I had called her phone six different times, and she didn’t answer. Not once. My insides were in knots after talking to Madison, but not talking to Livy was worse. I felt like I was falling apart.

It was her graduation day so I knew she was probably busy getting ready for her big day, but I still felt like something was wrong.

Hell, everything was wrong.

I had tossed and turned in bed all night. I thought about what I should do. How I would tell my mom. How I would tell Livy. How the hell I was supposed to take care of a baby.

I wanted to ask Mason what she had been up to all day, but I knew he would be suspicious of my sudden interest in his sister. Instead, I sat quietly in the seat beside him as we waited for them to call her name.

After boring speech after boring speech, they finally called her name, Olivia Mae Conner. Mason and I jumped to our feet and screamed for her. Most of the graduates got a few cheers and claps, but not our Livy. We yelled as she walked across the stage looking gorgeous, but she didn’t smile. When Mason blew his air horn that I was sure would get us kicked out, she didn’t even laugh.

We sat down as she descended the stairs, and I didn’t take my eyes off her. Some guy I didn’t recognize put his hand up in a high five as they took their seats again, and she slapped it with a fake smile on her face.

I watched her the entire graduation, the entire ninety minutes, but she never looked my way. When it was time for them to throw their caps, she didn’t throw it high in the air with no worry about where it would land, she just tossed it up, catching it a second later.

When she finally made her way to us after the ceremony, she instantly walked into her brother’s arms. She didn’t look at me. She just buried her face in his neck. When he finally let her go, I pulled her into me, not giving her a choice.

“Congratulations, Livy.”

“Thanks,” she said stiffly, her body just as stiff.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered into her ear, but she didn’t answer me. She just pushed out of my hold and faced her brother again.

“You’re going to help me pack tonight, right?”

“For sure.” Mason nodded his head.

“Pack for what?” I was starting to panic. What was she doing? Why wouldn’t she talk to me?

“Our little Livy here got accepted to The University of Georgia on a full scholarship. She’s been talking to her advisor, and she’s decided to get an early start with summer classes.”

“You’re leaving.” It was the only thing I could say, but there were a million thoughts running through my head.

I knew it was probably the best thing for her. As badly as I never wanted her to leave, I knew I would be toxic for her if she stayed.

“Yeah.” She nodded her head. “I made the final decision last night. I move into my dorm this week.”

All the air in the room seemed to disappear as she spoke. She didn’t seem happy about her decision, she seemed determined. Determined to leave maybe. To get away from me.

“Congratulations, I guess.” I felt more lost in that moment than I did when Madison told me I was going to be a father. I could handle a baby, I knew I could, but I wasn’t sure if I could handle anything without Livy in my life.

“Congratulations to you too.” She smiled, a fake smile that I fucking hated. “Madison told me the news.”

I jolted back as if I had been hit. Madison told her? That bitch. I had been home all night worried about how I would tell Livy, and Madison just went and told her. The look on Livy’s face was pure hatred, and although I thought she would be upset, I never expected that sort of reaction from her.

“What news?” Mason asked, completely forgotten.

“Oh, you didn’t hear.” Livy looked at her brother. “Parker is going to be a father.”