I could feel my cock start to swell as I thought about Riley. Things were so close to finally falling into place, and soon he would be mine. I had a VIP ticket to the ceremony, and I was using the entrance for dignitaries. Considering how much money I’d shelled out to this school, specifically the business program, I’d better be a fucking dignitary.
“Mr. Evans, I’ll wait in the guest parking area. Please text me when you’re ready to be picked up, sir,” Trent said as he stopped the car and hopped out. “Please enjoy the ceremony, Mr. Evans,” he said as I stepped out of the SUV.
“Thank you. I’ll see you in a bit.”
I strode to the entrance, flashed my ticket along with a smile, and was handed the program for the University of Michigan Class of 2020 graduation ceremony. Stepping farther inside, I grinned as I stared at the program. Quickly, I flipped through it, skipping all the way toward the back.
“Tucker … Tucker … where are you, Wolverine?” I murmured as my eyes raced down the list of graduates. “Ah! There you are, Wolverine,” I said under my breath as my eyes fell on the name of the one person who had motivated so much of what I had done in the past ten years.Riley Thomas Tucker, Master of Business Administration.
As expected, several of the school officials recognized me and were compelled to come over as I made my way to my seat. A number of people who stopped me asked if I was attending the ceremony or giving a speech.
“I’m only attending today,” I said to all who asked.
“Are you here to see a graduate?” one of the business professors I had when I attended here asked as they walked to the VIP seats with me.
“I’m here to see a potential intern,” I offered up, descending the stairs.
“Your company has some of the most capable and intelligent interns in the industry, Griffin,” the professor complimented. We sat beside one another and continued our conversation. “So, which graduate has caught your eye, specifically?”
“Riley Tucker.”
“Riley is a very bright young man. He finished the program earlier than expected.”
“That’s because he knew he wouldn’t be considered for the internship until he graduated,” I said quietly.
“And that’s why your company has the best interns in the business,” my old professor clapped his hand on my shoulder and jostled me.
While I waited for the ceremony to start, I looked through the program and gazed proudly at Riley’s name. Everything was working out according to plan. We were so close. The students finally began to file in and the ceremony began. Not a lot had changed since I’d graduated. While student after student was called to collect their piece of paper that promised they were useful, I reminisced about Riley and everything I had done for him. He didn’t know any of it yet but would in good time.
I had planned and predicted each of his steps and decisions since high school. There had been a surprise or two along the way that pulled him off course a bit, but nothing that wasn’t necessary.
“Riley Thomas Tucker,” the speaker announced.
My eyes were drawn to him as he bounded up the steps to the stage with energy and excitement. As he posed next to the dean for a picture with his diploma, I took a picture of him with my cell phone. I watched him proudly walk back to his seat and thought how pleased his mother would have been to see him today. She died eight years ago but would have been exceedingly proud of her son. Memories of her funeral began to stir as more graduates’ names were called.
Quietly,I sat beside Riley during the funeral service for his mother, Audrey Tucker. The service was small and quaint, with low attendance. The weather was its usual shitty self, cold with drizzling rain, which probably kept more people away. I didn’t think anyone who was there could say they were friends with Audrey. Pathetically, most were there to support my uncle in the loss of his housekeeper. Aside from Uncle Lars, none of them were there for Audrey or Riley.
Except me. I was there for Riley. I leaned back in the pew and protectively stretched my arm behind him over the top of the wooden backrest. Refusing to remove his new wool coat, he wore it during the service with his head hung low. Even when my uncle went to the front to say a few words, he still kept his head down.
Audrey’s death had been hard on Riley. She was found in a similar fashion to Aunt Marlowe. Audrey had overdosed on Xanax and left a chilling letter behind that my uncle had the nerve to give to Riley. In the letter, she cited stress brought on by her son due to his behavior at school and around the house. I could recall a few fights Riley had gotten into at school, but Lars had talked to him, and supposedly, there hadn’t been any other instances. But either way, it was cruel and downright dumb of Lars to give the letter to Riley. It was also cowardly of his mother to dare put that shit in a letter for my uncle.
So much of Audrey’s death felt weird to me, and maybe it was because so much seemed like Aunt Marlowe’s. When I arrived at the house, I asked Riley for the letter. I had my suspicions about Uncle Lars. After all, he was the one who’d taught me how to be calculating and to manipulate everything. But when I examined the letter, I could tell without a doubt that it had been written by Audrey’s hand. She had very distinct handwriting. It was the kind with dramatic loops and circles instead of dots over the letter I.
There were even fewer people at the gravesite. My uncle stood close to Riley, holding a black umbrella over their heads. I stood back a little way from them and noticed how well Riley’s black slacks fit him. Lars always paid for Riley’s school uniforms, but his casual clothes were usually hand-me-downs found at thrift stores. Lars had offered to help Audrey with Riley’s clothing, but she politely declined, and Lars didn’t want to overstep. I had given Riley some University of Michigan apparel that had fit him well a few years ago, and he wore the items until he outgrew them. Perhaps my uncle and all of his money would officially step in and outfit Riley completely. By the looks of his funeral attire, it appeared my uncle was already taking care of that aspect for him.
Lars stood beside Riley and the coffin for a few minutes before leaving him alone and joining me.
“He’ll be okay,” Lars advised once he was out of earshot of Riley.
“You shouldn’t have given him that letter,” I said, making my feelings known that I thought it was shitty of him. “Audrey left you that letter, not Riley.”
“He’ll be fine, Griffin.”
“I’ve heard that line before. That’s what you said to me after my dad killed my mom and again after my dad died.” I turned and glared at Lars. “That kid will carry the weight of that letter with him his whole life.”
Lars smiled tightly and patted my upper arm.
“Riley will be fine, just as you were.” Lars turned to walk toward the car. “I’ll be waiting in the car where it’s warm.”
