each artist’s work, all of which had been on display that evening. Photos popped up on a large screen behind her as she spoke.
Taggish still hadn’t returned from the restroom, and I was beginning to feel sick. Where was he?
A round of applause broke out in the room, and I realized Karen had finished her introductions and was about to announce the winner.
“Where is Taggish?”
“Right there,” Dad replied. I followed the point of his finger to the stage. He was right. There was Taggish, standing tall and confident beside Karen.
“Thank you, Karen,” he spoke into the microphone, but his eyes had focused solely on me. “It’s my honor tonight to announce the recipient of The Anne Merriman Art Foundation Scholarship. Before she died, my mother looked forward to this event every year. She liked to tease that we could help at least one starving artist in this world, and now we have helped five. Tonight will be six.
“My mom loved to paint. She loved to create, and she loved to share what she created with others. She enjoyed nothing more than seeing and experiencing the artistic creations of others. She would have loved the winner of this year’s scholarship as much as her work,” Taggish’s voice cracked. He paused to clear his throat. “I know I do.”
I thought my heart would explode. My parents squeezed me from both sides.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m pleased to announce the winner of The Anne Merriman Art Foundation Scholarship, Mara Cronk.”
Feeling stunned and overwhelmed, I didn’t move. Taggish, whose eyes had barely left mine, pumped his eyebrows.
“Oh, Mara! I’m so proud of you,” Mom whispered in my ear as she pushed me up from my chair.
I barely knew how I made it up to the podium to accept the oversized check Taggish’s dad held, but I did. Taggish threw his arms around me and hugged me close.
“I’m so happy for you,” he whispered in my ear.
The next hour passed in a blur of photos, congratulations, and smiles so big my cheeks hurt by the time Taggish drove me home.
We sat together on the porch swing in front of my house. It was late. My parents had gone to bed.
“You could have told me, you know.”
My head rose and fell where it lay against his chest as he took a deep breath. “I didn’t know until tonight.”
I sat up so I could see his face. “Not that. I mean that you were going to announce it.”
He smiled. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”
I laid my head back down and hugged his waist. “It was.” I still couldn’t believe it . . . any of it, not the least of which was my relationship with Taggish. He was still the trouble next door, but I’d grown to like his brand of trouble.
“Have you decided where you’re going to go to school?” he asked. We were on the final countdown to graduation. As excited as I was for the next phase in my life, I knew graduation meant leaving home. Possibly leaving Taggish. That last part caused some conflicting feelings. I hadn’t figured out how I would deal with them.
“I’ve narrowed it down. Both schools are up north.” New York or Boston, probably.
Taggish nodded.
“How about you?”
He didn’t answer right away. In fact, he took so long to respond that I sat up again so I could see his expression.
“Tag?”
His chest rose and fell under my hands. “Well, I’ve been thinking about that. There are programs all over the country. I can go wherever I want.”
“And?” I asked when he didn’t keep going.
“And,” he grabbed my hand and fiddled with my fingers. “Well, I’ve applied to a program here, but I was hoping you wouldn’t mind if I went with you.”
My mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”
Taggish nodded. “Yeah. But only if you want me. I don’t want you to think I’m a stalker or anything,” he teased.
Laughing, I threw my arms around his neck. “You can follow me anywhere,” I whispered just as his lips crushed mine. “Are you serious?” I asked a few moments later.
He nodded and kissed me again.
What a surprise he’d been, the boy next door.
Epilogue
My Brother's Best Friend
A Sneak Peek of book 5 in the Sweet Mountain High Series
By Randi Rigby
“Come on, Harp. You’re turning this into a big deal. I was going to tell you about her, I swear.”
I sat holding Cal’s pillow to my chest while leaning back against his headboard. He’d been in his bathroom for the last fifteen minutes,