You can’t move for him. You have to move for you!
Atlas skips through my mind, surprising me with his sudden presence. He’s been fading lately. I don’t think about him every day the way I used to. I don’t obsess about him, and it’s been a nice relief.
But here he is, floating through my brain. Is he trying to tell me something?
My heart buckles the way it always does, this heavy pulse of yearning bursting through me, but it fades with surprising speed.
Because I’m not lost without him anymore.
I’m making something of my life. Sure, I haven’t figured out a career path yet, but I love tending bar. I love living with friends. I love… being with Tyrell. I haven’t been this content and happy in a really long time.
I’m moving on, and every decision isn’t soaked in my dead boyfriend’s memory or my mourning.
Like a soft whisper traveling through me, I feel it. This knowledge. This hope.
I can do this.
I can do this because I want to.
A loud cheer goes up. I blink, suddenly coming to as a wave of blue graduation caps fire into the air. My hands automatically start clapping, and I smile as Cyrus cheers and jumps beside me.
“Okay, let’s go find your brother and get some photos.” Mrs. Jackson takes Cyrus’s hand and orders Lacey to get off her damn phone before she takes it off her, then pauses to make sure her husband is okay shuffling down the row of seats.
I stand and wander after Tyrell’s family. With the human traffic jam, it’s a slow trek back outside, but we eventually make it. I’m grateful for the cloudless blue sky as I watch them hug and celebrate with him. He lifts Lacey off her feet and spins her around, then wraps Cyrus in a strong hug. His brother is so excited, and Tyrell grins at him.
He’s such a good man.
I love the way he interacts with his family, carefully hugging his father and then kissing his mama’s cheek.
He searches me out then, and I step forward, wrapping my arms around him and knowing.
I can do this.
I can do this because I want to.
Before he can let me go, I squeeze him a little tighter and whisper in his ear, “I’m coming to Texas with you.”
CHAPTER 40
TYRELL
Holy shit.
I tip my head back so I can look at her face, make sure I heard her right.
She smiles at me, nodding, then laughing when I let out a whoop and spin her around.
“You serious?”
“Yes.” She laughs. “Yes. Let’s spend the summer together and see how things go.”
I’ll take it. Summer together sounds perfect.
“Thank you,” I whisper, gazing at her beautiful smile and having to kiss it.
“Oooo! Kissing!” Cyrus starts laughing. “Mama, they’re kissing.”
“Yes, I can see that, baby.” Her bemused tone has me grinning against Dani’s lips, and she giggles into my mouth.
