“Brody, baby.” She held out her arms, and I picked her up and twirled her around.
“I did it, Momma.”
“You sure did. Your daddy would be so proud of you.”
“Here, look.” I handed her the paper, which wasn’t the official diploma that would come in the mail, but it was a copy that had my name and all the information. “You keep this.”
She carefully put it in her purse. “What a beautiful day. It’s perfect.”
Theo lounged by her side. “Nice goin’, Brody. Congratulations.” I accepted a hug from him. “Bet you’re hungry from standin’ and waitin’ so long.”
“Yeah. I made a reservation at the Main Cut.” Next to the Hawk, it was the nicest steak place in town and where we went for our family celebrations.
All the graduates and their families milled about on the great lawn of the campus, and my teammates and I talked about our summer plans—our group was going to Cancun for a week to hang out and relax before we had to report to our different training camps. I bumped fists and gave and received hugs from everyone’s families. All my buddies were there except for the one I wanted to be with most.
“Where’s Dev? Aren’t his parents here? I’d love to meet them,” Momma said, her face concerned.
“No, they’re on their yearly European vacation,” he spoke over my shoulder. “Why should my graduation stop them from touring the castles?” The brittle voice of my friend and lover made me wince even as he grinned and held out a hand to Theo. “Theo, my man. How’s it shaking?”
“Great. Looking forward to being part of the Kings? They look good for the Super Bowl, I figure. They’re my bet to win.”
“You gambling on the games?” My brow furrowed.
His grin turned to a frown. “’Course not. Just a figure of speech.”
By now I should’ve resolved my issues with Theo, but I remembered all the days Daddy ’n me had spent swimming in the lake and him teaching me to fish, and I couldn’t find a piece of my heart to share. It wasn’t fair to Theo, and I vowed to be better.
“Sorry, Theo.”
Momma smiled at me, and Theo nodded. “No worries, buddy.”
“Hey, Brody. Congratulations.”
“You too, Dev.” We hugged, a bit awkwardly in front of everyone, but it was so good to be able to put my arms around him without fear. I breathed in his scent, and his eyes, bright with longing, flashed to mine for a second before we let go.
“Sweetheart. Come gimme a hug.” Watching Momma hold Dev, pain hit my heart for him, knowing he was alone. “Are you sure your folks won’t be here?”
“Absolutely positive.”
She frowned and shook her head. Of course she couldn’t understand, and neither could I. How did parents miss their child’s college graduation? Even if Southern Miami, the football-proud university, wasn’t where they’d wanted Dev to go to school, it was one of those milestones engrained in your life forever. “You come out to dinner with us, honey.”
Dev’s dark brows shot high. “Uh, I don’t want to intrude…”
A pang of longing hit me hard, and I wished we could sit together at the table like all the other boyfriends and girlfriends with their parents.
“You’re not,” I said softly. “You shouldn’t be alone tonight.”
**
It was a wonderful meal, and Dev kept everyone laughing with his stories of living in New York City and the wild things he and his friends had done in high school. We’d ordered several bottles of champagne, and Momma had two glasses, which had her giggling like a schoolgirl. She fanned her pink face.
“I think I’d better get myself to the hotel and go to bed. I’m a little tipsy.”
Theo finished his piece of graduation cake. “Come on, Faith. I’ll get some coffee in ya.”
Dev checked his phone. “The guys are all getting together tonight for a farewell. Wanna go? I have my car. I can drive you there and home after.”
“Go on, honey,” Momma insisted. “Have fun with your friends.”
