“Yeah. I know. Still, this feels like I’m losing you.”
They had always planned to go to the same colleges. Dove’s last two years had derailed those plans, and she was angry with the world. She had always been popular throughout school. In her junior and senior years, she had become the most popular girl in school and on their side of town.
Parties, boys, and having fun had become more important than her studies. She had gone from all A’s and one B to mostly B’s with a couple of C’s thrown in. Her social life paired with her constantly worrying about whether her curves made her look fat or not had caused her to lose focus on their plans and dreams.
“You’re going to go to college, Dove, and you’ll have so much fun that you’ll forget all about me, especially when you pledge.”
“Not doing that.”
“Why not?”
“It’s just not for me.”
“That’s all you talked about last year.”
She pulled her hand free of his. “Yeah, well, that was last year’s me. This is this year’s me, and I’m different. People change, and you will too.”
He chuckled at her pouting, and he shook his head before he grabbed her fingers and stopped her from peeling her toenailpolish off. “Hey, you won’t lose me. I’ll always be here,” he declared.
“Promise me that we’ll always be best friends,” she demanded.
“You’d better not let Myracle and Kandi Grace hear you say that, especially Myracle.”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. They know what you mean to me. All three of you are my best friends. You’re like family to me.”
He snorted and draped an arm around her. He leaned into her and gave her shoulders a little reassuring squeeze. “I promise that we won’t lose touch. No matter where life takes us, I’ll never be more than a phone call away.”
“Pinky promise?” she asked, extending her pinky.
He laughed. “Don’t you think we’re too old for that?”
“Never!” She looked disturbed by the insinuation that they could outgrow something as crucial as that, something that bonded them when they were seven and through the years.
He extended his pinky toward hers, and they shook.
“Pinky promise, Dove. Matter of fact, I promise that I’ll be at your wedding when you get married.”
“And I’ll be at yours too,” she decreed.
“Dove, are you ready?” Dove’s mother, Mrs. Sharon Flowers, asked as she and Dove’s father, Mr. Quinton Flowers, stepped onto the front porch.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Did you get everything out of your room that you wanted to take with you?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” she replied solemnly.
“Make sure. Once your sister comes out of the house and closes the door, it’s locked,” her father stated.
“I’m sure, Dad.” She groaned in irritation under her breath.
“All right. Tell Reigh bye for now,” her mother stated, patting Reighvyn on the shoulder as she and her husband stepped past them and headed for the car.
“Come on, Dove,” Ivy, her little sister, commanded, running out of the house and toward the car.
“Shut up! I’m coming,” Dove argued, rolling her eyes at her little sister.
He hated seeing the tears well in Dove’s eyes as they stood to say their goodbyes. He hugged her tightly, and she squeezed him.
