Chapter 14
Allegra
Derek grins when I exit my bedroom, my graduation gown folded over my arm, my cap clenched in my hand. I smile and do a little curtsey, my white dress fluttering around my knees.
“You look beautiful, Stellina.”
“Thank you!” I breathe in deeply. I feel beautiful today. Successful and accomplished and proud. “I can’t believe today is graduation.”
“I can,” my brother replies, stepping out of his bedroom. He walks over and envelops me in a hug. “You’ve worked hard for this.”
“Thanks, Levi.” I rest my head on his shoulder as he tucks me under his arm. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too, A.” Levi glances at Derek. “You know my sister was valedictorian of her high school class?”
Surprise washes over Derek’s face. “I didn’t know that.”
I flick my wrist dismissively. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Are you kidding?” Levi laughs. “It was a huge deal.” He hugs me closer. “Mom and even Dad bragged about it for weeks.”
At the mention of our parents, my smile slips and Levi’s laughter cuts off. A heaviness descends on our shoulders, and it saddens me that we both bear the burden of our parents’ rejection. Levi kisses my temple. “Mom would make a big deal out of today, too.”
I dip my head in quiet acceptance. If she wasn’t married to Dad, I think Mom would be proud of me too. Too bad she’s not here to witness it.
“What time do you need to be at the stadium?” Derek asks, changing the subject. He absently spins his key ring on his finger.
I give Levi one last squeeze before slipping from his hold. “Not for a few more hours, but I’m going over to the girls’ house. They’re hosting a pre-grad soiree. A bunch of friends and mimosas and muffins. Nothing crazy.”
“That’s right,” Derek says, as if remembering the plans I informed him of last week.
I grin. “See you at the stadium? Graduation is at 1 p.m.,” I remind them.
Levi nods. “We’ll be there.”
“You need a ride?” Derek asks.
“No, thanks. I got one.” I check my phone to see if he’s here yet.
Derek’s eyebrows furrow. “Who?”
I sigh. “Ethan.”
“What the fu—”
“He’s my friend, Derek. He’s a really good friend,” I cut him off.
Derek sighs. Levi chuckles.
My brother moves to the kitchen and pours himself a cup of coffee. Posting up against the kitchen island, he crosses one ankle over the other and watches as the tension between Derek and me mounts.
“I could take you,” Derek asserts his point.
“I know. And I appreciate that. But this is my graduation,” I remind him. “I want to be with my friends. We’ve been through a lot together. And I told you these plans last week.”
“You didn’t say Ethan was picking you up,” he argues.
I shake my head, my frustration ticking up. Why is he making a big deal out of this? Why is he trying to make decisions about my friends and who I ride to a party with on my graduation day? “Originally, Nova’s boyfriend—”
“The football player,” Levi points out helpfully.
“West,” I use his name, “was going to scoop me up on his way to Nova’s. But his senior breakfast thing is running late so Ethan offered. It’s not a big deal.”
Derek’s jaw clenches, a muscle pulsing in his neck, at my words. “Why make him come out this way?” Derek jangles his keys. “I’m right here and free to give you a ride.”
Levi coughs to disguise his laughter.
I sigh, not nearly as amused as my brother. “Derek, don’t you trust me?”
“Uh-oh,” Levi murmurs.
“Mate, don’t you have something to do?” Derek whirls on Levi.
“Nope.” Levi shakes his head. He gestures toward us with his coffee mug. “Carry on.”
Derek swears and grips the back of his neck. “Of course, I trust you, Stellina.”
“Good. I trust you too.” I pick up my purse and settle the strap on my shoulder.
“I just don’t get why that guy has to give you a ride when I’m right here, wanting to drive you,” Derek continues.
“Because that guy is my friend. And it’s my graduation day and I want to spend time with my friends without my boyfriend trying to control everything and make decisions for me,” I snap back.
“Damn,” Levi murmurs.
