Chapter 34 Cal #2
Then came May. Finals were a breeze, and on a warm, sticky Thursday, only one step stood in our way before high school was officially over.
Graduation.
Daddy drove to Birmingham the night before so Paw Paw could be here for it.
All my aunts, uncles, and cousins came too.
Momma and Cara had coordinated their dresses, and Daddy wore a light gray suit that Momma complimented.
They wouldn’t get back together; I wasn’t expecting that to happen.
But with each week, they became more and more comfortable around each other again.
Sometimes they even joked and smiled at each other.
Paw Paw took pictures of Cara and me, and then I had to leave them to find my place among my classmates for the ceremony.
With the clear weather, our graduation was held outside.
Dressed in a black cap and gown, with a red stole and coordinating tassel hanging to the right, I disappeared into the sea of like-dressed students.
Half of the graduating class took a chair on one side of the aisle, with the other half across from us.
Seated alphabetically, Jack and Ty were in the row in front of me and a few places toward the center.
Speeches were made by Principal Woodson, guidance counselors, including Trent, two alumni, and the valedictorian, who was also the class president.
Once that tedious shit was over, they started announcing names.
The faculty had asked everyone to hold their cheering until the end since they had so many names to get through, and it was a boring-ass wait.
Jackson Rutledge was called before Tyson, and I forced myself not to react.
But why?
This was it. Only an act of God could stop the next few minutes, and me staring with hearts in my eyes at the man I loved walk across the raised dais to get his diploma wasn’t going to end the world. And if it sparked a gossip wave, who the fuck cared anymore?
I lifted my head as Jack shook hands with the principal.
God, he was beautiful.
He got a pat on the back from the soccer coach and nodded at several teachers. When he turned to descend the few stairs—Ty already behind him, doing his obligatory greetings of the staff—he locked eyes with me.
I surged to my feet. “Wooo! Yeah!” I clapped. Loudly, since no one else was. Eventually, someone whistled, and I added, “Hell, yeah, Jack!”
Jack stumbled, cheeks flushing bright red in the sun as half our class chuckled.
“Thank you, Mr. Winters,” Principal Woodson drawled. “That’s enough.”
Ty had Jack by the shoulder, forcing him to keep moving until he retook his seat.
When my name was finally called, I did the same ritual as the two hundred plus students before me.
“You’re crazy, Princess,” Jack hissed as I walked past him.
I accepted the diploma and handshakes with a huge grin, anticipation vibrating in my veins, and then I turned to face my class, but there was only one student I saw.
Jack stalked my progress across the front and between the rows until he couldn’t any longer. Only he still did. Jack turned in his chair, grinning and eye-fucking me hard enough I could read his dirty thoughts.
The last names were called, but I didn’t hear any of it.
My heart pounded, and I rubbed my palms on my gown-covered legs.
I was seconds away from making the biggest declaration of my life and so afraid I would chicken out.
I’d thought it so many times but had yet to tell him with words. Today, that would change.
“I present to you your graduating class!” Principal Woodson yelled.
Cheers and clapping resounded around us as everyone got to their feet. Caps were thrown in the air, but through the jostling of my peers, I only had one direction to go.
Like magnets, Jack came toward me, both of us still in our caps, uncaring about the tradition. A row of white folding chairs separated us as we stared at each other.
I blinked several times as my vision got a little blurry. I swallowed, but my throat still throbbed with emotion. I fisted my hands instead of reaching for the life that stood in front of me.
Jack, my future.
“Fuck yeah!” Ty snapped from somewhere close and knocked me out of my frozen existence. “Get over here, Asher.”
Jack and I turned just as Ty grabbed Asher by the front of his gown and yanked him against his chest. Asher, who had been smiling with Jamie, startled, then laughed as Ty kissed him.
For one second, the students around us quieted, completely speechless, and then Nick grabbed Blaine and did the same.
Aaron grabbed Noah. Raul grabbed Tao. Someone went to grab Jamie, but Michael shoved the guy off and kissed his stepbrother.
It was like the stroke of midnight on New Year’s.
All around us, boys were kissing boys and girls were kissing girls. The faculty were stunned into silence, and then a few of them laughed and even applauded.
“I should’ve known this class had one more prank in them,” Principal Woodson said from the podium.
With a huge-ass grin, I lunged for Jack and the lopsided smile on his lips. We climbed the row of chairs between us and came together like colliding storms, smacking our bodies against each other with a heavy thud. He grabbed my waist, and I cupped his jaw.
“Should we?” he whispered, eyes darting around us.
“Yes, Princess, we really should.”
“Kiss me,” he choked. “Please.”
“I love you,” I rushed out.
Jack’s grin grew, and then we launched at each other. Like the first time and so many times afterward, we attacked, going full throttle at each other. His mouth held a familiar warmth. His lips carried a comforting softness, and our tongues played an aggressive dance we were all too good at.
I’m home. Wherever he is, I’m home.
Our classmates melted away with the world as we poured ourselves into the long-overdue moment. Salty tears mixed into our kiss, and when I pulled away to wipe my cheeks, his were wet too.
