43. Georgia
If Derek is the king of being early and on time, then I am the absolute queen of being late. However, today of all days, I was the one who was ready before everyone else.
Derek and Delilah took at least an hour to get ready. Which I can understand for Deli, considering I’m the one who got her ready this morning, but Derek is a different case.
He says that he needs to be perfect for today. I told him that was his default, and now, after ten minutes of waiting in the car for him, we’re on the way to campus.
“Papá, I’m so excited!” Deli squeals from the backseat, kicking her legs.
“Is that right, Sunshine?” he asks, quickly eyeing her in the rearview mirror as she giggles.
I turn in my seat, smiling at Deli, causing her to giggle again.
Today’s our graduation day, and it’s safe to say that Delilah is more excited than the both of us combined. She’s been bouncing up and down since we told her we would walk across the stage, and has asked different questions about graduating since.
Derek has traded his signature sweater for a button-up and trousers with the sleeves rolled up, and I’ve been drooling over him ever since he stepped in the car.
His hair is still damp from his shower and the product he put in. His glasses are a stony black, and he’s allowing his beard to grow, so now there’s a light dusting of hair, trimmed neatly on his cheeks.
I’m wearing an ASTERI pantsuit in emerald to match my ring and the jewelry Derek bought me recently. My hair is in its signature bombshell curls, and I think I look good, if I do say so myself.
When we get out of the car in the designated area for graduates, our car is immediately bombarded by our friends. Only Derek, Sienna, Denver, and I are graduating today, but everyone is here for us.
Cleo and Denver gush over Delilah the second she hops out of the car, cooing and pinching her cheeks softly as she giggles.
When the introductions are out of the way, I pause, my jaw dropping as I take in the boys’ outfits.
Not only are Blake, Jace, and Ryan dressed in full suits, but their ties have their girlfriends’ faces on them.
“Cleo’s not graduating…” I point out, chuckling as Blake shrugs.
“I can’t support my princess?”
“You can do whatever you want, baby!” Cleo defends, patting his cheek.
“Oh my gosh… I think I just threw up in my mouth.” Denver gags, putting a finger in her mouth as the rest of us laugh.
We all go our separate ways, the boys and Cleo take Delilah into the venue to meet our families and watch the ceremony as we graduates wait to be seated.
Denver squeezes my hand as we walk, her steps shaky.
“Promise me that no matter what, we’ll remain friends?” she asks, looking straight forward as I roll my eyes.
“The drama—of course we’ll always be friends, Den. It’s only graduation.” I chuckle, squeezing her hand before we’re separated to be seated.
I almost forgot how boring a graduation ceremony could be. Rows and rows of students pass through the stage, some cheering, some crying, and some annoyed that they had to attend their college graduation to receive a piece of paper.
When my name is called, and it’s time for me to walk, I feel a sense of pride in myself. Just a few years ago, I was a little kid who couldn’t differentiate her letters and struggled with reading. Today, in less than a minute, I’ll be walking across the stage and leaving here as a college graduate.
Loud cheers and applause swell around the stadium as my face is broadcast across its huge monitors. This moment is what I’ve worked so hard for. As I shake hands with my school’s dean of students, I hear a faint noise, and I’d recognize it anywhere.
My eyes find hers instantly.
Delilah stands on one of the chairs in the stadium, jumping on the chair between Blake and Cleo. She’s yelling, “Go Mamá!” so loud that I can hear her over the roar of everyone else, and my heart tightens.
I blow her a kiss as I walk off the stage before shooting her a small wave.
When both Denver and Sienna walk across the stage, I’m cheering like I’ve gone mad. The girls each laugh as they accept their diplomas, before eyeing me in the crowd.
I point to them each when it’s their turn, and they reciprocate the gesture to me.
But it’s when Derek walks across the stage that I lose my absolute mind.
I’m on my feet as Delilah and I cheer the loudest and proudest for our guy.
Derek’s smile is wider than ever as he accepts his diploma, turning to the crowd to show Delilah.
Denver laughs at me as I swipe at a stray tear under my eyes.
“It’s my allergies,” I lie, my heart thumping as my man is pronounced a college graduate.
When we graduates exit the ceremony and walk out into the front of the stadium, I’m immediately pulled into a hug. Her warm and comforting smell of amber musk reveals her identity as she pats the back of my head, sobbing, and I’m right there with her.
“Mommy!” I wail, hugging my mother tighter as she cries.
She’s been the best mother that I could ever ask for throughout this entire journey.
When I was diagnosed with dyslexia, she didn’t get mad and call me broken, as so many others had.
My mother was there for me. She made sure that I had the proper resources and was in tutoring every day.
She took me back and forth to different fashion events and was the first to cheer for me—always.
“I’m so proud of you, honey,” she says, her eyes filled with unshed tears as she holds my face with both of her hands.
“I know, Mom. Thank you.” I cry, allowing my own tears to fall freely as she kisses my forehead.
We hug for a second more when I realize… “Wait… Did Dad come?”
I know that we ended things on a bad note last month, but it’s my graduation... He fought hard for me in school as much as Mom did; he should see this, no matter if we’re not on good terms right now.
Mom pulls back from the hug, her eyes shifting away from me as she shakes her head.
That silent confirmation is all I need. Pasting on a smile, I turn and allow myself to be hugged and congratulated by everyone else who showed up for me today.
I’m in the middle of talking with Denver when Delilah comes rushing over.
“Mamá, we need to get a picture!”
I raise my brows, allowing her to tug me away as I mouth an apology to Denver.
Derek is standing in the middle of the walkway, smiling as he takes pictures with Lidia, but when he sees me, he pauses, and his eyes soften.
“Care to take a picture, darlin’?”
I smirk, prancing over and nod as he places his arm around me, “I’m ready for my close up.”
He chuckles, pulling me in, and we smile for the camera. “Good, because I was wondering if you were ready for forever.”
Our eyes lock, and my breath hitches.
“Georgia, will you remain married to me? No more rules, no more faking it. Will you be mine forever?”
My smile drops as shock claims my body, and I take a step back.
“Derek…” I breathe, crying all over again as the man who has become the love of my life gives me a shy smile.
I don’t hesitate to kiss him, my eyes closed and heart open. When we pull away, I say, “I wouldn’t dream of doing anything else. Of course, I’ll stay married to you.”
He grins, kissing me deeper. “Happy Birthday, darlin’.”
I grow shy, my cheeks heating up. Today is May eleventh and my twenty-second birthday.
We celebrated Delilah’s fifth birthday last week by taking her to the new trampoline park that opened nearby.
She was so excited and happy to be around her friends and family.
She was completely worn out by the end of the night and asleep as soon as we got in the car.
My birthday being the day Derek found Delilah was a shock to me when he first told me all those months ago, but I think the fates tied our invisible strings together long before we knew of one another.
So far today, I’ve had one of the best birthdays ever. I woke up to some impeccable morning sex, followed by breakfast in bed, and small self-care time before getting my diploma.
The only thing that could make me feel better is—
“What would you like to do first today, Mrs. Perez?” Derek asks, interrupting my thoughts.
I know exactly what has to be done.
I pretend to think about it and then smile. “I’m going to get absolutely wasted and have the night of my life, but first I have to make a phone call.”