Kent looked up from where he was scribbling his name on the form my doctor had sent over. This felt like an ending, though it wasn’t. I wasn’t done with PT. I was just reaching the end of what my insurance was willing to cover. I had money from the settlement still, though most of that had gone into my house, but I didn’t want to spend it on something Kent was sure I didn’t need anymore.
The good news in all that was I was fully graduated from walking aids unless I needed them for the pain.
The even better news was that I’d come out of this with a new best friend. I would have felt worse if Kent and I didn’t have weekly nights at Zayd’s bar catching up or plans for barbecues on the weekends.
Or, in the future, a thousand-mile bike ride for both charity and to prove that the accident hadn’t taken anything from me. I still wasn’t ready. My heart still skipped a beat whenever I thought about hitting the open road, but Kent was willing to be patient.
And having Creek in my life gave me courage in ways I hadn’t expected.
“You should have a graduation ceremony,” I said as I folded the paper and tucked it into my pocket.
Kent rolled his eyes. “I’d rather just get a drink and eavesdrop on strangers. And anyway, aren’t you sick of graduation? I mean, you just had to plan one.”
I grimaced. I was due at the football field in a few hours. Creek would be going with me, and while we wouldn’t be completely dressed to the nines, I’d get to see him all formal again, which totally did it for me.
“Yeah, but it’s more fun when I’m the one being honored,” I told him.
He snorted a laugh, then shoved my shoulder. “How about a bonfire instead? I owe you two since you proved me wrong.”
It took me a second to remember what he was talking about, but then I lit up. “Oh shit. Yeah?”
“I may or may not have gotten a permit for Ocean Beach so Creek could invite the guys he lives with, and I know Kaleo will want to bring a group of people. Zayd said he’d come too,” Kent said without sounding uncomfortable. “The walk won’t suck for either of you, and I think you being together is something I’d like to celebrate.”
My cheeks heated. “Yeah. Okay, yes. You talked to Creek about this already?”
“I let him know this afternoon when he came in for his session.”
My heart ached a little now that he and I wouldn’t be together anymore. He was graduating to full weight-bearing, but he still had a ways to go. But I had him. He was mine. I didn’t need an excuse to see him anymore.
“Stop smiling like that,” Kent groaned, but he pulled me in for a hug, which took the sting out of his words. “I love you. You know that, right? And I’m so proud of you.”
My throat got a little tight, and I was already emotional about the graduates. I didn’t need this. “I’ll catch you later,” I said quickly.
He nodded, his expression telling me he understood.
Walking out, I grabbed my keys, then got in the car and started up the A/C, but I couldn’t bring myself to move. Instead, I called Creek and waited three long rings before he picked up.
“How’d it go?”
I leaned my head back on the seat. “Easier than I expected.”
“Well, y’all are friends, so it’s not like you’re losing anything.”
I smiled to myself. “Yeah. And I have you, so I don’t need more PT to stay close.”
“You do have me.” The warmth of his voice wrapped tightly around me.
“I’m about to head home, but will I still see you there tonight?”
“Sure will. Nash has business in the city, so he’s gonna drop me off at the school, and I’ll catch a ride with you if you don’t mind bringing me back tomorrow.”
I didn’t mind, and I understood. Street parking in my neighborhood was a bitch. And it meant we got even more time together. “I can’t wait. I’m gonna kiss your face so hard.”
Creek laughed. “Looking forward to it, darlin’. See you soon.”
He would. Not just tonight, but again, and again, and again. For as long as he was willing to keep me.
Graduation was the same every year. I was in the side front row with the other coaches, and the sea of students in their bright-blue robes stretched what looked like miles. The weather wasnice, the humidity a little high with just a touch of fog, and emotions were running rampant.
