Page 114 of The Forever Crew (Adamson All-Boys Academy 3)
“Your mother’s downstairs,” he whispers, and I let go, knowing that everything’s going to be okay between us. When I marry Church in his mother’s wedding dress, Dad will be there by my side. When I choose to commit to the other boys in the same way, I know he’ll roll his eyes, but he’ll get over it. There’ll always be growing pains as our relationship shifts and adjusts, but real love, true love, is strong enough to ride out the storm.
I follow Dad down the steps to find Mom waiting for me in the foyer, a smile on her face as she turns to look at me. Ian Dave is standing nearby, looking a bit nervous and out of place. Dad and Ian regard each other with wary expressions, but when they both turn their attention toward me and Mom, I can see that they each love her in their own way. Hey, if she plays her cards right, maybe she could start her own harem?
“I’m glad you were able to make it,” I say, knowing the boys sent her a first-class ticket, just so she could be here today. We hug tight, and I close my eyes, savoring the moment. Mom isn’t perfect either, but nobody is. Did she make a mistake when she left me? I think so, but I’m not going to hold her mistakes against her because she’s human. She’s imperfect, just like me. And I know she loves me the best she can, in her own way.
“So am I,” she says, pulling away and smiling softly. She looks better even than when I last saw her, and I have to wonder if Ian Dave has anything to do with it. He might’ve met her while he was investigating the Fellowship, but I think that what they have is real. Maybe now that he’s done at Adamson, they can spend more time together? “Are you ready?”
“I am,” I say, taking her hand and leading her down the front steps of the headmaster’s house and along the winding path toward the main building.
The boys are standing around the bench at the first curve, that same spot where Spencer waited for me before winter break, kissing me and making me question everything I thought I knew, that I thought I wanted.
“Hey, Chuck-let,” he says, as my mom releases my hand, and I go to him, lost in his turquoise eyes and his smile. We kiss, a brief brush of lips that could go on forever. I’d die happy that way, but I would miss the others.
“You look …” the twins start, and for the first time, they mess up their perfect unity by accident.
“Gorgeous,” Tobias says.
“Stunning,” Micah breathes, and then they exchange a look, and I laugh. Nearby, one of those ridiculous short-eared owls hoots, and I roll my eyes. Sorry, buddy, but the murder-mystery is over, and you don’t scare me anymore.
I throw one arm around each of their necks, squeezing tight as the wind blows pink flower petals around us.
“Ready to graduate?” Tobias asks, hooking his arm around my waist.
“I’m ready,” I say, planting a kiss on either of their cheeks and trying to step back.
“Oh no, you don’t,” Micah says, tucking his fingers under my chin and kissing my lips. Tobias isn’t about to let his twin get one up on me, so he sneaks a kiss in, too. Meanwhile, my dad clears his throat and shuffles his feet behind us.
“You look cute,” Ranger says, and even though he’s trying to keep his cool, I can see that bit of pink in his cheeks as he folds me in his arms, giving me one of those signature hugs of his, the ones that feel like they can squeeze all the bad things out and make the world right again. “Too cute for your own good.” Before I step back to greet Church, Ranger pulls the neckline of his robe down just enough that I can see one of his grandma’s aprons underneath it. “This was Jenica’s favorite,” he says, and my smile softens up just a bit, thinking of the girl who never got to graduate, but whose brother is more than happy to carry her memory to the ends of the earth. Her spirit lives vicariously in him; I can see it in every smile.
“Are you nervous for your speech?” I ask, glancing over at Church, his blond hair tousled by the wind. He’s the valedictorian, after all—no surprise there. But he shakes his head and holds out an arm for me to take.
“Why would I be? I worked hard for the privilege of giving it, didn’t I?” He smiles as he says it, softening up some of that arrogant princeliness of his.
“Churchie!” his mom shouts, coming up the path with his dad and sisters in tow. His face pales a bit, but I know that even through all of the embarrassment of them swarming him with hugs and kisses, that he’s glad they’re there.
