Driven Snow (11 page)

SNOW STARED
out the car window at the country club the college had rented for the homecoming dance.
Wow, this is it.
He’d been scared a few times in his life, but never quite like this. The minute they walked in, they’d be the center of attention. He hated that.

You’re not exactly invisible when you’re playing chess, idiot.

That’s different. I’m not really there.

You’re weird.

You ought to know.

“Are you having a conversation with yourself again?” Riley laughed as he backed into the space, shifted into park, and flipped off the ignition.

Snow turned and looked at his golden vision. “Yes, I’m afraid I am.”

“Who’s winning?”

Snow managed a smile despite the butterflies.
Don’t be selfish. Riley’s the one who’s nervous.
“How are you feeling?”

Riley blew out a long column of air. “More nervous than before my championship game my senior year in high school, when I knew if I blew it I might not get the scholarship.”

Snow took hold of Riley’s big hand. “I know you must be so scared.”

“How did it feel when you came out?”

Snow shrugged. “I never really did. My grandmother didn’t think much about it, and as I told you, I didn’t have many friends. So when I started college, I just told people I was gay and that was that.”

“How did you know?”

He smiled and stared down at his hand, twined with Riley’s. “I’ve never felt the slightest twinge of attraction to a girl. Since I didn’t have any peer pressure to date girls or moon over them, I just accepted that for me, boys were the thing.”

“No religious stuff?”

He shook his head. “I come from a family of scientists. I didn’t know my parents well because they were constantly traveling on research expeditions. Even my grandmother was a mathematician. Never went to church.”

“Probably just as well. My parents had to struggle a little with their religious upbringing but came down firmly on my side. I’ve always been grateful and appreciative.”

“So if they accept you, why shouldn’t other people? Certainly no one else has more right to judge.”

“You do have a clear way of seeing things.”

Wish Winston thought so.
“Just makes sense.”

“Have I told you how beautiful you look in your tux? I didn’t think anything could shine like your hair, but that does. Man.”

Snow ran a hand over the silk. “I asked the tailor to give me something fashionable. I never could have picked it on my own. They don’t make tuxedos in khaki.”

Riley laughed. “You’ll be the most gorgeous man at the ball.”

“Have you looked in the mirror?”

“Thank you. It means so much to me to have you with me. Not nearly as scared. Let’s go in and have fun.”

Snow opened the car door and stepped out. He wasn’t going to say that sometimes, for him, fun could be challenging.

CHAPTER 10

INSTANT AWKWARD.
Riley walked up beside Snow and tucked his hand through his arm. As they got closer to the club doors and more and more students and faculty appeared, Riley’s arm got tenser, until Snow slipped his arm out and they walked side by side. Inside, they lined up with people waiting to check in at the reception table. People said hi to Riley and glanced at Snow, but no one asked the obvious—until they got up to the head of the English department, Mrs. Ishwood. She beamed. “Riley, great to see you.” She looked right past Snow. “Where’s Courtney?”

“Uh, I don’t know, ma’am.” She frowned. “We’re not together anymore.”

“Oh dear. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to pour salt in wounds.”

“No, ma’am, it’s fine.”

“So sorry.” She passed him his nametag and an envelope. “Your drink and food tickets are in there, for you and—oh dear.”

He took the envelope. “Thank you.”

She looked up at Snow with a slight crease between her brows. “You’re that chess boy, aren’t you?”

“Snowden Reynaldi, ma’am.”

She searched through her list. “I don’t have you down.”

Riley took an audible breath. “He’s my, uh, guest, Mrs. Ishwood.”

“Oh, good. Good.” She looked confused, and the man next to her, one of the music instructors, nudged her. She looked at him, then back up at them. “Well, have a good time.”

As they walked away, she turned to the music guy, and her face lit up with understanding. Clearly Mrs. Ishwood wasn’t high on the rumor tree.

At the door to the ballroom, a group of girls and guys all tried to crowd through at once. The crush pushed Riley against Snow, and he actually jumped. He looked down. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Inside, music blared and people milled around, some checking the numbers on their tickets with the numbers on the tables. A long buffet lined the walls around the room, but apparently they were supposed to go get the food according to table number. Riley examined the tickets. Snow saw the number four. When Riley glanced around the room, his gaze fixed on table four and his fair skin turned whiter. Of course, he’d been seated with his teammates and fraternity brothers, one of whom was Rog. Rog sat next to a woman who would have stolen the sexy crown from JLo. Sitting next to her was a much bigger African American guy who nodded toward Riley, but he didn’t smile or wave him over. Two seats sat conspicuously empty at the table.

