Maybe I'm not the same person who pushed Troy away. Maybe I've learned how to let people in—not just Trixie, but Lacey, Mr. Abernathy, even my mom in the limited way that's possible with her.
Maybe I'm finally ready to try again.
As I approach Troy, his smile widens, warming his eyes. He holds out his hand to me—not in a formal way, but as an offering. A question.
And this time, I'm ready with an answer.
I take Troy's outstretched hand, and the brief contact sends electricity rushing through me. His palm is warm, familiar. His eyes search mine with a question I'm not ready to answer yet.
Together, we make our way to the stage as the applause continues. Professor Holwell is standing at the podium,holding our award certificate and looking genuinely pleased. The dean steps aside to give us room.
As we climb the steps, Troy leans in close. His breath tickles my ear, making me shiver.
“Do you want to say anything?” he whispers.
The thought of public speaking right now—with my nerves already frayed, my emotions raw—makes my throat close up. I shake my head quickly.
“No,” I whisper back, “I can't.”
Troy nods, his hand finding the small of my back as we approach the podium. It's a light touch, supportive rather than possessive. “No problem. I've got this.”
Before I can process the comfort of his touch, we're standing at the microphone. Professor Holwell is shaking our hands, passing the certificate to Troy. The spotlight feels hot, and the sea of faces makes my heart race.
Troy steps forward, his posture relaxed as always. He holds the certificate in one hand, his other arm extending slightly toward me—keeping me included without forcing me forward.
“Wow,” he begins, flashing that boyish smile that somehow works on everyone. “Thank you. This is... pretty incredible.”
The audience chuckles, already charmed. Of course, they are. It's Troy.
“I want to start by thanking the judges, Professor Holwell, and everyone involved in this competition. The other finalists created amazing projects—seriously, I was taking notes.”
He glances toward Trixie and Jonathan, giving them a small nod of acknowledgment. It's so typically Troy—gracious, inclusive, making everyone feel seen.
“This was a team project,” he continues, “and of course, I brought my engineering genius to it.”
The audience laughs, and I can't help but smile despite mynerves. He's playing the cocky card, but I know what's coming.
His voice softens. “But the real genius behind our project is Delilah Greer.”
He turns to look at me, and the sincerity in his eyes catches me off guard.
“This entire concept—the idea that sustainability isn't just about building something green, but about creating a space that teaches others to live more sustainably—that was all Delilah. Her vision, her breakthrough, her passion.”
The spotlight feels less harsh now, somehow. I'm acutely aware of every person watching us, but with Troy sharing the moment, it feels bearable. Almost right.
“When we decided to be partners, I admit I was skeptical,” Troy says, a small smile playing at his lips. “Delilah and I had a... complicated history.”
A knowing chuckle ripples through the audience. I feel my cheeks flush.
“But I'll let you all in on a little secret,” he continues. “Since the day we met at camp last summer, when this woman fixed a 1960s HVAC system wearing ski gloves as protection”—he mimics oversized mittens on his hands, earning another laugh from the crowd—“I knew that if I stuck by her, I might sparkle with some of her success.”
My breath catches in my throat. I can’t believe that he is choosing this moment to give me the due credit for thatin front of everyone.
Troy turns to me now, his voice quieter but still captured by the microphone.
“Delilah is brilliant. Stubborn, yes. Intimidating, absolutely. But she sees possibilities the rest of us miss. She pushed me to be better, to think bigger, to care more.” He looks back at the audience. “This project wouldn't exist without her.”
The applause that follows is thunderous. Professor Holwell steps forward to shake my hand again, his expression impressed. The dean says something about scheduling meetings to discuss implementation.
