“There’s no one else for me but you, Gracie.”
Grinning, I tilt my head up for a forehead kiss and echo his words. “And there’s no one else for me but you.”
Since age ten, we’ve belonged to each other in so many ways. But with an ear over his heartbeat, I feel closer to him now more than ever before.
“So, what was your wish?” he asks, twirling my hair.
“I wished that we would be together forever. Kinda cheesy, I know.”
“Nah,” Danny replies with a toothy smile so big it rivals mine. “Not cheesy at all.”
“Say cheese, kiddos!”
My black polyester gown might as well be an oven in the scorching Ohio sun as Janie snaps the two hundredth picture of the day. After posing for photos in front of their house, in front of my house, on their deck, on my porch, and in front of the rose bushes in her garden, my entire body feels like a Hot Pocket fresh out of the microwave.
“How do you play football in this kind of weather?” I mutter to Danny, who looks completely unbothered. “It’s not fair. I probably look as red as the stop sign you consistently blow by in our neighborhood.”
“You look gorgeous, as always.” He dots my heat-stroked cheek with a kiss.
“Aw, Daniel. Kiss her cheek again for the camera this time! I wasn’t ready.”
“Janie, enough. Poor Bee is about to collapse.” Mae grins, standing cool in the shade.
“Wait!” Tessa comes running out of the house, holding two graduation caps. “Mom, you have to get a picture of them wearing the caps I designed.” Almost tripping over her bare feet, she does a little jump off of the front porch and dashes toward us.
I crouch down slightly and reach out for a hug, like I always do for Tess. Even though she’s twelve now, she still squeezes me just as tightly as she did when she was five years old.
I gave her complete control over designing the tops of our mortarboards. Standing next to me, Danny releases a barely audible groan. He was not pleased with the decision to let her run wild with them, assuming she’d write “dweeb” on his cap in pink glitter glue.
“Close your eyes!” Tessa claps her hands together excitedly, and I comply before she carefully places a cap in my hands.
“Okay, open them!” she squeals. Even though my cheeks ache, I paste on a smile in advance of even seeing it.
My forced smile becomes genuine as I inspect the cap. It’s lined with painted paw prints in different shades of brown. Winding in between the paws is a long green stethoscope made with glitter. The words “Round of A-Paws for the Future Dr. Sinclair” are printed in small rainbow letters in the cap’s center.
I brush my fingers against the wordsDr. Sinclair. “Tess. This is so thoughtful. I’m going to have the best designed cap there.”
“Not sure about that,” Danny interjects, his voice low with emotion. “Mine is pretty great.”
Glancing down at his cap, I take in the white block letters “MVP” written over a green painted background, meant to represent turf. Mini footballs line his cap with golden glitter dusting them.
Danny turns the cap in his hands, admiring it from every angle. “Thank you, Tessie.”
“I’ll keep this forever,” I add.
Tessa nods before throwing her arms around Danny’s torso. “I’m going to miss you. I wish you didn’t have to go to college!”
It breaks my heart to see her already dreading the absence of her big brother. He crouches down to her level and wraps her in a hug. As he whispers reassurances into her ear, Janie looks on with tears in her eyes. After a few sniffles, Tessa giggles at something he said.
Danny clears his throat as they separate. “Let’s do this thing. We gotta head over for the rehearsal. We’ll see you all there!”
“Wish me luck!” I chime in.
“Good luck with graduation! See you there!” Tessa yells after us.
“I meant with his driving,” I mumble.
Danny playfully shoves me. Picking up my purse off the ground, I open it and make sure the essentials are packed.
