Graduation day. Here I was again. A couple more years spent being with Dylan, college finished, and days spent living my best life. I thought about Tian from time to time, despite my determination not to. He hadn’t reached out since seeing me tipsy, and I hadn’t either—not that I’d know how to get in contact with him even if I wanted to. Which I didn’t. Obviously.
“You look gorgeous, Jade.” Becca whistled her approval, her hands clapping together in excitement.
“Yeah, well, if we’re going to have a joint graduation party, I figured I should look my best. I wouldn’t want to embarrass you or anything,” I joked, my hands brushing against the lace of my black fitted dress.
“Oh? So, you chose to upstage me instead?” She asked, eyes rolling. “You’re lucky I love you.”
“You swear like you don’t look like a freaking goddess right now.”
“I do, don’t I?” She twirled in her white dress.
“I love that we decided on a black and white theme. Everything looks so classy.”
“That’s because we’re classy, duh.” She smiled and wrapped her arms around me in a quick, tight hug. “We did it. We’re college graduates with bright futures ahead of us and I couldn’t be more proud of the people we’ve become.”
“It’s crazy to think of how much has changed and stayed the same throughout these last few years,” I said, shaking my head. “Life is unpredictable.”
“Yeah, but in the best of ways, right?”
“Right.” I agreed.
“Great, now let’s go celebrate.”
* * *
“Dylan Conrad, I didn’t think I’d see you here,” I said, pressing my body against his and my lips against his neck, tilting my head back. “I missed you this week.”
Dylan had texted to let me know that he was on his way, so I left the chaos of the party to wait for him out front.
“I missed you too.” His hands held either side of my face and his thumbs gently brushed against my skin. “I know we’ve both been busy this week and that we haven’t had much time together. It sucked. I hated it.”
“I love it when you’re open with me.” I smiled sweetly. “Tell me more about how much you hated being away from me.”
He shook his head, a chuckle vibrating through his chest. “I love you, Jade Young.”
“I love you, too, Dylan.” I pulled back a little. “You healed my heart. I didn’t know that love could be this good, but you proved me wrong. You still do. Every day.”
“Yeah?” His lips quirked up in a small smile.
I nodded, biting on my bottom lip.
“Good, because I have something to ask you.” His hands traveled along my shoulders and down my arms until he reached my hands. He gave them a gentle squeeze. I raised a curious brow, not sure what he was getting at.
“Jade?”
“Dylan?” I asked back, tilting my head.
A nervous laugh left him as he slowly knelt down on one knee in front of me.
Thump, thump, thump, was all I heard. My heart ricocheted in my chest, excitement blooming.
He looked so vulnerable in this position. His midnight eyes held my chocolate ones, and I could barely hold back the tears clogging my throat and burning behind my eyes. A mixture of fear and exhilaration took route as I prepared myself for what I knew would shortly follow.
“You said that I healed your heart, but you healed me. Before you, I always figured I’d have fun, play the field. I never expected to fall in love with someone at eighteen, during my first year of college. But I did. I fell in love with you, and when I think that love can’t get any deeper or stronger, it does. Every single day, you do something that makes me fall even harder.”
“Dylan,” I choked out, tears falling slowly from my eyes.
His own eyes shined. “Jade, you are who I want to spend the rest of my days with. You are the brightest light in my life and without you, I don’t know where I’d be. My heart and everything I am belong to you. They always will. So, like I said, I have a question to ask you.”
“Oh gosh,” I said with a giggle.
“Jade Young,” he paused, for dramatic effect I’m sure. I narrowed my eyes, willing him to get on with it. My body was buzzing, impatiently waiting to answer the question I knew was coming. “Will you spend the rest of your life with me? Jade Conrad has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
He pulled a red velvet box from his coat pocket, slowly unveiling the ring to me. It was simple and elegant and perfect for me.
“I will, of course I will.” I blinked away some tears. “Of course, I will. There’s no one else I want to spend my life with. You’re it for me, Dylan. So freaking it.”