Derek’s expression is stricken. An apology wells in my throat but I swallow it back down.
As much as I love being with Derek, as much as I appreciate him coming back and caring for me, as happy as I am that we’re together, sometimes, I need space.
He barreled into town like a tornado, sweeping me up in his orbit the way he always does. And I love it. I love him.
But sometimes… “You’ve gotta let me breathe, Derek,” I explain, drawing a boundary in the space between us. “I’m not going to crack,” I say, wanting to put his mind at ease.
Yes, I needed him when I learned about the ectopic pregnancy. Of course, I’ve leaned on him. But his moving into my apartment, chauffeuring me home from the NGO each night, trying to buy us a home, and wanting to know all my thoughts for the future, has been a lot in a short amount of time.
Today, it’s my graduation and I want to celebrate with my friends and have some fun like a normal college girl.
Anger twists Derek’s mouth but his eyes look lost. Uncertain. He sighs again. “Okay.”
I cross the room to give him a hug. “I love you. I’m happy you’re here and coming to my graduation today.”
He hugs me back and kisses my cheek. “I just worry, Allegra.”
“I know. But I can make my own decisions and choices. If I need help, I’ll ask.”
Levi lopes out of the room. When his bedroom door closes, Derek wraps me in his arms and holds me close. He breathes me in for a few seconds and I melt against his frame.
“Happy graduation day,” he says after a beat.
I smile against his neck, press a kiss there, and pull back. “See you at the stadium?”
He nods. “I’ll be cheering louder than the other fuckers.”
I laugh. My phone beeps, letting me know that Ethan is out front. I wave to Derek. “See you soon!”
Then, I bound down the steps and slip into the back seat of Ethan’s waiting ride. Two other friends are in the car and we all exchange squeals of excitement as Ethan pulls away from the curb. He meets my gaze in the rearview mirror and winks.
“It’s graduation day!” I yell out the wide-open window as the wind blows in.
My friends cheer as Ethan honks his horn in a staccato of celebratory beeps.
Right now, I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m filled with hope. Possibility glimmers on the horizon and I want to reach for it with both hands.
I pull in a deep inhale and hold it in my lungs. The sunshine warms my skin and I smile.
Peace, contentment, and knowing—the good version—wraps around me.
“We did it!” Nova fists pumps.
“Can you believe it?” Ivy asks, wide-eyed.
“Nope.” Mckenna shakes her head. “I feel nauseous.”
“Told you to take a shot,” Nova points out. “Tequila settles nerves.”
Mckenna gives her a look. Nova shrugs.
I sigh and glance out at the packed stadium. “Can you believe it? Four years of classes and homework, of highs and lows—”
“Of fucking Tinder,” Nova comments.
“And softball.” Ivy smiles softly.
“Internships,” Mckenna points out.
“Friendship,” I redirect the conversation.
The girls smile.
I laugh. “All of it, culminating in this moment.”
Ivy exhales. “We did it.”
I wrap my arms around Nova and Mckenna. Ivy does the same on the other side and the four of us form a huddle.
“Thanks for being my friends,” Mckenna says, showing her sentimentality.
“Aw, Kenny. You’re gonna make me cry,” Ivy whispers.
“Don’t!” Nova hisses. “Your makeup will run and I don’t have time to fix it.”
“Thanks for being my family,” I tack on.
A tear slips down Ivy’s cheek.
“Fuck,” Nova swears.
We all laugh.
On stage, the ceremony commences.
“You ready?” Mckenna murmurs.
I bump my hip against hers. “Let’s do it.”
We give one last squeeze before lining up and walking into our graduation.
“Congratulations!” Levi exclaims, clapping wildly when I meet him and our friends outside the crowded stadium.
Mav throws his arms around me. I hug him back.
“You did it,” he whisper-hisses.
“Congrats, A.” Jameson gives me a fist bump.
My brother kisses my cheek. “Do you feel smarter?”
