She deserves that.
Rosie deserves to be happy, loved, and treated like his angel.
“Leila Perez,” they call out.
Leila flicks her hair behind her shoulder and strides onto the stage, her long, golden legs visible beneath her gown as she collects her diploma. She turns her head towards the crowd just as Aiden starts clapping, cupping his mouth to whoop.
“That’s my girl!” he shouts proudly. “That’s my fucking girl up there!”
People glance back at him with a mix of surprise and amusement, but Aiden doesn’t give a shit. He’d proudly proclaim Leila as his from the highest mountaintop.
Leila beams, unable to contain her smile as she locks eyes with Aiden. He shakes his head in awe of her, a wide grin spreading across his face.
“I’m nervous,” Madeline says, chewing on her bottom lip.
“Why?” I raise an eyebrow. “You just walk up there, grab your diploma, and walk off.”
Madi shoots me a glare. “What if I trip? Or my dress flies up? Or—”
“None of that will happen,” I assure her with a laugh. “You’re overthinking it. Just focus on Lucas when you get up there, and everything else will go smoothly.”
She scans the crowd for Lucas, and visibly relaxes when she spots him, a soft smile spreading across her face.
I sigh, giving her a reassuring pat on the back. “What will you do without me?”
She meets my gaze, laughter twinkling in her eyes. “I honestly don’t know.” She swallows hard. “I’m going to miss you like crazy.”
My throat tightens, and I manage a smile, trying to push down the emotions threatening to surface. “I thought you were going to say you’d finally have peace and quiet.”
Madi shakes her head, smiling. “Quiet is overrated.”
I blink in surprise. “It is?”
She nods, her smile widening. “I miss your loud music, your funny jokes, and even your late-night drunken rambles.”
I chuckle, remembering our time together over the last few years. Sure, we might have gotten on each other’s nerves a little sometimes, but I’m really going to miss her.
I open my arms and pull her into a hug, which makes Madi gasp playfully. We’re not really huggers, and Madeline hates physical affection unless it’s from Lucas. So I give her a quick pat on the back before we awkwardly part.
“Well, that was weird,” she says.
“I agree. Let’s never do that again.”
She nods, letting out a chuckle. “Deal.”
“Madeline Davis.”
She turns to me, eyes wide with nerves. I give her a reassuring smile. “Go. You’ve got this,” I whisper, trying to calm her nerves.
She nods, takes a deep breath, and turns towards the stage. Madeline reaches the center, accepts her diploma with a smile, and then scans across the crowd. Her eyes light up when she spots Lucas quietly clapping and smiling up at her.
He doesn’t make noise like the other guys, but his expression says it all. Their love is quiet and pure, and so amazing to witness.
A smile spreads across Madeline’s face as she locks eyes with Lucas, the tension melting away, and walks off the stage, gracefully.
“Gabriella Miller.”
I put on a smile and step onto the stage. Honestly, I thought Madeline was being silly worrying about tripping, but now it’s all I can think about.