From a foot away, Snow could still feel Riley trembling. All around the big room, people whispered and stared. Snow wanted to run.
No way.
He had to be the strong one. He rested a hand on Riley’s arm. “Why don’t we go use some of those drink tickets?”

“What? Oh, good idea.”

Snow pulled him toward the back bar. Suddenly a big hand landed on Riley’s shoulder. “Hey, man, those dudes give new meaning to the term spherical asshole, and I don’t mean that in a good way. Come on over to our table. I sent Wiznicki and his girl over to hang out with the homophobes.”

Snow looked up at the tall, lanky guy he’d seen in the coach’s office. Danny.

Danny stuck out his hand. “Hi. I remember you. Hell, I’d want to come out for you too. You are fucking beautiful. I’m Danny. Remember me?”

Snow grinned. “No filters?”

“That would be me.”

Riley nodded, though he didn’t quite smile. “Thanks, Danny. We’re in.” They followed Danny to a round table where Snow met Stanley and Esther, Ed and his fiancée, Jennifer, and Danny’s date, Carlos Herrera. Carlos was out of college and in dentistry school, and he must have practiced on himself, because his teeth were gorgeous.

While the band played, most people concentrated on food and the nonalcoholic punch rather than dancing. When Riley and Snow got back to their seats, Carlos passed a flask to Riley. “Here, man. That punch needs a lot of help.”

Riley held up a hand. “I better not. I’m designated driver. But Snow can have all he wants.”

Snow shook his head. “I’m not much of a drinker. Thanks.”

They both picked at their food. Riley talked a little football with Danny, but he didn’t look comfortable. A rise in noise volume near the entrance made them both look up in time to see Courtney arrive on the arm of a handsome guy Snow had seen on the football team. “Who’s that?”

“Second-string quarterback. He’s a junior. He’ll take over as first-string for me after I graduate. He’s good.”

Danny leaned over. “Looks like she promoted him to first-string already. Way to get even, I guess.”

Snow watched her smile and cling to her date’s arm. If he didn’t know she’d been a beard for Riley, he’d have thought she was a betrayed woman paying him back.

Another tall, athletic-looking guy stopped behind them, a pretty girl on his arm. He patted Riley’s shoulder. “Hey, man, good to see you.”

“Thanks.”

He held out a hand to Snow. “I’m Mike Henderson. This is my girl, Sheila.” She smiled. Mike looked back at Riley. “I heard. Takes guts. I’m proud of you, man.”

Riley looked half pleased and half embarrassed. “Thanks.”

“See ya.” He walked off.

Snow said, “He seems like a nice guy.”

“Yeah. Captain of the lacrosse team. We’re not close, but I like him.”

The music got a bit louder, and more people hit the floor. Carlos took Danny’s hand. “Come on, guapo. Let’s show them how it’s done.”

As Carlos and Danny walked to the floor with lots of eyes following them, Professor Kingsley and Anitra danced by.
Wow.
She swooped and twirled, holding her pure white dress out to the side like she was performing in some kind of Viennese opera. The dress outdid everything in the room—so much so that it hovered at ostentatious, but Anitra’s bold features and flaming hair beat the flamboyance of the gown into submission. Professor Kingsley smiled, but under the twinkle lights his face looked gray and his cheeks sunken.

Riley whispered, “Is Professor Kingsley okay?”

“I don’t know. He’s been really tired lately.”

Danny cha-chaed up to Riley. “Come on, man. Get out here and show some support for the team.”

“Team?”

“The rainbow team. Come on.” He danced away.

Riley looked a little ill himself. “You want to?”

“No need. You’ve made enough of a statement for one night.”

Riley stared at the dance floor. “Oh hell, come on.” He stood and took Snow’s hand. “Might as well go all the way, right?” Three steps later, he turned and held up his arms. “I think I better lead, because that’s all I know how to do.”

Snow nodded. “Good, because I barely know how to dance at all.”

Riley’s chest expanded, and then he grinned, the first half-natural smile of the night. “Let’s give ’em their money’s worth.”

