Chapter 11
ELEVEN
Kirsten
I blink and suddenly I’m a high school graduate.
As I walk across the stage to accept the empty diploma folder from our principal, I hear Sydney, Ford, and the others hooting and hollering. It’s a little embarrassing, but I don’t care. Everyone I love is here.
Kingston Knight and his fiancée, Devyn.
Sam and all the guys from Crimson Edge.
Sasha and Anton.
Everyone from Nobody’s Fool and their significant others.
Ford, Sydney, and the kids, except baby Poppy since this would be way too much chaos for her.
I smile.
There’s always been a bit of chaos in my life, and while it’ll be nice to be away from it, I’m also going to miss it sometimes.
Like now.
As I look out into the audience, I see Owen and Colby waving frantically to get my attention, and I wave back, laughing.
“I can’t believe it’s here,” Gina whispers, shuffling into the seat next to mine even though our last names aren’t close to each other and we’re supposed to sit in alphabetical order. That’s okay, though. Since we’ve both already walked across the stage, we can share the seat. She links her fingers with mine.
“You better not cry,” I warn.
“Okay.” Her eyes widen and I see the tears puddling in them anyway.
“Come on,” I protest. “I’m going to be mad if my makeup runs.”
She giggles. “Me too. But I can’t help it.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll still be besties forever.”
She leans over and rests her head on my shoulder. “I know. It’s just… all these changes make me nervous.”
“Me too. But it’ll be fine. And I’ll be around until August.”
“You’ll be with Sam.”
“Well, until he leaves to go on tour, which will be at the end of June.”
“Oh, so we’ll have all of July to hang out at the pool?”
“Yup. And go shopping for dorm stuff.”
“And the Imagine Dragons concert coming up.”
“See? You’ll be sick of me by the time you leave.”
“I don’t think so.”
Finally, the ceremony is over and despite being told not to, we all throw our graduation caps high in the air.
It’s done.
High school is behind me.
I fall into line, with Elise, Cathryn, and Jami running up to join us, and we head out to where we’re supposed to wait for our families.
Except I see Sam leaning against a wall and take a moment to appreciate the picture he makes. He’s wearing a suit, because I asked him to, and he looks incredible. The suit is dark blue, with a white button-down shirt beneath and a navy tie. I think he borrowed the suit and tie from Tyler, the bassist for Nobody’s Fool, since they’re about the same size. And I suddenly have this vision of peeling that shirt off him.
Just like I did on prom night.
Our sex life has been amazing the last few weeks.
Every time we do it, he shows me something new and I want to learn it all. I never knew you could have so many orgasms in one night—and he seems a little surprised at my growing sexual appetite.
“Sam.” I call his name and he turns. There are throngs of kids moving in every direction, looking for friends and family, but he somehow knew where I’d be.
He holds out his arms, extending a bouquet of pink roses, and I run to throw my arms around his neck.
“Congratulations, baby.” He kisses me full on the mouth.
“Thank you.” I look at the flowers. “They’re so pretty.”
“Just like you.”
“Where is everyone else?”
“Waiting with the other parents in the lobby. But I scoped this out earlier and talked to someone in security, who told me you’d be exiting here.”
“Sneaky.” I grin. “I like it.”
“How does it feel?” he asks.
“Wonderful. I’m so excited to be free of school, ready to start the next phase of my life.”
“Me too.” He kisses me again and there’s something in his eyes I can’t quite describe.
“What is it?” I ask. “Is something wrong?”
“No, everything is fine.” He smiles. “I’m just really excited for you.”
“Thank you. I am too. And for my party tonight.”
Ford and Sydney are throwing me a huge graduation party at the house. Not only that, but all my musician friends are going to be performing. Kingston, Nobody’s Fool, Crimson Edge, and maybe even me. It’s going to be a fun night where I can celebrate with the people from both my worlds.
We walk toward the main lobby hand in hand, and I’m immediately swept up in congratulations, hugs, kisses, and flowers. I can’t help but think about my parents for a moment, wondering if they’d be proud of me or if this is just another non-event for them.
“I’m so proud of you!” Sydney whispers, hugging me for the third time.
I hug her back. “I couldn’t have done any of it without you. You know that, right?”
She shakes her head. “You’re strong, smart, and resilient—you would have found a way.”
I hesitate for a second. “Do you think…they know?”
She knows I’m referring to our parents and makes a face. “Maybe? You’ve been in the news a little bit since you’ve been hanging out at the studio, but even if they do, they don’t care enough to reach out. They never have. Do you want them to?”
“I don’t want them to, but I guess there’s a part of me that doesn’t understand… how can they not care? Not about me or you or Colby. Who gives birth to three babies and just leaves them?”
“I don’t know.” We’re whispering amidst the excitement going on around us. “I just know that I could never do that. And no matter where you go or what you do or how famous you get—you always have a home with us. Whether it’s a place to come on vacation or a place to store your stuff while you’re on a world tour or just a place you come for holidays and special occasions—we are your family and your home.”
We look at each other for another moment and then burst into tears.
“What are we doing?” Ford demands softly, wrapping an arm around each of us. He’s really the world’s best brother-in-law. “There aren’t supposed to be tears tonight—please tell me this isn’t about your sperm donor and his wife.”
Sydney and I giggle, sniffling through our tears.
Ford hates our parents even more than we do.
A moment later two tissues appear, and I look into Sam’s handsome face.
“Thank you,” I whisper, blowing my nose and then dabbing at my eyes.
“I hate to see you cry,” he says, pulling me close.
“We just had a sister moment.” I sniff. “We’re okay now.”
“Ready to go party?” Sydney asks me.
“Absolutely.”