Chapter Twenty-Six | Talia

A week later...

"We're going to crash if you don't stop distracting me!" I scold, trying to push Nick's hand off my thigh.

He sits next to me in his car, his warm hand placed securely and possessively between my thighs, his fingers edging towards dangerous territory.

I gasp, melting into him and my stomach does somersaults as the warmth his of his hand warms my skin.

"Well if you'd wear a different dress..." He says.

"But I like this dress!"

It's graduation day. It's not like I'm dressed in a G-string and matching bra under my grown. No one is going to see it until after I cross the stage. No one cares about what I have underneath. And plus, this is the most appropriate choice of the two. He better be happy I went with the black tube dress instead of the white lace dress I really wanted to wear.

But Nick is ready to tear anything I wear off of me, so the short, satin material that stops mid-thighs and hugs my curves perfectly is having an effect on him. Hence, not being able to keep his hands to himself.

We pull into an empty parking space ten minutes later, and I climb out of the car, immediately blending in with my fellow classmates. The soles of my feet already ache as I walk across the parking lot in my thick black wedges. The air is cool and I also feel a few drops of something cold periodically land on my arms.

Graduation is finally here and my stomach has been in knots ever since the date was announced and the feeling only intensified since this morning. We have to step out of our little bubble today. Today I have to share him with my fellow classmates, faculty and staff, and the world. The reminder that after today I would never have to see any of these people again is the only thing pacifying my mounting nerves.

It's been one week since Nick's been suspended from Kerrington while they held their investigation. Without any proof of anything sexual or inappropriate between me and Nick, they had no choice but to lift the suspension and Nick was able to come back to work and lucky for me, with graduation prep, college acceptance, and impending goodbyes, everyone eventually forgot about me and Nick.

But now that graduation is here and I'm officially no longer his student, we don't have to hide behind classroom doors anymore and live on stolen moments.

He sits in the front row amongst parents and other loved ones, looking devishly handsome in a tan suit and light blue button up.

The ceremony begins. The principle starts off with a famous quote before going into a speech about the school's founding history and how he's proud to see another generation of young adults go off into the world. The Valedictorian steps up to the podium afterwards, earning a round of applause thanks to her inspiring speech and finally we're all being called by our last names.

It doesn't take long for my name to be called and I beam like an idiot when I turn my head to see Nick standing and cheering me on.

There's a final statement from the dean and then there's a sea of royal blue caps being thrown into the air.

Nick manages to find me in all the chaos. He lifts me off the ground and spins me around before placing me safely back on my feet.

"I have a present for you." He teases.

I wrap my arms around his neck. "You promised me no gifts." I frown as I think about all that he's given me since the moment we met and how I woke up this morning to his head between my thighs. It's been a pretty damn good day so far.

"Technically this isn't a present because you don't have to unwrap it." He explains.

I tease the tuff of hairs at the back of his head. "So what is it then?"

Wordlessly, he pulls out a small, navy leather box from his pocket and holds it up in front of me.

My mouth opens, and I'm pretty sure I stopped breathing.

Removing my arms from his neck, he remains silent as he slowly falls to one knee. I stare at him, a million different thoughts and emotions running through my mind as we remain lock in each others gaze.

Oh, my God. This is a dream... right? I'm still in bed and none of this is real.

I always hoped it would come to this, but Nick is a planner. He calculates his every move and we haven't known each other long enough...

Slowly, he opens the box and my mouth opens even wider when I see the diamond ring.

Tears threaten to follow and my throat suddenly feels tight.

A large pear shaped diamond sits in the middle of a white gold halo. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

He wants to marry me?

"Is this real?"

Nick chuckles before giving my hand a light squeeze. "It's real baby."

I glance back at the ring in his hands, the diamond sparkles. This is really happening.

"I had a whole speech planned," he says. "But looking at you now I can't remember what I was going to say."

I swallow the hard lump in my throat when Nick lifts my hand and places the ring on my finger. It fits perfectly.

I stare at my hand in his, feeling my heart swell.

I'm even more excited about what the future has for us.

I think a small part of me feared we would never get here. I feared that he would think I'm too young and that he's corrupting me. But he has to know...

Nothing feels more right than being with him. I love him so much.

There's a gentle squeeze on my hand and I finally find my breath.

"I really want you to be my wife. Talia Naomi Davis will you continue to make me the happiest man in the world? Will you marry me?"

I smile at the nerves in his voice. He can't possibly think I'll turn him down right? "Yes," I nod my head.

"Yes. I'll marry you."

Nick smiles from ear to ear before he stands up and places his forehead against mine. "I love you so much."

I'm just about to tell him I love him too when there's an eruption of applause. I turn my head, completely stunned when I remember it's not just the two of us out here. Nick just proposed in front of the entire school.

Guess the cats out of the bag.

There's a mixture of emotions on the faces of the circle of people that surrounds us. A few girls look jealous while others are smiling and clapping, the boys are rooting and the few faculty members I can see are frowning.

What are they going to do, fire him?

He already resigned this morning...

I turn back to Nick. "Looks like we have an audience."

Nicks pulls me into him, wrapping an arm around my waist. "Then let's give them something to watch." And he takes my face in his hands, kissing me deeply until all I see, feel, and breathe is him.

Just when we decide to come up for air I feel the unmistakable drop of rain on my head.

I squint against the rain to see the darkening clouds overhead.

Everyone scatters for cover and Nick takes my hand and we take off running towards his car. He fumbles with the keys when the rain pours down harder and I laugh, not even caring that my hair and makeup are now ruined.

Nick finally is able to unlock the doors and the two of us practically throw ourselves into the safety of the car.

It's silent for a moment, the pitter-patter of the rain against the hood of the car is the only thing heard until the two of us burst out laughing.

"Let's go to city hall." I suggest, unzipping the now soaked graduation gown off my body.

"As in right now?" He looks at me surprised.

I nod my head. "I don't think I can wait to be Mrs. Nicholas Cross."

He brings a hand to my face, his thumb caresses my cheek. "As much as I want you to be my wife, I want to experience it all with you. The picking out the venu, arguing over the wedding cake, and I definitely can't wait to see how stunning you're going to look in your dress. I only want to do this once and I want to do it right."

How could I possibly say no to that?

I have to admit I do want to experience it all as well. Like most girls, I have every detail of my wedding planned, all the ideas safely locked inside a Pinterest board- all I was waiting for was the man.

And now I have him.

"This calls for a celebratory dinner." I reply

.

"Where did you have in mind?"

"Rhondas." I answer.

"The food is pretty great." Nick agrees.

"And what about the servers? Are the servers any good?" I ask.

"They're the best. I actually met my future wife there."