It’s a beautiful sunny day in June, and even though it’s starting to get a little hot, everyone wearing their black University of Washington cap and gown is too proud and excited to let the heat dampen their mood.
When the last person steps off the stage and returns to their seat, we hear the famous last words, “We did it!” before we all stand and throw our caps up into the air.
The person beside me pulls me into his chest and congratulates me. He adjusts his sunglasses before turning around and doing the same to the person on his left. I’m left trying not to tip over in my heels from that rough grab and go.
My cap, or someone else’s with a white tassel, lands at my feet so I grab it and start to look around for my friends. We knew it’d be a little crazy today so we decided to meet up outside of Husky Stadium.
We haven’t spent nearly enough time together these last few days. Between packing up the apartments and attending school ceremonies, we don’t have time. The English department celebrated with a small graduation ceremony in Meany Hall yesterday. I didn’t stay very long afterward because I never really did well in crowds but a few people left with me, offering up an invitation to join them at a bar. I accepted. Owen and the others were busy with their ceremony in Hec Edmondson Pavilion so we didn’t see each other until today, but only for a few minutes plus the car ride over.
I miss them.
Gripping my diploma, safety nestled inside the purple leather cover, I dodge the large groups of people blocking me from the exit and make my way over to our meeting spot. My mother and father are proudly smiling and waving at me, ushering me to hurry up. My father hands me a bouquet of lilies, wiping away tears as he congratulates me. My mother tries to hold back tears but the moment she sees other parents wiping their eyes she lets go.
“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.” She wraps her arms around me and cries softly into my hair. “So proud.”
I spot Freddie and his family a few feet away so once my mother lets me go, I head over and introduce myself. Echo runs over and does the same. Her mom and sister find my parents and keep them company while we search for Owen.
I see his sister first. She’s looking side to side, eyes wide as she gets trapped in a large group stopping at a moments notice so they don’t photobomb the smiling family taking a picture. Once the photo is taken, she pops out of the moving group and she finds me. Ari waves frantically at me, turning her head back once to shout something. And then my boyfriend, his brother, and his mother come into view.
Owen’s family stops beside our group of parents, but he keeps walking. He smiles at everyone he passes, shaking hands and congratulating people. Then he’s doing the same to Freddie and Echo.
And when his eyes land on mine and he steps into my personal bubble, the noise around us fades away.
“Hey.”
I die every time he says that.
“Hi,” I whisper.
He takes one step forward, his hand sliding around the side of my neck, and he gently runs his thumb over my lips. “God, I love everything about you.” And then his mouth is on mine, slowly parting my lips until our tongues meet.
I hold back his orange tassel so it doesn’t accidently end up in my mouth and then I kiss my boyfriend like we haven’t seen each other in weeks. I have to remember that our parents are standing twenty feet away though so we end the kiss with a promise for more later tonight.
Now that the four of us have met up, we walk back to our families and make plans for what we’re doing once we leave.
I notice Owen’s mother doesn’t make a lot of eye contact with me. Beckett isn’t rude at all, he hugged me and actually smiled the entire time. Ari is attached to my side, hugging the life out of me as she jumps up and down with excitement. “I can’t wait to come here in a few years,” she tells me. “It’s so freaking pretty.”
I chuckle as I softly pinch her cheek. “You’re too cute.”
Now that the Stevensons know the truth they’ve been a little reserved around me, not knowing what to say, but Hilary has called me a few times and we’re slowly getting back to the relationship we once had. It’s hard trying to convince a mother that it wasn’t her fault her husband liked playing with little kids. Beckett knows what caused the accident. I drove up to Portland after my finals were done and told him the truth. He’s wanted to know for years so I felt like I owed him that. I thought he’d hate me but he simply nodded and said he understood. I was protecting Ari. He would have done the same.
Owen keeps our parents busy by talking about Freddie and Echo so I use that time to lure Hilary away so we can have some privacy for a few minutes.
The second we are alone, I pull her into my arms and I hold on tightly. “Thank you for coming.” Owen mentioned she was a little wary of seeing me face to face but I begged her to come. She needed to see her son graduate. She needed to see that she raised this amazing guy.
“I’m so proud of you guys. You did it!” There’s something in her voice that makes me feel like she might start crying, and it’s not because of the graduation.
I try to steer the thoughts of my past away. “Owen’s too smart not to graduate. You raised him right.” Her eyes quickly fill with tears. “Thank you, Hilary. Thank you for giving me Owen.”
Thank you for giving me something extraordinary in this life.
“You make him so happy,” she murmurs, trying to keep from crying. “I’ve never seen a love like yours.” She grabs onto my arms and blinks back a few tears. “He was smitten with you ever since kindergarten. I loved watching his love for you blossom.” A tear rolls down her cheek as she cups the side of my face. “You are so beautiful and special, Zoë. I wouldn’t want anyone else for my son. You are perfect.”
I wipe away a few tears of my own.
A hand slips around my waist, and my body ignites.
“Mom, you’re killing me. I don’t like seeing my girl cry.” Owen rests his head on my shoulder and kisses my neck.
I turn my head slightly, our gazes colliding. “These are happy tears, I swear.”
“Good.” He squeezes my hip softly as he talks to his mother. “Just for future reference, you want Zoë to be a part of the family, right? Like officially. Last name and all?”
My eyes widen as his smile grows.
Hilary laughs, taking a step toward us so we’re almost touching. She cups both of our faces, love evident in her eyes. “You are already part of the family, Zoë.” Her eyes slide over to Owen. “Every time I look at you, I see the little boy clinging to my leg, not wanting to let go. But you are not little anymore. You’ve grown up so much, Owen. I’m proud of the man you’ve become. You take care of this sweet girl, okay?”
“With my life.” He stands up straight to kiss his mother on the cheek and then I’m back in his arms, never too far from him anymore.
We walk back to our large group, smiling and laughing.
When I glance over at Owen, I mouth, “I love you.”
He nods, mouthing, “I know.”
And I’m so glad he knows because I’ve spent years hiding it, regretting the time apart. I thought we couldn’t be together. Now look at us. We’re happy. We’re in love.
We’re starting a new chapter.
Our story isn’t over yet.
This is just the beginning.