Page 117 of Grasp The Moment

I’m wearing an ASTERI pantsuit in emerald to match my ring and the jewelry Derek bought me recently. My hair is in its signature bombshell curls, and I think I look good, if I do say so myself.

When we get out of the car in the designated area for graduates, our car is immediately bombarded by our friends. Only Derek, Sienna, Denver, and I are graduating today, but everyone is here for us.

Cleo and Denver gush over Delilah the second she hops out of the car, cooing and pinching her cheeks softly as she giggles.

When the introductions are out of the way, I pause, my jaw dropping as I take in the boys’ outfits.

Not only are Blake, Jace, and Ryan dressed in full suits, but their ties have their girlfriends’ faces on them.

“Cleo’s not graduating…” I point out, chuckling as Blake shrugs.

“I can’t support my princess?”

“You can do whatever you want, baby!” Cleo defends, patting his cheek.

“Oh my gosh… I think I just threw up in my mouth.” Denver gags, putting a finger in her mouth as the rest of us laugh.

We all go our separate ways, the boys and Cleo take Delilahinto the venue to meet our families and watch the ceremony as we graduates wait to be seated.

Denver squeezes my hand as we walk, her steps shaky.

“Promise me that no matter what, we’ll remain friends?” she asks, looking straight forward as I roll my eyes.

“Thedrama—of course we’ll always be friends, Den. It’s only graduation.” I chuckle, squeezing her hand before we’re separated to be seated.

I almost forgot how boring a graduation ceremony could be. Rows and rows of students pass through the stage, some cheering, some crying, and some annoyed that they had to attend their college graduation to receive a piece of paper.

When my name is called, and it’s time for me to walk, I feel a sense of pride in myself. Just a few years ago, I was a little kid who couldn’t differentiate her letters and struggled with reading. Today, in less than a minute, I’ll be walking across the stage and leaving here as a college graduate.

Loud cheers and applause swell around the stadium as my face is broadcast across its huge monitors. This moment is what I’ve worked so hard for. As I shake hands with my school’s dean of students, I hear a faint noise, and I’d recognize it anywhere.

My eyes find hers instantly.

Delilah stands on one of the chairs in the stadium, jumping on the chair between Blake and Cleo. She’s yelling, “Go Mamá!” so loud that I can hear her over the roar of everyone else, and my heart tightens.

I blow her a kiss as I walk off the stage before shooting her a small wave.

When both Denver and Sienna walk across the stage, I’m cheering like I’ve gone mad. The girls each laugh as they accept their diplomas, before eyeing me in the crowd.

I point to them each when it’s their turn, and they reciprocatethe gesture to me. But it’s when Derek walks across the stage that I lose my absolute mind. I’m on my feet as Delilah and I cheer the loudest and proudest for our guy. Derek’s smile is wider than ever as he accepts his diploma, turning to the crowd to show Delilah. Denver laughs at me as I swipe at a stray tear under my eyes.

“It’s my allergies,” I lie, my heart thumping as my man is pronounced a college graduate.

When we graduates exit the ceremony and walk out into the front of the stadium, I’m immediately pulled into a hug. Her warm and comforting smell of amber musk reveals her identity as she pats the back of my head, sobbing, and I’m right there with her.

“Mommy!” I wail, hugging my mother tighter as she cries.

She’s been the best mother that I could ever ask for throughout this entire journey. When I was diagnosed with dyslexia, she didn’t get mad and call me broken, as so many others had. My mother was there for me. She made sure that I had the proper resources and was in tutoring every day. She took me back and forth to different fashion events and was the first to cheer for me—always.

“I’m so proud of you, honey,” she says, her eyes filled with unshed tears as she holds my face with both of her hands.

“I know, Mom. Thank you.” I cry, allowing my own tears to fall freely as she kisses my forehead.

We hug for a second more when I realize… “Wait… Did Dad come?”

I know that we ended things on a bad note last month, but it’s my graduation... He fought hard for me in school as much as Mom did; he should see this, no matter if we’re not on good terms right now.

Mom pulls back from the hug, her eyes shifting away from me as she shakes her head.