I’m sitting next to my big brother, dressed in my cap and gown, both of us watching as members of our class walk up and receive their diplomas. It’s surreal. We’ve both worked so hard over the last four years, and I can’t help but think of Lucy and wish desperately that she was here with us.

“I miss her too,” Austen says, taking my hand and squeezing. “But she’s watching. And I think she’s really fucking proud.”

For the first time, I’m glad he flunked out the year Lucy died. Having him with me right now means the world.

“I can’t believe you’re ditching us for England after this.” I know he’s teasing me, but there’s a thread of truth in his words as well.

“Come on, you know as well as I do, this is an opportunity I can’t pass up.”

He grins. “I know. Have you told Jude yet?”

The two of them have become thick as thieves over the last few months, and I love knowing my brother approves of my boyfriend. In fact, my whole family loves Jude. Austen is the only one who knows I was accepted to Oxford to complete my Graduate degree.

“I haven’t told him. I wanted it to be a surprise. One thing at a time, you know.”

“I guess. There is such a thing as too big of a surprise, don’t you think?” He glances at back at the huge crowd and I know he’s searching for our parents. “I mean, you’re moving to England. That’s huge. Life altering.”

“He’ll be happy. We talk about moving in together all the time.”

Austen shrugs. “I just think this is something you should talk about. You guys aren’t even engaged.”

Before I can respond, our row is called up and we’re walking toward the end of our time at Oak Ridge University. It goes by in a blur as we’re awarded our diplomas, photos are taken, congratulations are given. Then Austen and I are engulfed in the arms of our friends and fellow graduates. Kit hugs me and picks me up, spinning me around with a huge grin on his face.

“We did it. We’re done. Thank fuck.”

I laugh at him and peek over his shoulder at the audience. Are my parents still there somewhere? Did they get a video of all this for Jude? My heart aches at the knowledge that he wasn’t able to get here in time. His new book, the one he was working on when we met, hit the New York Times bestseller list and now he’s got a four-week book tour across the US. He told me he’d cancel so he could be here, but I insisted he shouldn’t.

We compromised. My parents agreed to video for him and I agreed to let him pay for a big graduation party as his gift to me.

“Ready to go?” Kit asks, hooking his arm with mine. “We’ve got to get you ready, Cinderella.”

“What are you talking about? I’m perfectly presentable.”

“No way. I’m not letting you go to your graduation party wearing…let me guess…a black dress.”

He’s right. I didn’t really dress up because I knew Jude wouldn’t be here to appreciate my outfit. “Fine. I’ll change. I’ve got a vintage dress in my closet waiting to be worn.”

“Of course you do. Let’s go.”

By the time Kit is done playing fairy godmother, my hair is styled in loose waves to one side, my lips are painted a vivacious red, and I look like I could’ve stepped out of a pin-up magazine. My red heels match my lips, and the off the shoulder dress complete with a full skirt of black satin fits like a dream.

“I’m only going to say this once. This is still a black dress.”

“Yes, but it’s hot as fuck. That other thing you were wearing might as well have been a bathrobe.”

I roll my eyes and laugh. “You’re right. I feel a lot better in this. I just wish Jude was here.”

“Oh, he’d lose his damn mind over you in this dress. One look at you, and you’d be pregnant before the night was over.”

“Kit, stop it,” I say through uncontrollable giggles.

“What? It’s true.”

The party is at an exclusive club owned by one of Jude’s childhood friends. Apparently the man also owns a hotel in Manhattan, oh, and he’s a British lord. No big deal.

When we walk through the doors, I’m caught off guard by the absolute beauty of the view. The club is at the top of a hotel in the city and the entire thing is walled by floor to ceiling windows. The night sky glitters with the lights of the buildings and the skyline. Tables are decorated with tall centerpieces dripping with lilac and ivy, scenting the space with the delicate flower’s trademark sweetness.

“Wow, is this a graduation party or a wedding?” Kit asks. “Jude did good.”

My chest squeezes. I want Jude here to share this with me. “He certainly did.”

“Tillie!” My mother’s voice fills the room as she runs toward me, arms outstretched, smile wide. She pulls me into a bone-crushing hug and something in me eases. “I’m so proud of you and Austen. Just, so, so proud.”

“Where’s Austen?” I ask, looking around.

“He’s at the bar with your dad. They’ve got something important to discuss.” She wiggles her eyebrows and puts her finger to her lips. “But I’m not allowed to say.”

She leads me through the growing crowd of guests. Austen’s frat brothers, my sorority sisters, a few close family members who came to see us graduate. “Come on, I’m sitting by the gorgeous fireplace. We’ll get you something to eat and a glass of wine.”

That sounds wonderful in all honesty. “Okay.”

I see him before we get to the cozy nook with a fireplace and deep gray couches. He’s not facing me, but I’d know Jude anywhere. I think my heart recognized him first.

“Jude?” I breathe.

He turns to face me, a broad smile lighting up his expression. “Surprised?”

I run to him, practically leaping into his strong arms. I missed everything about him. His scent, his taste, the rumble of his voice in his chest. “Absolutely. I thought you were going to be in Seattle tonight.”

“I had Brett reschedule. You’re daft if you think I’d miss something as big as your graduation.”

I crush my lips to his, not caring that my mom is right there, that my friends are watching. All I know is I need to be kissing the man I love almost more than I need my next breath.

“I need to tell you something,” I say after I break our kiss. “It’s…well, it’s going to change everything.”

His face pales and he glances down my body. “You’re not—”

“Oh, God, no. No, I’m not pregnant.”

“Good,” he says, then he frowns. “Well, not good as in, we’re never going to be in this situation. Good as in, good because we’re not even engaged yet and I’d really like to have you as my wife before we have a baby.”

“Jude?” I whisper.

“Yes?”

“You’re rambling.”

He presses his forehead to mine and stares into my eyes. “That’s because I’m nervous.”

“Me too.”

“About what?”

I take a deep breath and decide to just let it all out. “I got accepted for a master’s program at Oxford.”

He backs away and takes a long look at me. “Did I hear you right? You’re moving to Oxford?”

“Yes. I…I hoped you’d be happy. You don’t seem happy.”

“I am. I want nothing more than for us to be together all the time.” He drags a hand through his hair and laughs. “That’s why I just accepted a position there, as a professor. I wanted to plant some roots for us before I asked you to marry me. No more of this traveling back and forth.”

Oh no. Now we really are going to be a student and professor, nothing temporary about it. What if we can’t be together? Wait…what did he just say?

“Did you say…marry you?”

He closes his eyes and steps back from me. “I did. Matilda Summers, I fell in love with you over a whiskey sour in one intense night. I had planned to do this in private, but I can’t wait any longer. Will you marry me? Be my wife, my partner, and my best friend for the rest of our lives.”

My smile is so wide my cheeks hurt. “Yes. Of course.”

He slips the ring on my finger but I don’t even look at it. I swear, it could be made of paper and I’d love it, because it represents us and our bond. Jude wraps me in his arms and kisses me deep as the crowd around us cheers.

“What are we going to do about our forbidden romance when we get to Oxford?” I whisper.

“Whatever we have to. There’s no way I’m giving you up. You’re mine, Tillie. No job is going to change that.”

I kiss him again and know he’s right. No matter what the circumstances, he and I are forever.