time Ella’s even brought it up. “Do you have a dress?”

“Can’t I buy one at the mall?”

“Oh, babe. You still haven’t learned, huh?” I lift her off my aching dick and set her on the side of the bed. I stalk over to the dresser and fish out a sweatshirt for her. “Put this on. We’ll talk to my dad.”

“Right now? The stores are all closed.”

She stands there without moving, so I shove the sweatshirt over her head. “Winter Formal is like a prom on steroids. These chicks spend more money on their dresses than some folks spend on a car.” I shove her arms into the sleeves and roll them up. “I don’t want you to have a hard time that night.”

“Jeez, Val was right. You guys really do have a special dress for everything. Where should I get the dress, then, if not the mall? You know, where many, many dresses are on sale?”

“I don’t know where you buy it, but Dad probably will.”

Downstairs, we find Dad and Steve in the study. The two men are bent over some papers that look like a flight plan.