Chapter Thirty-Eight
Evie
Four months later.
I can’t believe Noah and I are leaving for college.
Things have been so chaotic the last few hours as Mom and I scramble to make sure I have everything I need. Mom is doing most of the stressing because it’s not like I’m moving to a jungle or anything. I can always buy whatever I need. But I guess it’s her job to worry like this?
“Mom, it’s okay,” I say with a laugh as she gets down on her knees before one of my overstuffed suitcases and squeezes in another pair of socks. “I’m sure I can find a store that sells socks. Or order some online…”
She huffs as her forehead creases. “I think that’s everything.” Her eyes suddenly light up. “Wait, I forgot some of your clothes in the wash. They should be ready.” She gets up and hurries out of my room.
I check and recheck my bag that holds all my art supplies to make sure I have everything I need. My heart thumps with nerves and excitement. This doesn’t seem real. It feels like a dream or like it’s happening to someone else.
“Are you all packed?” Lily asks as she and Liam walk into my room and flop onto my bed. Lily’s eyes widen at all my bags. “Wow. Are you bringing your whole room with you?”
“Haha,” I say.
“I can’t imagine you not being in here,” Liam says. “Or in the basement. It’ll feel so weird.”
“Well Noah and I cleaned out the basement, so it’s all yours to do whatever you want with it.”
“No way,” Lily says. “Your studio will be waiting for you when you stay over the summer.”
With a smile, I head over and wrap my arms around both of them. “Thanks. Ugh, I’m going to miss you guys so much, Sibling One and Sibling Two. I can’t believe I’m actually leaving for college. It’s crazy.”
“We’ll miss you, too,” they say as they hug me back.
“But we’ll video chat all the time,” I say as I straighten up and reach for one of my suitcases. “Every night if we need to.”
“Yeah, right.” Liam rolls his eyes. “You’ll video chat with your boyfriend every night.”
A large grin takes over my face as I imagine the special video calls I’ll have with my sweet Noah. “Totally.” I blink and look at them. “But of course I’ll video chat with you just as often. I want to be tight with you guys forever.”
“Same,” they say.
Mom returns to my room with some of my clothes, Dad trailing after her.
After she manages to stuff the clothes in one of my suitcases, she gathers me in her arms. “I can’t believe my eldest is heading off to college.
I tried to mentally prepare myself for this day because I knew it would be so exciting and difficult, but I don’t think there’s any way I could have prepared for this. ”
“We’re so proud of you, sweetie.” Dad stretches his arms over Mom and me and kisses my cheek. “Never been prouder. And we love you so much.”
“Thanks.” Tears flash in my eyes. “I love all of you, too.”
The doorbell rings.
“That must be Noah,” I say.
“I’ll let him in,” Liam says as he leaves my room.
Mom plays with my hair. “You okay, Evie?”
I release a breath and smile. “I’m good.”
Footsteps approach, and then Noah appears in my doorway with Liam behind him. “Hey,” he says as his eyes soften with a smile. “Am I early?”
I return the smile. “You’re right on time. I’m done packing.”
“Can I help carry your bags to your car?” he offers.
“Thanks, Shnookums.”
“Of course, Wow Factor.” He winks and walks over to my largest suitcase. He, Dad, and Liam carry the larger suitcases while the rest of us carry everything else. My heart thumps even harder as I descend the stairs and step into the warm August air. Holy crap, this is actually happening.
Noah’s car is parked behind mine. From what I can tell, he hadn’t packed his entire room like I did.
“Anything else?” Dad asks me as they finish loading my stuff.
“Yeah, just minor things. Noah, want to help?”
“Sure.”
He and I make our way back up to my room. Now that we’re alone, I move closer to him and close my arms around him. He gathers me in his arms, cradling me close to his chest. I stretch my neck as he lowers his head, and we share a sweet but passionate kiss.
“Do you feel my heart?” I whisper. “It’s racing.”
“Feel mine.” He takes my hand and places it over his heart. It is indeed, racing. Just as fast as mine.