Snow stepped into Riley’s arms and could practically hear the collective sucking of breath from the crowd. Anybody who might have thought they were just two guys hanging out now knew the worst. Snow stumbled a little. “Sorry. I never really had a dance teacher.”

“I’m not that good either, so let’s fake it together.” Riley smiled and pulled Snow a little closer. Not tight. No big statements. Hell, Riley just being on that floor with a guy exploded most of the heads in the room.

As they rocked tentatively, Professor Kingsley and Ms. Popescu danced by. She grandly swooped her skirt, extended her left hand, and waved. “Hellllooo.”

Wait. What was on her hand?

Riley whispered, “Was she wearing a wedding ring?”

“I don’t see how. I mean, the professor would tell me, I think.” Tell him? Surely he’d invite Snow.

“She actually looks like she’s going to a wedding tonight.”

“Yes. That’s quite a dress.”

The band stopped the slow song they were playing and plunged into something up-tempo. Riley stepped back. “Too much for me.”

They walked back to the table. Riley leaned in to Snow. “I feel like everyone’s looking at me.”

“That’s because they are.”

Riley snorted a laugh. “Way to make a guy feel better.”

Snow held up his hands. “Facts.” But he grinned.

Carlos popped up from his seat. “Why doesn’t pretty Snow dance with me now?”

Snow’s eyes widened. “Did you see how badly I dance? I’ll fall on my face.”

“No, I’ll teach you. There will be no falling.” Carlos grabbed his hand.

Snow looked back at Riley as Carlos led him to the dance floor, but Danny was already waving his hands in what looked like an intense football discussion.

Carlos popped his head into Snow’s line of sight and pointed to his own eyes. “Look right here.” Snow instantly stared at his feet. Carlos laughed and tipped Snow’s chin up. “Here.” He smiled, and crinkles appeared beside his huge brown eyes. “Okay.” He took hold of Snow’s hand and waist far more firmly than Riley had and pushed Snow backward.

Snow stumbled. “Sorry.”

“No sorry. Just relax and enjoy.”

Snow managed to take about five steps before he stumbled again, but Carlos just kept dancing. Pretty soon, Snow was actually moving to the Latin beat.

Carlos twirled, and Snow made an attempt to follow. “You see. I knew you had potential.”

“I’m a quick learner.”

“Well, well. It’s not enough to decimate the football team. Now you want to be the next Ricky Martin?”

Snow froze, almost knocking Carlos off his feet. “Hello, Ms. Popescu. Hello, Professor. This is my friend, Carlos Herrera.”

She extended her hand. “I’m delighted. Any friend of Snow’s is a friend of ours. But actually, he’s incorrect. I’m not Ms. Popescu any longer. I’m Mrs. Kingsley. So happy to meet you.”

Carlos must have felt Snow tense, because he looked at him sharply, then back at Anitra. “Encantado.”

She fanned herself. “Oh my, Harold. Isn’t that Spanish accent sexy?”

Professor Kingsley looked awful. Winded, gray, and now embarrassed and horrified. “I’m sorry not to have told you earlier, Snow. I was going to call you before the dance, but time slipped away.” He frowned and looked even more confused. “We’ll have a big wedding in the next few months, and you’ll stand up for me.”

Anitra laughed. “Yes, that will be lovely.”

Snow gazed at his mentor. “Are you feeling well, Professor?”

Kingsley’s eyes appeared glazed. “Oh? Yes, I think so. A bit tired. Not as young as I used to be. All this dancing.”

Anitra pulled him closer. “You should have said something, darling. Let’s go sit for a while—”

The microphone on the bandstand squeaked. “Just a quick break from the dancing, ladies and gentlemen, while we announce the homecoming queen and king.” The noise level rose in the room as several faculty members filed onto the stage. Ms. Po—Mrs. Kingsley said, “Excuse me. I have to help out.” She swept up onto the stage, causing another rise in the noise level and getting a half smile from the professor.

Snow took his arm. “Sir, are you really all right?”

“What? Oh yes, isn’t she beautiful?”

There’s your answer, idiot. Leave the man alone.

But—

Leave him alone.

The dean of students stepped up to the microphone, with Anitra beside him. “Being chosen homecoming queen and homecoming king is a special honor because it represents the approval and respect of your peers as well as requiring certain academic and extracurricular honors. We certainly had some splendid nominees this year. So without further ado, may I have the envelope for homecoming queen, please, Ms. Popescu?”