Dylan slid the ring on its designated finger and stood up, wrapping his arms around me and pressing his lips against mine. “Life’s just getting started for us. I’m so effing happy right now, you have no idea.”
My cheeks hurt from the smiling I was doing. “I can’t believe we went from meeting in a stairwell to this.”
“I can,” he said smugly. “I always knew I’d end up with you.”
I laughed out loud, I couldn’t help it. “Sure, let’s go with that.”
He went to tickle my sides when Becca jumped from the side of the bushes, her phone’s camera light shining on us.
“You two are so freaking cute, I cannot. I just can’t,” Becca said, her phone still poised on where Dylan and I stood.
“Were you there the whole time?” I asked, laughing at her dramatics.
“Well, yeah, someone needed to document this moment, and I really didn’t think you wanted the whole family to witness this moment.” She shrugged. “Now, pose and show off that ring of yours. I got the video but now we need a photo, so go on and get all gross like you two always do.”
“I’ve told you, Becca, when you’re ready, I have a few friends available,” Dylan offered.
Becca stuck her tongue out at him. “No, thanks, I think I’m loving the single life, but as soon as I’m not, I’ll let you know.”
Dylan laid his hand on my waist and I placed my palm against his chest, the diamond ring glittering beneath the lights. Becca snapped a few pictures, her face a mixture of awe and pride.
“Hey, Becca? Before Dylan changes his mind, do you want to be my maid of honor?”
She squealed, opened and closed her mouth, and nodded her head happily. “Will I? That isn’t even a question, Jade Young, or soon-to-be Mrs. Conrad.”
My stomach fluttered, happiness taking root. “So, that’s a yes, right?”
“That’s a hell yes, best friend of mine,” she replied, running up to me and Dylan, pushing him out of the way so that she could squeeze me half to death.
I laughed, hugging her back just as fiercely.
“You’re going to be the most beautiful bride, you know that?” She pulled away, tears pooling in her eyes. “I’m so happy. You deserve this, after everything you’ve been through, you deserve your happily ever after, and I’ve known since day one that Dylan was it for you.”
I looked over at Dylan, whose deep blue eyes refused to leave my face. His smile lit up his face, and his hand reached out, cupping the side of my cheek.
Becca slowly moved out of the way, her eyes locked on our interaction. She was right, I did deserve this. I didn’t know guys like Dylan existed, or that I’d be privileged enough for someone like him to give his heart to a girl like me. The only other love I had ever known had ripped my soul apart and threw it out like it had never mattered. Dylan did the opposite. He loved me, he cherished me, and he made forever feel a whole lot shorter than it was.
“You’re who fate got right for me too, Jade.” He leaned his head toward mine, lips barely grazing mine. “Don’t ever doubt that.”
I shook my head, in awe of the man standing in front of me. “I wouldn’t dream of it. You’re the one thing I’m sure of in this life. You gave my heart a reason to beat again, my lungs a reason to breathe. You gave my soul hope, and I’ll always love you for that.”
“You two are like a lovesick poem in the making, and oddly, I’m not sick of it,” Becca commented from beside us. “Well, not yet, anyway.”
“We are a little gross, aren’t we, Dylan?” I asked, laughing at how truly lovesick we were, but in the best way, of course.
“Yeah, but, at least it’s a two-way street.” His thumb brushed softly against my cheek. “If it were a one-way situation, then I might be worried.”
“Life’s too short to not express your emotions, love included. So, expect to hear all the gross things for the rest of your life, Mr. Conrad.” I placed a hand flat against his chest.
“I’m looking forward to it, Jade soon-to-be-a-Conrad Young.” His lips met mine fully, kissing me hard.
I sighed. Life couldn’t get any better than it already was.
But it can get worse.
I shook the negative Nadine from my mind and focused on Dylan and the feel of his lips on mine.
I wasn’t a cynic, or I tried not to be, but I had never been this blissfully happy before. Somewhere within, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the level ground I was on to shift. Eventually it would, but I wouldn’t be prepared for it when it did. I wasn’t even sure I’d survive it this time. History had a way of repeating itself, but I prayed to fate that this time it wouldn’t end the same.