“I’m so glad we’re lucky and are attending colleges only an hour away from each other,” I say as I press my cheek to his chest, loving the way his heart beats. “It makes all of this much easier.”
“I agree. I can’t wait to spend every weekend with you.”
I chuckle. “Only the weekends? I bet we’ll be driving to each other every day.”
He laughs as well. “I know. I just didn’t want my amazing girlfriend to think I’m too obsessed with her.” He moves his lips to my temple.
“But what if said girlfriend is way too obsessed with her boyfriend?”
His chest rumbles as he laughs again. “I’d say her boyfriend must be pretty amazing to have someone as incredible as her as his girlfriend.”
“Trust me. He is.”
“Not as amazing as her.”
We kiss again, this one filled with so much emotion because there are so many emotions racing through our bodies.
Excitement for what’s to come, but fear as well.
Hope and joy and anticipation, but also trepidation.
Of course I don’t need Noah to navigate the next stage in my life, but the fact that I have someone to share it with means the world to me.
“You think they’re wondering what’s keeping us?” Noah asks.
“Definitely. We should go before someone comes looking for us.”
When we go back outside with the rest of my things, I find Lily and Mom battling tears.
“Hey, it’ll be okay,” I say to my younger sister as I wrap her in my arms. “It’ll be hard at first, but you’ll get used to it. And you can call or text me whenever you need. I’ll always be here for you.”
She wipes her eyes. “Thanks. I just can’t believe you’re actually leaving. And I can’t help but think this will be me and Liam next year.”
“Yeah. Wild,” Liam says, he too carrying a despondent expression.
Reaching for him, I pull him into the hug.
“You two are going to do great things one day. Lily, you’ll be an amazing marriage counselor and bring happiness to so many couples.
You have such a good heart and yearn to help people.
I really admire you for that. And Liam, you’re so talented and have so much to share with the world.
I know you’ll be a famous chef one day with restaurants all over the world. ”
Liam and Lily try to fight off my praise, but I won’t have that. I’m super proud of my siblings and can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.
“Mom, don’t cry,” I say with a teary laugh as I see her still battling tears. “I’ll be okay.”
“I have no doubt about that,” she says as she takes me in her arms and presses a kiss to my forehead. “I’ve just never been so proud of you.”
Dad once again wraps his arms around both of us. I close my eyes and take in this moment, relishing the feeling of being so loved by my parents. They’ve provided me with the best life possible and I owe them everything.
“Thanks for being the amazing parents that you are,” I tell them.
“Thanks for being the amazing daughter that you are,” they say.
“Before the rest of the gang comes to say their goodbyes,” I say as I step out of the hug. “I have gifts for you. Noah and Liam, can you help me?”
The guys follow me down to the basement, where we gather the paintings I made for my family. All of them are wrapped, so I don’t have to worry about Liam peeking. His painting is of him making the winning shot at one of his basketball games this year. He was so amazing.
I ask my parents and siblings to gather in the living room and present them with their gifts.
Dad has tears in his eyes as he takes in the painting of his parents. “Evie, it’s the most beautiful painting I’ve ever seen in my life. Thanks, sweetheart.” He hugs me and kisses my cheek.
Mom, Lily, and Liam gush about their gifts as well.
I managed to hold in my tears all morning, but for some reason, they break through now and pour down my cheeks.
Maybe because presenting them with their gifts is my conclusion.
The end of a chapter. Now I’m finally ready to start the next chapter in my life.
“And for my wonderful boyfriend, too,” I say as I pass him the last one. “For you to hang in your dorm room.”
He tears off the wrapping paper and smiles down at the portrait I painted of him when I didn’t know I was in love with him.
Back then, I thought I was ashamed. I tried to hide it.
But now it means so much to both of us. A symbol of everything we’ve been through in life, and a symbol of how amazing our lives will be from now on and well into the future.
Because Noah Barrington is my soulmate, and I can’t wait to see what life has in store for us.
“Hastings’s?” Kara’s voice calls from outside.
We walk outside and find the Barringtons gathered around. Rylee launches herself into her brother’s arms. “I know I said it a million times, but I’m going to miss you so much.”
