“Then why are we here?”

“Because I still wanted to enjoy prom, and I thought you deserved to know what he was planning.”

I studied her. “Planning for what?”

Georgia hesitated. “That’s the part I can’t explain yet.”

“Why not?”

“Because I want you to hear it from him.”

“Then why are we here?”

I groaned. “Georgia, you’re making this sound like I’m about to inherit a castle.”

She smiled. “No castle. But you might be surprised.”

***

Inside, the gym was covered in balloons and lights.

Georgia introduced me to her best friend, Madison.

“You might be surprised.”

Madison grinned. “So you’re Brent.”

I blinked.

Georgia rolled her eyes. “Madison knows about Dad’s little experiment.”

I stared at them. “Wonderful. Does the DJ know too?”

Madison laughed. “Not yet!”

We found our table.

“So you’re Brent.”

***

Thirty minutes later, we were standing, and Georgia handed me her purse. “Hold this.”

I took it.

Then, she handed me her phone. “And this.”

“Okay.”

Then she handed me her drink.

I looked at her. “Is this the test?”

“Hold this.”

“No. I’m tying my shoe.”

She bent down, adjusted her heel, and stood up, laughing. “You’re going to question everything I do tonight, aren’t you?”

“Your father has destroyed my ability to recognize normal behavior.”

***

For the next hour, Georgia teased me by pretending to make ridiculous demands.

“I’m tying my shoe.”

She asked whether I could convince the DJ to play a song that didn’t exist.

She complained that the punch wasn’t cold enough.

Then she requested a chair facing exactly northwest.

I finally said, “Georgia, I can offer north or west. The budget doesn’t cover both.”

She complained that the punch wasn’t cold enough.

Madison laughed so hard she nearly dropped her cupcake!

For the first time all evening, I relaxed.

Then, a woman approached our table. “Brent?”

I stood. “Yes?”

“I’m Evelyn. Georgia’s aunt. I’m one of the chaperones.”

I relaxed.

She shook my hand. “So you’re the young man Sheldon keeps talking about.”

I glanced at Georgia. “Hopefully, nothing terrible.”

Evelyn smiled. “He says you’re excellent under pressure.”

I frowned. “Does everyone in your family discuss my job performance?”

Georgia covered her face. “Aunt Evelyn!”

“Hopefully, nothing terrible.”

Evelyn laughed and walked away.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about what she’d said.

***

Later, Georgia and I stepped outside for some air.

“Okay,” I said. “Enough games.”

She looked at me. “What?”

I stepped outside for some air.