My graduation cap had grown legs and ran away. I searched frantically in every nook and cranny of my room, but the damn thing had obliterated. Panic had taken over, and I couldn’t hide it.

“What’s wrong, love?” At the sound of his voice, my heart softened. It had only been a few days, so I still had to remind myself that David was actually here.

“I can’t find my graduation cap.”

He checked his watch. “I think we better go.”

“I can’t, I need my cap.”

David placed his hands on my hips and bent his knees so he was eye level with me. “No, you need to walk down the aisle on time. Your parents want to see that, it will only last a second, don’t have them miss it over a hat.”

“But…” My bottom lip trembled. “I need it.”

“Sorry!” Brit burst through my bedroom door, panting. “I had to make three stops. This was the last one.”

I had no idea what she was talking about, but she was handing me a gift bag. “Thanks, but I really need to find my hat. Can you help me look?”

“Look in the bag, silly.” Brit was beaming.

I peeked through the tissue paper and there it was, my graduation cap, but the entire top had been hand-painted. There were music notes going around the edges creating a frame, in every corner was our sorority shield and in the center in perfect calligraphy was a quote.

“She believed she could. So she did,” I read out loud, sniffed back my tears, and threw my arms around Brit, squeezing her tight. “Thank you. I love it. I love you.”

“Ladies, let’s go!” Erik called from the bottom of the stairs. Brit nodded, and I looked at David, who was beaming with pride as I followed my little sister down the stairs. As soon as I saw Erik and Jaime, I knew where her other stops had been. The top of Jaime’s hat was painted in stars. In the center was a perfect superman symbol. Jaime’s pledge name was Kal-El.

Erik’s hat was a guitar with vines around it. Brit told me he had a tattoo, and although I never saw it, I had a feeling she had recreated it.

“Let me just take a quick picture, and we’re off.” Brit pulled out her phone, and I got in between Jaime and Erik so Brit and David could take our picture. This was really it. We were graduating. I looked at Brit, wishing she was joining us but still happy she had two more years to make memories.

“Wait! I need one with Brit!” I said, grabbing her waist and pulling her close.

“Ladies! After the ceremony, I’ll take an entire photoshoot. Right now, get in the car!” David said like a drill sergeant as he opened the door.

“I think Garret rubbed off on him,” Brit said, making a face as we walked out of the doorway and took the next steps toward our future.

The actual ceremony was a blur. I was sitting with the music majors, Erik was with the art majors, and Jaime was with the journalism majors. We were all scattered. The auditorium was so large, I didn’t even know where my family was, I just knew that David was sitting with them and that made me feel good. I assumed Brit was with Erik’s parents. Unlike David, who had to really prove himself to my parents, the Draxtons seemed to have adopted Brit right away. I guess purple hair is not as scary as tattoo sleeves and a six-year age difference. But now, after years of getting to know him, my mother loved David, and I knew she was relieved he was back in the States. I had never told her just how bad it had gotten, but in a way, I think she knew.

After the ceremony, David did take at least a hundred pictures of me and my friends, and Brit took one of me and David on his motorcycle as I tossed my cap up in the air.  It was all so bittersweet, the joy of what we had achieved, but the sadness that this chapter in our lives had truly come to an end.

“I’ll call you later,” I said as I gave Brit one final hug good-bye. She was going off to Erik’s house to celebrate. They were having a party for him. My parents were taking me, David, and Adam out to dinner at a fancy restaurant in town.

My father ordered another bottle of champagne. He couldn’t stop smiling at me. I knew he was proud, but the way he was looking at me, I was starting to think that perhaps Adam had informed them of my little breakdown. Maybe he was glad that I got my happy ending. Or maybe I was over thinking everything, and he just had too much champagne.

“Will you be living on campus?” Adam asked as he sliced into his steak.

“No.” I looked over at my parents. “Mom is going to help me look for an apartment, but who knows what I’ll be able to afford. I’ll probably rent a refrigerator box in Hell’s Kitchen.” I was actually really nervous about everything. August would be here before I knew it, and I wasn’t ready.

My mother smiled at me and sipped her champagne. “These things have a way of working themselves out, Kristen. I wouldn’t worry about it.” David and I exchanged a glance. After all we had been through, I knew she was right.

I said good-bye to my family and told them I’d be in Boston in a few days. Adam hugged me a moment longer than expected. “I’m so proud of you, Kris.”

