Prologue
Graduation night is always bittersweet. With my business degree in hand, I’m expected to head out into the big wide world and be a functioning adult. Hell, I’ve barely managed to get through my college years.
“Kate, are we going to that party tonight?” Samantha, one of my best friends, calls out from across pathway. Our other friend, Emily, stands beside her, shaking her head.
I glance at my parents and their eyes narrow. “Probably not. I need to finish packing.” Immediately after the words are out, I mouth “yes” to her.
It’s a bad idea, I know it to my very core. Parties are the reason I barely made it through college. Of course, I studied, but never until the last minute. Luckily, Emily’s parents aren’t around because they would make a whole scene. It’s a wonder they allowed her to be friends with us in high school. The only one missing is Caroline, but she was so wrapped up in her high school sweetheart that she went to college where he was accepted. I don’t fault her. You have to follow your heart, I guess.
But the last thing I need is some guy telling me what to do, and what’s acceptable. I see enough of that with my parents and it’s not the life I want for me. I’m not immune to the words some of my fellow classmates have called me while here, but I don’t care. We only have one life. Why not enjoy it however we want?
“Are you coming home tomorrow?” My dad’s voice can barely be heard over the chatter surrounding us. Parents doting over the accomplishments of their kids almost drown him out.
“It’ll probably be Sunday or Monday.” I turn toward him, so he knows I’m listening.
“Why so long?” Mom frowns. I swear it doesn’t matter what I tell them, they will always have something to disapprove of.
“I have to get everything packed up and clean my dorm before I head back.”
I know it’s the right answer when she drops the subject. If it wasn’t fine, she would have come back with some remark. Honestly, I’m surprised she didn’t offer to help me just so I’d come home sooner. All I know is the first thing I plan on doing when I get home is look for an apartment. There’s no way I can live with my parents. They aren’t horrible, but they are overbearing. More than I think most parents, except maybe Emily’s.
“We’ll let you get to it, then,” Dad wraps an arm around my shoulder for a quick hug, “call us when you’re on your way.”
“I will.”
“We’re proud of you.” He gives me one more squeeze and releases me to my mom.
Her arms go around me and her grip is so tight it’s hard to breathe. “You’ve done great, sweetheart. I can’t wait to see what you will accomplish.”
“Thanks, Mom. But couldn’t you show less strength?”
“Oh, sorry,” she tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. “We’ll see you when you get home. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Finally, they walk away. My focus stays on their backs until they are nearing the doors to exit the stadium. The college is close enough to Asheville that they’ll go home, thank God. The last thing I need is for them to get a hotel and pop in unannounced.
“I didn’t think they were ever going to leave,” Samantha throws an arm over my shoulder. “I think they may have been more overprotective than Emily’s parents.”
“That’s because her parents know she’s going to be just fine,” I nod toward our friend in question as she joins us, “mine are probably wondering how the hell I made it out of high school.”
“Why? It’s not like we were bad…well, not entirely.” Sam grins. That is a massive understatement. If our parents only knew how much we skipped school, or stayed out all night, they’d be freaking out. Hell, they probably would have never let us leave for college.
“If I remember,” Emily clears her throat, “I was the one who kept y’all out of serious trouble.”
“Well, you and Caroline,” Sam adds, “y’all were our voice of reason most of the time.”
“Do either of you know what you’re going to do when we get back?” It’s a small fear that has been playing in the back of my mind for a while. What if after all this I’m still a failure? I’d just be proving my parents correct.
“I thought we were doing the flower shop thing?” Samantha stares at me as if I’ve lost my mind.
“Yeah, but it’s not like any of us can afford to buy a space for it.”
“We don’t have to buy the space just yet,” Emily adds. “We only need to lease a small space until we grow.”
“I don’t think we have enough for that either.” All the plans we’ve been making since high school seem to be unattainable, and I don’t have a backup plan. Sam and Emily will be fine. They are able to swerve into a new lane when they need to. But me…I can’t do that. With my personal life, yes. But with something like be an actual adult, I don’t know that I’m built for it.
“You’re making tomorrow’s problem a today problem,” Sam bumps into me, “we can talk about this once we get back to Asheville. For now, let’s check out the parties on Greek Row. Everything else can wait. Tonight is our last night before we become functioning members of society. We need to live it up and go out with a bang.”