“God, I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I chuckled and kissed him again, softer this time, until we only pressed against each other, forehead to forehead and chest to chest as we smiled. Noise seeped in. Cheers and screams of excitement mellowed into dozens of conversations.
Ty snorted. “Dick-whipped. Both of you.”
Some students around us cocked their heads, while others rolled their eyes and laughed. Maybe they thought it was part of the prank, and maybe I didn’t care.
“What now?” Jack asked.
I kissed his cheek, then grabbed his hand. “The short version? We live happily ever after.”
Jack rolled his eyes. “Presumptuous, but I’ll give it to you if you tell me details.”
I tossed my head back and laughed.
Once upon a time, the first word people would’ve used to describe me was “nice.” Now, I hoped they used the word “happy” or, even better, “his.” We had so much time ahead of us, time to get things wrong, mess up, fight, fuck, and so much time to get it right too.
I didn’t expect perfect—life never was—but no matter what was thrown our way, I’d always fight for us.
That night after the parties and our families had gone home, I took Jack to Johnston’s Pier.
Frogs were croaking, and the moon was bright.
I’d backed in toward the lake, and we sat on my tailgate.
The worst of summer heat was still around the corner, and tonight was mild as we lounged in shorts and T-shirts.
“Think you’ll miss Alabama?” I asked.
“Not one bit.”
“Not even meeting me?”
Jack turned to face me and looped his calf around mine, catching it mid-swing. “I’m taking you with me, so there won’t be any missing going on.”
I chuckled and ducked my chin. “That so? Gonna box me up and ship me to Boston?”
“Nah.” He patted his lap. “You’re gonna sit right here like a potted plant.”
I shoved his shoulder as he laughed. We sat in a comfortable silence, then pointed out constellations when it got dark enough.
“I love you so much,” I said for what had to be the fiftieth time. The words had been unleashed, and I couldn’t hold them back. “And thank you for tryin’ to kick my ass a few times.”
“You’re welcome.” Jack laughed, then leaned in quickly and kissed me. “Are you going to miss Alabama?”
I shrugged. “Some, but I’m takin’ the best part with me.”
Jack kissed me again, this time slower, until we were tilting to lie flat in the truck.
We stayed like that for a long time, lips against lips, lazily stroking each other as we made grand plans for our futures, inadvertently edging each other, until I couldn’t stand it any longer.
I hopped off the truck, dragged Jack’s ass to the end of the tailgate, then sucked him while I jerked off onto the ground.
Jack curled over me, holding me to him as he came with a ragged groan that nearly got me hard again.
Jack lifted my head with his fingers under my jaw, an expression of awe and wonder in his glittering eyes and sexy smirk. “Such a good princess.”
I snapped my teeth as if I’d bite him but laughed. “And you’re such a bad princess.”
Sunday 4:03 PM
Ty
Is this the chat for dick pics?
Nope. Wouldn’t want to make you jealous.
Asher
What’s this about, Cal? Did you get Jack pregnant? Am I about to be an uncle?
Michael/Jamie
Surprisingly, none of us are related to you.
Asher
So you think.
Tate
Lol, hey guys.
Percy
Why am I in this discussion?
Wren
I’m guessing someone’s about to move away and someone’s going to miss us.
How preceptive of you, Mr. Artistic Music Major.
Wren
Don’t hate.
Tate
Don’t hate.
Wren
Jinx.
Tate
Jinx.
Michael/Jamie
Well that’s disgusting.
Percy
No way, Wren and Tate are the cutest thing ever! Also, Michael, give Jamie the phone! God, you’re grumpy even in text!
Asher
Wrate? Tren? I dunno, neither sound right.
Ty
Jal? Cack? Ugh, missed opportunity there, or I’d so call them Cock or Crack in a heartbeat.
Princess
Thank God it was missed. Yes, we’re moving to Boston, and Cal wanted everyone to keep in touch so, voila. Group chat.
Percy
Princess? I want a fun name! Someone name me! Name me!
Percy’s contact changed to Annoying.
Annoying
GIVE JAMIE THE PHONE, Michael!
Ty
Lol, fuck, it fits.
Michael/Jamie
You do know there are more punctuation marks than ! right?
Annoying
Rude!
Tate
Rude.
Annoying
Awww thanks, bff!
Annoying’s contact changed to Percy.
Anyway, I want us to keep in touch. No matter what it is, or if our lives end up boring as shit, I want to know about it. Can y’all try it?
Percy
I’m too cute to be boring as shit!
Asher
I have to many idiot cousins to be boring as shit. They’re always good for entertainment.
Princess
too* many
Ty
Asher, you got into Cressmann right?
Asher
Yup.
Percy
That’s where I am!
Asher
I’m moving to the dorms. We’ll have to meet up.
Percy
For sure!
Michael/Jamie
Thank fuck. Put a leash on him.
Percy
Michael!
Asher
Hope Jamie kick’s your ass for that one.
Michael/Jamie
Say that to my face. I dare you.
Asher
Asher has left the chat …
Tate
Lol. Sounds good, Cal. I like this idea.
Wren
Same.
Percy
Samesies!
Lol, nice. Y’all be good. Talk soon.