Crazy. My pain-in-the-ass sister is freaking famous.
The ceremony announcer drones on, and he’s only on the R’s. Sweat forms at my neck, in my hairline, and I breathe deep, trying to pretend I’m somewhere cool, but it’s not working. I’m wearing a button-down shirt and the nicest pair of jeans I own, and I rub the back of my neck, grimacing. I wanted to look nice for Chelsea. It’s a special day for her, one I’m so thankful we’re all a part of.
She’s graduating. It’s a huge step and I’m so freaking proud of her. She’s not going on to graduate school, though, not yet. She’s taking the summer and the fall semester off because she wants some time for herself, for us, but I know she’s scared. She told me so.
I told her as long as we have each other, we’ll be just fine.
The announcer has kicked into the S’s and I sit up straight, craning my neck around the crowd of people that surround me. The bleachers are packed, as are the chairs down on the field. We’re on the field, since I’d pulled some strings with Coach Halsey and got us decent seats. I wanted to be close, so I could run up to Chelsea after the ceremony and hug her. Kiss her. Congratulate her and tell her how much I love her right before I give her her present.
It’s pretty simple, but I think she’ll like it.
“She’s going to drive me nuts,” Fable mutters under her breath as she comes back to her seat for about the hundredth time, a wiggling Autumn clutched in her arms. Drew takes his daughter and cuddles her close, holding her so her head rests on his shoulder. Her hair is dark like her dad’s, but her eyes are green like Fable’s and mine. She’s a perfect combination of her parents, bold and fast, pretty and strong. “And to think I’m going to have another one.”
“You’re pregnant?” I whisper loudly, causing more than a few heads to turn.
Shit. Word gets out like that about them and it makes front-page news.
“Sshh.” Fable glares at me, though her lips are curved in a tiny smile. “Yes, I am,” she admits.
Well, holy shit. Aren’t they just building the perfect little family? “I’m happy for you, Fabes,” I tell her truthfully.
“Thanks.” She smiles, resting her hand on her stomach. “I’m exhausted, sick half the time, but I’m the happiest I’ve been in my life.”
I agree. So am I. We’re f**king lucky, Fable and I. On paper, we should have been a disaster. At certain points in our lives, we were. The f**ked-up siblings with the even more f**ked-up mother and absent fathers. We should be losers. In jail. No jobs. No education. Nothing. We’d been told that time and again growing up.
Now look at us. We proved everyone wrong.
“I already promised Fable I’d hire ten nannies if the next one is anything like this little girl.” Drew jiggles Autumn in his arms, making her giggle as she keeps her head on his shoulder, her little thumb between her lips.
“Give me a break.” Fable rolls her eyes. “I told him five would be plenty.”
Drew leans over and kisses her, and I swear I just heard a collective sigh sound throughout the crowd.
These two can’t go anywhere without people watching them.
“Kayla Shroeder,” the announcer says, and I realize we’re getting close. I shush Fable and Drew, hoping like hell the baby doesn’t decide to start squalling at this particular moment, and I keep my eyes glued to the stage. Ready to watch her walk across.
“Brian Siebert … John Signorelli … Jessica Simerson … Chelsea Simmons.”
I stand up, unable to stop myself, as I watch her walk across the stage. She’s wearing a white graduation gown and one of those silly little graduation hats—I don’t know what the hell you call them. Her hair has grown a lot since we’ve been together and it flows almost to the middle of her back, straight and sleek this morning. She shakes the dean’s hand and accepts her diploma and I yell and cheer for her. So do Fable and Drew.
So does the rest of the crowd.
Chelsea glances out toward the audience, a smile on her face. She looks so damn happy, I want to grab her right now. Drag her away and tell her in private how proud I am of her. How much she means to me. Then I want to show her how much she means to me, too.
The rest of the ceremony happens in a blur. Autumn falls asleep on Drew’s shoulder, drooling all over it, which makes him laugh. Fable’s starting to fade, her skin growing paler from all the heat and the new baby growing inside her. As the ceremony is winding down, Drew tells me he’s going to take them back to the hotel. Fable needs to rest and Autumn needs a nap.
“Tell Chelsea we’re sorry we can’t congratulate her right now, but I gotta get my girls out of here,” Drew says, his gaze serious as he gathers up the heavy diaper bag one-handed, Autumn still drooling on his shoulder. Fable stands next to him, her smile wan, her eyes heavy with sleep. “But we’ll see her later tonight at the restaurant, right?”
We’re having a graduation party for her at The District. “Absolutely. I’ll let her know what you said.” She’ll understand. And she’ll be excited to hear about Fable’s news.
Drew leaves with Fable and Autumn, and I wait, standing on the sidelines as the ceremony comes to a close. All of the graduating students toss their caps up into the air at the same time, screaming and shouting, their voices loud and strong. They did it. They’re done with school.
I know the thought would have sent Chelsea into a panic not even a year ago, but now, I think she’s relieved. I’m relieved, too. Our lives are going to change, and for the better.
I can’t f**king wait.
Chelsea
I glance all around me, looking for a sign of Owen, but I don’t spot him anywhere. It’s so hot, the mid-May air is stifling even in the morning, and I use my graduation cap to fan myself, clutching my diploma in my other hand.
No one else is here for me. I called Mom and told her the date and time. I even sent her an invitation, asking her to come. When she texted me that the only way she’d attend my graduation was if she could bring Dad with her, I flat-out refused. Told her not to bother. I don’t want him here. I don’t want to see him.
That was my choice, and no matter how much it hurt, I had to stand strong. Owen told me I did the right thing and I needed to hear that, because the doubt creeps up on me still.
So Mom stayed away today, and it made me sad. She sent me a graduation present and signed the card from Mom and Dad, which irritated me, but I told myself to get over it.