Nathan’s dad made him come to my graduation. Gordon often ignored the strain between Nathan and me, forcing us together like nothing had changed. The ever-present reminder that ithadchanged was torture. So was the depth of my feelings for Nathan, which made me feel guilty for continuing to date Derek.
But I needed to move on from Nathan. If I lost Derek, I’d be all alone. And alone hadn’t been good for me.
But now I needed to end our relationship. It wouldn’t go anywhere long-term, though I suspected Derek wouldn’t agree. At least he hadn’t applied to the same schools as me or made his college decision based on mine. I wouldn’t have been able to bear affecting his future like that.
Tomorrow. I’d tell him tomorrow. After we celebrated graduation tonight.
I maneuvered through the crowd of graduates and their families until I found my own, still seated in the stands at our football field. Mom and Gordon stood upon seeing me, offering congratulations and hugs. I wasn’t used to seeing them so well dressed—my mom in a formfitting summer dress and Gordon in navy pants and a jacket. I’d become accustomed to their loungewear as they cared for Molly, who currently slept peacefully in her stroller.
“Bet it feels good to be out of here,” Nathan murmured from his seat in the bleachers.
I hadn’t expected him to acknowledge me. “You could say that.” I turned away from him and used my hand to shield my eyes from the sun. “Have you seen Derek?” I asked my mom and Gordon.
Nathan scoffed.
“No, I—” Mom started, but Molly stirred, drawing her and Gordon’s attention.
With their focus elsewhere, Nathan and I were alone, the last thing I wanted. Especially today. More graduations lay in my future, but this one still meant something. It was a rite of passage. I’d survived two of the toughest years of my life.
Nathan leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “I don’t know why you don’t do it already.”
“What?” The word came quickly. I hated that I still craved his attention, even when his next words would likely upset me.
“Dump Ellis. You’re not into him.”
My mouth fell open. Theaudacity.
“You’re only here two weekends a month. You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Except he doesthe voice in the back of my mind taunted. As much as I loved spending time with Derek, my romantic feelings had faded. Derek was such a great guy—caring, kind, smart—and he loved me. He didn’t deserve to have his heart broken.
Nathan’s lip quirked. “I’m uniquely qualified to make that judgment, Quinn.”
Quinn.I used to melt when he called me by my last name. But now the word came with venom, a weapon to shatter my every defense and crack my heart in two.
“Why are you evenhere?”
“My dad—”
“As if you listen to your dad,” I cut him off. “You didn’t have to come.”
Nathan’s balance teetered when he shot to his feet. I’d missed the sheen in his eyes, each corner bloodshot. His voice had been loud, but given the unrelenting noise from the crowd of graduates, their families, and the marching band, I hadn’t thought anything of it. Until now.
He dropped a hand on my shoulder. “And missBrenna Quinn’sgraduation? We’ll never see each other after today, you know? Figured I should say goodbye.”
Against all logic, I watched as his eyes dipped to my mouth.
My heart pounded. I couldn’t tear my gaze from the hunger in his expression. My tongue licked my lips of its own volition. Logical thoughts need not apply.
“Brenna, we did it!”
Derek’s excited voice broke the spell, and my head whirled toward him like whiplash. Shame sank like a weight into the pit of my stomach. I worried he could read the complicated feelings for Nathan on my face.
Derek stopped abruptly, his smile vanishing when he saw Nathan beside me, his hand still on my shoulder. I stepped away from Nathan, not caring if he keeled over without me there to steady him. I held my hand up to Derek for a high-five, a universal sign of friendship if there ever was one. He frowned but still slapped my hand.
“You two are so wholesome.Absolutelyadorable,” Nathan wisecracked.
Derek tossed an arm around my shoulders, pressing me to his side. “Your jealousy is showing again, Sharpe.”
