: Chapter 24

The Past

Five years ago

Black caps with orange tassels rain down around me, and the sheer volume of my classmates’ cheering mimics the football games that normally take place in the space around us.

But this isn’t about a touchdown or scoring points on the field. This is about a transition to adulthood—a new phase of life—and I relish the exciting challenge ahead.

The professors and deans on stage clap for us—this year’s official graduating class of the University of Miami—and families disperse from their spots in the stands as they take on our victory as one of their own.

It makes sense, of course. The support of my family is largely what got me here and what keeps me vigilant in the pursuit of success.

My dad Neil is my role model. Successful. Loving. Driven and compassionate. He’s everything I want myself to be as I build my own life and family.

My girlfriend Bethany jumps and waves from the second to last row, and my best friend Seth plays the air guitar from somewhere in the middle, all of us having been separated by the alphabetical seating arrangement, and my mom, dad, sister, and her best friend Juniper all cheer from their seats on the side of the football stadium. Mav, Henry, and Ronnie all chose majors that require a fifth year—at least, they do when you party more than study—so they won’t graduate until next year.

People around me hunt for their caps on the ground, but having had the forethought to throw mine in a way I’d be able to catch it, I skirt through the tight row of folding chairs and out to the edge, bracing myself as Bethany runs directly into my arms and rains kisses on my cheeks. She’s way more affectionate than she has been in a while, so I eat it up, hugging her back before ending our embrace with one final kiss to her lips.

I know she’s been stressed with finals and trying to line up a job after graduation, but having her acting normal again is a breath of fresh air. Her dad has at least five interviews lined up for her with different news stations in Miami, and I’m sure she’ll land one of them without much trouble. She’s got the look.

Seth saunters to us lazily, his smile upturned even more than ours by the whiskey I can smell pouring off him.

“It’s ten a.m.,” I say with a laugh, waving a hand in front of my nose.

“It’s graduation!” he protests with a scoff. “Everyone knows there aren’t any rules at graduation.”

“The university actually has a list of explicit rules they sent us for this specific occasion,” I contest, and Seth laughs.

“Okay, well…I didn’t read them.”

“Shocker,” Bethany comments as she pushes out of my hold, forcing my hand at her hip to fall back into my space.

“Don’t be jealous that I’m having more fun than you.” Seth grins at her. “Maybe you should learn to walk on the wild side more, Beth. I can speak from experience, it’s fucking awesome.”

They stare at each other, my girlfriend glaring and my best friend looking completely entertained.

For as long as I’ve been dating Bethany, she and Seth have always had a bit of tension. He annoys her on purpose, and she takes the bait every time.

“How about you leave my girl alone?” I chime in, amusement in my voice, and Seth just chuckles and holds up two lazy hands in the air and flashes a wink at Beth.

“I promise to be on my best behavior.”

“Whatever.” Beth sighs and glances at me. “I saw my parents watching from section 119. I’m going to go find them.”

I nod. “Okay, babe. Check in with you later.”

She smiles softly before glancing over at Seth one last time and walking away. I spot my own family through the crowd, heading toward me, and I take off at a run with one last pat on the shoulder for Seth. Our dads are business partners and best friends, but that doesn’t mean they’re not different. Chris McKenzie is pretentious rich. Conceited rich. He’s self-important and takes himself way too seriously. Because of all of those things, he’s waiting in the stands for Seth to come to him.

But not my dad. He’s leading the charge down from their seats and onto the field, ready to pull me into a bear hug as soon as he closes the distance.

I match his energy with a big hug that sends him backward, accidentally knocking into my sister and Juniper as a result.

“My God!” Avery shouts, tumbling back and just catching herself by knocking completely into best friend. Juniper’s balance doesn’t recover as well—probably because there’s no one behind her—and she ends up on her ass in the grass. We all rush to help pick her up, but I’m the first to get there to officially offer a hand.

“I’m so sorry, June,” I apologize, helping her to her feet and holding both her hands until I’m sure she’s okay. It feels like she’s been around forever at this point, a certified member of the family.

“I’m fine.” Her smile is easy and her cheeks pink as she shakes her head. “I just hope I’m that excited when I graduate so I can get you back.”

“You can knock me over right now.” I grin at her. “I won’t mind.”

“I think you should let her punch you in the balls, Beau,” Avery comments while she stares down mindlessly at her freshly painted nails. She shrugs one nonchalant shoulder. “Seems only fair.”

Juniper snorts. “Yeah, that’s okay. I’m good.” Her long, wavy copper hair is down and around her face, and a single piece sticks to her shiny lip gloss from the fall. I reach out and pull it back, and her blue eyes widen as my thumb brushes the corner of her mouth.

My stomach pitches strangely. It’s weird, seeing her like this, with makeup and heels and a dress that is shorter than my brain wishes it would be.

But Juniper is eighteen now.

Most of the time I’ve known her, she’s been a sweet, awkward kid. Suddenly, she’s looking a whole hell of a lot more like a woman because she is a woman. A full-fledged adult woman who is stunningly beautiful in ways I hope all men don’t realize.

“Come on,” my mom says, taking me by the elbow and turning me around to walk toward the exit of the stadium. “We have reservations at Pasitinos and then a celebration party at the house.”

I clasp my hand over my mom’s and smile.

I’ve got a great family, a great girlfriend, and the job of my dreams lined up with my dad in the fall. The whole world is in front of me, and I can’t wait to get started living in it.