“Did I hit a home run?”

He kissed my cheek. “Grand Slam.”

After we said farewell, David took me for a ride on his bike. The sun was setting, and the sky looked so beautiful as the orange faded into magenta. I rested my cheek against his back, closed my eyes, and felt like it was all a wonderful dream. I didn’t ask where we were going. I didn’t care as long as I was with him. David drove into the part of town where all the bars were and parked. I got off the bike, removed the helmet, fixed my dress, and took his hand.

David looked like he had been thinking. “You know, it’s funny. I happen to know a bloke who has an apartment in midtown. He’s also looking for a roommate. Perhaps it could work out well for you?”

I almost laughed at his suggestion. “Uh, yeah, I don’t think I want to live with a man. And I’d think after the whole Danny thing, you’d be against that, too.” I jabbed him in the arm.

“Ah, you’re better off. Besides, he was only interested in a one bedroom.”

I stopped walking and looked at him incredulously. “Why would I live with a stranger in a one bedroom?”

He lifted the left side of his mouth into a crooked grin. “Well… it’s not a stranger. It’s me.”

I took a step back, not believing his words. “Is this your way of telling me you’re moving to New York?”

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”

I felt the tears threaten. I bit down on my bottom lip. I knew he was back. I didn’t know for how long or what his next move was. I had avoided asking because not knowing meant I didn’t have to think about saying good-bye again. I could just exist in the now. But I didn’t have to do that anymore. I leapt into his arms, and he grabbed my waist, lifting me up as he squeezed me. David lowered me back to earth, unwrapped his arms, and stared at me intently, his hazel eyes sparkling. He licked his bottom lip and gave my hand a gentle tug. My head was spinning.

“Remember this place, love?” David asked as we crossed the street and walked toward a bar. I smiled. How could I forget? It was where we met.

“I remember a bouncer not letting me inside,” I said, recalling David at the door three years ago.

“I just wanted to talk to you.” He tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. “If I let you inside, you would have met a guy and disappeared. Not letting you in meant I kept you with me.”

I smiled and looked at the empty doorway. It looked so simple, yet that spot began the story of us.

David squeezed my hand, and I looked back at him. He took a deep breath. “So, I asked your father something today, but now I want to ask you.”

He let go of my hand, reached into his pocket, and pulled out the black velvet box that had the promise ring I had returned. In all the confusion, I had forgotten about that little ring. But when he opened the box, there wasn’t a silver promise ring.

There was a diamond in a platinum setting sparkling back at me. Astonished, I dug my heels hard against the ground, terrified I might blink and miss a second of this moment.

“The first ring I gave you represented a promise that I would return. This ring represents a promise that I will never leave you. I’ve lived without you, and it’s a life I never want to live again.” David dropped to one knee, his gaze never leaving mine. He held up the ring, and it felt like he was holding my heart. “Kristen Forte, will you marry me?”

I didn’t answer with words. Instead, I reached for his wrist and tugged him to get off his knee and return to me. As soon as he was standing to full height, I pulled his face against mine and kissed him. We melted into each other, kissing passionately. I could taste the salty tears in our kiss, and realized I was crying. But this time it was happy tears. When we finally broke apart, David looked at me, his eyes still uncertain. “Is that a yes?”

I nodded fiercely. “That’s a yes.”

David kissed me again, saying everything and nothing all at once. He slipped the ring on my finger. We were both shaking. “I know I promised you a massive diamond, but this one was my Gran’s. I thought you might prefer a family heirloom. She gave it to me when I was in London.”

“She gave it to you?” I said, still stunned by what was transpiring, and the realization that my family, and his, had known the whole time. “It’s… perfect.”

“Yes, I told her I had lost the love of my life, and she said, ‘David, you get her back and bring her here so I can meet her. And when I do, I want her wearing this.’”

I looked at the ring, and then at him. Was this really my life?

“So, looks like you’ll have to slip away with me to London for a bit of a holiday this summer. Meet your new family. I was so hopeful you’d say yes, I already booked our flight.”

My head was swimming with excitement. David’s surprise had my heart soaring. “You’re taking me to London?” I asked in disbelief.

He tipped his head and brushed his lips against mine. Sparks flashed all over my body. Pure fireworks. “I plan on taking you everywhere, Mrs. Archer.”