“I’ve always been smarter than you,” I remind him.
He chuckles. “And now you’ve got a fancy degree to back that up.”
I swat at him, and his laughter grows.
“You’re now the smartypants of the group,” Mav tells me. He ruffles my hair and grins at me, his dimple popping. “Proud of you, A.”
“Thanks for being here, Maverick.” I give him a squeeze.
He scoffs. “Like I’d miss it. My name’s not—”
“Too soon,” Levi interjects.
Jameson snorts.
“Where’s Derek?” I ask.
The group doesn’t say anything and then, Mav grins.
“He’s right there.” Levi points.
I squint to see my guy walking toward me, a giant bouquet of wildflowers in hand.
“He had to bribe security to allow him to bring in the flowers,” Jameson explains. “Apparently, all gifts are to be kept in cars for after the ceremony.”
“Bribe security,” Mav snorts. Lowering his voice, he murmurs, “They made him sign a piece of merch.”
I giggle. My gaze turns back to Derek who is several strides away. A sexy smirk, brimming with pride, breaks out on his face.
I let out an exhale. Then, I rush him.
He moves the flowers to the side, so I don’t crush them as I launch myself at him. Derek catches me with one hand, holding my body against his as my legs wrap around his waist.
He turns his head to kiss my lips. “Proud of you, Stellina,” he whispers.
“You’re here,” I reply.
“Wouldn’t miss this for the fucking world.” His eyes are serious. He places me gently on my feet and presses the bouquet into my hands. “And I wouldn’t not bring you flowers either. I want another date,” he jokes.
I beam, cradling the bouquet in my arms.
“He just wanted to show the rest of us up,” Levi calls out.
“Yeah,” Derek agrees. “Where are your flowers?”
Mav flips him the bird.
Derek pretends to catch it and slip it into his pocket, like a kiss.
I laugh.
Derek’s expression softens as he tugs on a strand of my hair. “I’m sorry. About earlier. I want you to enjoy being with your friends, Allegra. I just, hell,” he sighs, “I worry.”
I wrap my arm around his waist and lean into him. “I know. But today’s a good day.”
“Today’s a great day,” Derek agrees, holding me against his chest.
Dex steps beside him. “Want to keep the good times rolling?”
“You’re here!” I gush, hugging him.
“Of course, I’m here. Wanted to see you get that diploma. Lord knows you earned it,” Dex says, hugging me back.
“Thanks, Dex,” I murmur.
He grins. “Anytime, A. Come on,” Dex addresses the group, clapping his hands together. “Lunch and drinks at Beirut.” He winks at me. “Congratulations, Allegra. I always knew you’d turn it around.”
I blush and dip my head. “Thanks to you.”
Derek watches the exchange between us curiously.
“Nah.” Dex waves a hand. “Because of you. Come on now. My treat.”
The group turns toward the parking lot. Derek grips my hand.
I glance at him. “Yes,” I answer his silent question. “This time, I’ll ride with you.”
Levi, Mav, and Jameson snicker as Derek flips them off.
I slide into the passenger seat of Derek’s car and pull out my phone.
Me: Celebration at Beirut. Come!
Nova: Gah! After lunch? My dad is insisting on a French restaurant. Like he doesn’t live in Paris…
Kenny: My parents are being weird.
Ivy: Weirder than usual?
Kenny: (eye roll emoji) As soon as I can get away, I’ll be there!
Ivy: My cousins surprised me!
Me: Bring them!!
Ivy: Ha! If I can get a group consensus, we’ll pass by.
Me: Nova?
Nova: Of course, I’m coming. My brothers are here too so after lunch with Dad, we’ll roll through.
Me: Yay! We did it!
Ivy: Hell yeah, we did!
Nova: (four celebration emojis)
Kenny: (three heart emojis)
I grin and toss my phone into the cup holder. I’m excited to celebrate today with my found family, right here in LA.