Her mouth twitches. “You always say things like that.”
“Because they’re true.”
She leans in and kisses me, slow and grounding. “Thank you for staying.”
“I was never leaving,” I say.
By the time we arrive, Oxford is alive.
Graduates in gowns flood the courtyards, caps crooked, nerves buzzing. Families cluster together, cameras out, voices loud with pride. I spot Adam near the seating area immediately, tall and unmistakable, scanning the crowd like he’s guarding it. When he sees Adaline, his face splits into a grin.
“There she is,” he says, pulling her into a hug. “Graduate.”
She hugs him back hard. “You made it.”
“Obviously,” he says. “I wasn’t missing this.”
He looks at me next, softer. “You ready?”
I shake my head. “Not even close.”
We sit together while Adaline joins the other graduates. I watch her walk away, gown swaying, shoulders squared. She looks steady. The ceremony blurs until it doesn’t. Names echo. Applause rises and falls. I clap for strangers even though I couldn’t care less about any of these people. Then I hear her name.
“Adaline Emery!”
My heart stutters.
She stands.
Time slows.
She walks across the stage like she owns it, chin lifted, eyes focused forward. When she takes the degree and turns back, she scans the crowd.
“THAT’S MY GIRL!” I shout without thinking.
Adam laughs beside me, clapping hard. “That’s my sister!”
Adaline grins, just for a second, just for us. And I swear something in my chest cracks open and heals at the same time. I was irrevocably in love with her and this just made it all the more consuming.
The aftermath is chaos. Bustling crowds and everyone taking pictures. She looks overwhelmed and glowing, like she doesn’t quite know where to stand with all this attention. When shefinally reaches me, I don’t say anything. I pull her into a deep kiss.
“You did it,” I whisper, my forehead pressed against hers.
She laughs breathlessly. “I actually did it.”
Adam pretends to gag. “I’m standing right here.” We roll our eyes at him and I turn back to Adaline.
“I need to show you something.”
She squints at me. “Why do you sound guilty?”
“I don’t,” I say. “Come on.”
We walk a few streets away, past familiar corners, until we reach it. Adam is giddy the whole time because he already knows what’s about to happen. A black Mustang is sitting parked at the curb, a big green bow plastered on top of it to match her eyes.
Adaline stops dead.
No words. Just staring.