“I know,” he whispers as he pats her hair. “But remember what I told you. You call and text and video call whenever you want. I’ll even leave in the middle of class to talk to you.”
She looks up at him with wide eyes filling up with tears. “You mean it?”
“Of course.”
She sniffs and then throws her arms around me. “I’m going to miss you so much, too. I can’t even be mad at you that you’ll see my brother more than me because I’ll miss you too much.”
I laugh as I play with her hair. “You can call me whenever you want, too. And I’ll make sure to record all of Noah’s performances and share them with you.”
“And you’ll perform with him, too, won’t you?” she asks.
“Of course. We’re in a band for life.”
Kara pulls me into her arms. “I already squished Noah to death, and now it’s your turn. Our first Musketeer babies heading off to college. We’re all super proud of you.”
“Thanks,” I say.
Brayden hugs me as well. “We can’t wait to see you share your art with the world.”
“Thank you.”
Chloe, who has just finished exchanging another hug with her brother, wraps her arms around me. “Good luck with everything! You and Noah are going to be amazing.”
“And so will you,” I say with a smile. “You’ll grow up to be an incredible journalist, just like your mother. I can’t wait to continue reading your articles in the Edenbury High Times. So keep sending them to me, okay?”
“Sure. Thanks.”
By now, the other Musketeers and their kids have arrived as well. Noah and I spend a few minutes exchanging hugs and goodbyes with everyone.
“You’ll do amazing things in your dad’s company,” I tell Ava as I squeeze her. “You’ll change so many people’s lives.”
“Whoa, I think you’re thinking a bit too far into the future,” she says with a nervous laugh. “But thanks. I really want to help as many people as possible.”
“Like parents like daughter,” I say as I smile at Dani and Easton.
Dani puts her arms around me and Noah. “I know you both are super nervous about starting this next stage in your lives. But you’ll be okay.
I remember how nervous I was to move to New York City and try to make it on Broadway.
Stay true to yourselves and be the best people you can be.
I know one thousand percent that you both will be successful in everything you do. ”
“And remember that we’re always here for you if you need us,” Easton tells us.
“Thanks so much! Ugh, I’m going to cry.”
“Not before we get to hug you.” Charlie yanks me into her arms and then grabs Noah. “Like everyone else, I’m super proud of you two. Never stop being the amazing people that you are.”
Asher tells us similar words as well, and then Mia flings her arms around us. “Colt let me play a short demo of his game. The graphics are amazing, Evie! You’re so cool.”
I laugh. “Thanks, Mia. Now you have a job.”
Her brows crease. “I do?”
“Yeah. You and Willow. Help bring Colt’s sister’s game to the world. Keep her memory alive by sharing one of the most amazing video games ever made.”
“Already on it,” Willow tells me as she closes her arms around me. “And Colt and I are thinking of making mobile and console versions of the game, too. I know his sister would be super proud of him.”
“I’m so thankful to be part of it,” I say. “And Willow? I can’t wait to see what you’ll share with the world with your amazing brain.”
She smiles. “Thanks.”
Aunt Bailey, Uncle Zane, and the kids stop by to wish us goodbye and good luck as well.
So many of us are crowded near my house that it feels like a reunion.
It takes forever until hugs and kisses are exchanged again, with Mom and Dad not seeming to want to let go of me.
But it’s starting to get late, and Noah and I have a long drive ahead of us.
“Check in as often as you can,” Mom tells us as we head to our cars.
“Your mother means every hour,” Dad clarifies.
She gently whacks his chest. “No, I don’t.” She looks at us. “But I wouldn’t mind if you do.”
“Same here,” Kara says. “Just a text to let us know you’re okay.”
“Aye, aye, cap’ns,” I say, and Noah nods.
Everyone steps aside to give us space.
I look at Noah and he looks at me.
“Ready?” he asks.
I open the driver’s door of my car and wink. “See you at our first rest stop, hubby.”
He blows me a kiss. “You, too, wifey.”
We wave goodbye to our families and friends, get in our cars, and start the journey that will lead to the rest of our lives.