More of Us ( A Love You More Rock Star Romance #3) - Laura Pavlov Page 0,60
had to be here at the commencement first thing this morning. I was anxious to see him. Had been all week. What did it mean? I didn’t have a clue. But I knew I missed him. I knew I loved him. And I knew I was proud of him. Would I still proceed cautiously, especially with all this Farah Clearwater gossip making its way through the media? Yes. Did I believe any of it? No.
But it was a reminder of the life Cruz was still living.
I hurried to the side and snapped a few pictures of him as he walked back to his seat. Instead of turning in his row, he walked straight for me. He ducked under the flagged off area and crashed into me with a hug. Why did it surprise me that he wasn’t following the rules? He never had. He’d always marched to the beat of his own drum, and that’s one of the things I loved most about him.
He spun me around and I heard Dad and Lennon laugh behind me. I buried my face in his neck and took in his masculine scent.
My beautiful rock star.
“Congrats,” I said against his ear.
“Thanks for being here.” He set me down on my feet.
“Don’t you have to go back to your seat?” I asked, looking around nervously as we stood off to the side.
“No. I’m only here until tomorrow. I’m not spending three hours in a chair.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Okay then. Let’s get out of here.”
His mom came over and hugged him, and my father pulled him into a hug and whispered something in his ear. Cruz’s face lit up, and I was thankful for the bond they shared. Sara, Lennon and the rest of the group took turns congratulating him, but each time I looked up his gaze locked with mine.
“So, I was hoping I could take everyone to brunch,” Cruz’s mom, Juliette said.
“Do we have to?” Cruz whispered in my ear, and I slapped at his chest.
“Yes. They’re all here for you,” I said so only he could hear.
“Sounds great, Mom.”
He grasped my hand, and I intertwined my fingers with his. I didn’t know what we were, and honestly, I didn’t care. I wanted to hold his hand and celebrate him. And that’s exactly what I was going to do.
Brunch dragged on for two hours, and Cruz shot me a look across the table multiple times to let me know he was ready to go.
So impatient.
We all said our goodbyes, and Lennon and Bailey headed out to Cruz’s childhood home to spend time with Juliette.
“You want to go to the beach?” he asked me once we were alone.
“Yeah.”
We walked back to my house so I could change, and he left his cap and gown with me. Of course, he hadn’t worn a suit beneath his gown. He wore black joggers and a T-shirt with tennis shoes.
Always the rebel.
We took his car out to our favorite spot at Oak Street Beach and spent the next few hours talking and laughing.
“So, no more Dick, huh?” he asked.
“I don’t know why you insist on calling him that. But no, I told you, that was over. Richard and I are friends.”
He nodded. “But you still need to be on your own?”
I laughed. He was the least patient human being I’d ever met.
“I’m feeling really good. I’ve been focused on school and working with Elaine, and it’s been a pretty drama-free semester. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss you, because I do. All the time.”
“Fuck. I can’t promise you drama-free, Jade. Not yet,” he said.
I moved closer to him as we sat on the blanket. The sun was just going down and the sky was covered in pinks and oranges. Peaceful and serene.
“Trust me, I know. Nothing about you is drama-free. And it’s not your fault, I get it. It’s out of your control.”