Curvy Girls Can't Date Bad Boys - Kelsie Stelting Page 0,85
“Ready to fall with me?”
Smiling, I looked over the platform and jumped. As I flew through the air with the love of my life beside me, I couldn’t help but think I already had.
Fifty-One
Nearly a hundred students clad in caps and gowns milled around us, reveling in the end of the graduation ceremony. I could hardly believe that I was standing here, officially done with high school, saying goodbye to Emerson Academy.
All the classmates around me had been passing like ships in the night for the last four years. We’d been on the same journey, sailing the same waters, but my friends had been more like anchors. Anytime I had been lost this last year, they were with me, guiding me, holding me steady.
I looked for them and saw Ginger's bright red hair first. She stood by Ray, holding his hand. So close to each other in those baggy black gowns, it almost looked like they were wearing one big black garbage sack.
I chuckled at the image, but felt a disappointed ache in my stomach. Ronan had to work today, and even though he was coming to the graduation party later, I still felt a little lonely now. It was too bad my last name was so far apart from the rest of my friends. Since my last name started with B, I had been in the front row with hardly a clue of what was going on behind me.
I scanned the rest of the school’s lawn, looking for my other friends. Callie and Carson had found each other and were already laughing about something. They always had one inside joke or another. And I was pretty sure they were the only two people in the world who didn't realize they were in love with each other.
I hoped to find Jordan, but when I caught sight of her, she and Kai stood together as well, posing for a selfie on her phone. Rory and Beckett were practically surrounded by the rest of the football players and the cheerleaders. Even though school was over, the quarterback still got all the popularity.
Someone bumped into me, and I looked over and saw Merritt. “Sorry,” I said.
She shook her head and continued walking, her heels sinking into the grass. She had a sour expression on, and I wondered what she must be so upset about on graduation day. But then again, when high school was the best time of your life, that basically meant nothing else would measure up.
I sighed and readjusted my mortarboard. My hair was getting sweaty, so I looked for a nearby tree to find some shade and wait while my friends finished with their boyfriends. I’d realized a lot lately how much I appreciated my solitude. Sometimes it was nice just to have time to think. And take in everything. I was having a hard time comprehending it all today.
I leaned against the trunk of the tree, feeling the rough bark against my back, and closed my eyes to take a slow, steadying breath. In only a week, I would be working with a major author and my father to bring a highly anticipated book adaptation to life. It felt like a lot of pressure, but I was so excited to get started. The fact that Ronan got to be on the writing team as an intern made it even better.
“Hi there.” The voice sounded so close to my ear, and I jumped away.
Immediately, Ronan started chuckling from where he hung upside down from a branch of the tree. His hair swung loosely around his head in curls, and he looked way too pleased with himself.
I smacked his hard stomach, laughing myself. He brought so much joy to my life. “What on earth are you doing here?” I asked. “I thought you had to work.”
He reached out to hold the branch and let his feet down to the ground. I didn't think I'd ever get tired of watching the nimble way his body moved.
“I got someone to cover my shift,” he said. “I couldn’t miss your big day.”
I smiled and tugged on his black T-shirt, pulling him close. His unique smell, like cologne and sunshine and leather, lifted my spirits. “I'm so happy you're here,” I said against his chest.
He held my hair against my back and squeezed me even tighter. “You were so beautiful walking across the stage. And I definitely saw your dad cry.”