Logan grips Racer on the shoulder. “If you’re able to feel around for a pulse, you’re not dead, man.”
Unable to concentrate on the banter, I look around the sea of people, trying to spot any semblance of the man I desperately want to see. For some reason, I thought maybe, just maybe he would show up for my graduation. But since he’s not with Racer, my hope is quickly vanishing.
My parents have already left for their car so they aren’t stuck in traffic forever. We have plans to go to dinner later. But before they left, we took our pictures, they kissed me on the cheek, and my dad slipped a check in my pocket. Classic Dad.
Sadie and Andrew sent me a huge bouquet of flowers, which brought tears to my eyes.
Sadie.
Before I received that first note from Tucker, while I was still feeling so confused, lost, and bereft, Sadie visited me. She told me that she understood why I’d felt I couldn’t tell her about our relationship. There was no anger, no malice, just a hint of sadness. But not for herself. For me. For Tucker.
She also said something very surprising. When she had looked at that picture of the two of us on the mantle, she had nearly cried. Not because she still loved and wanted Tucker, but because she saw Andrew in Tucker’s expression. She’d been shocked, naturally, but she’d also felt relief. She’d never seen that look in Tucker’s face before, and that was when she knew he was finally on his road to recovery. That was when she knew he was going to be okay. She held me as I cried for what seemed like hours. When she left, she told me to not lose hope. “Emma, there is no doubt in my mind that Tucker is in love with you. When he used to look at me, his expression was always one of neediness.” Picking up my favorite photo she said, “This man hugging you? I haven’t met this man. But I saw the potential in the boy with the sad eyes. I saw that despite the horrendous shit he’d been handed in life, he fought. He fought to hold on to me, because that is the faithful, adoring man inside him. He fought to be brilliant in his job, because he takes pride in everything he does. He’s been preparing all his life to be the best at everything he does, and you, my beautiful friend, will be the one who benefits from the hard knocks he’s experienced. He will give you his soul, his heart, his love.”
Now, after the weeks of focused Tucker loving, I know those words are true, but standing here feeling excited about my achievement, I can’t help feeling desperately sad as well. I have his soul, his heart, and his love, which for this moment, might need to be enough.
Racer must notice my searching because he comes up next to me and pulls a card out of his back pocket. “Sorry, Emma. He wanted to be here.”
That’s when my heart falls.
He’s not coming.
Resigned, I give Racer the best smile I can muster and take the card. While Adalyn takes pictures with Logan, I open the card. At least I’ll have his words today. I don’t know how he’s managed to get them all to me via Racer, especially the incredible timing. The effort that’s gone into it, the time. And for Racer to also be so invested . . . Tucker’s so incredible. How I wish I could hold him and tell him thank you. And I love you.
When I open it, it’s completely blank. I turn the card around, look in the envelope for anything I may have missed, but when I don’t see anything, I turn to Racer to see if he gave me the wrong card. I know he wouldn’t do it on purpose, but he’s had to do so much in the last few weeks.
That’s when I see a giant bouquet of peonies coming toward me and right behind them is the man of my dreams.
Chapter Twenty-Six
TUCKER
She’s so beautiful. Standing there in her green graduation gown, unzipped so I get a glimpse of her white, form-fitting dress underneath, I can’t help but think how goddamn lucky I am.
A few feet away stands the woman who captured my heart when I least expected it. She came back into my life as a friend and burrowed her soul into mine, making it almost impossible to breathe without her.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had Racer and Adalyn keep tabs on Emma’s emotional state for me. I needed to feel her out, to make sure my plan was working, because showing up today wouldn’t go well if she isn’t feeling the same way I am.
Thankfully, from what Racer has said, Emma wants me back, and fuck if I couldn’t get home quick enough.
I spent last night at Racer’s and this morning, I spoke with Julius. I demanded another raise for the bullshit he’s put me through and if he didn’t match what I was asking for, I would walk away.
With heavier pockets, I’m now ready to get my girl back.
I watch Racer hand her the card and hate when her face falls flat. I knew she would expect me to show up today. It was an obvious time to surprise her, but I couldn’t help it. This is the start of a new chapter in her life and I want to be a big part of it.
She flips the card around looking for any kind of note. There isn’t supposed to be. When she looks up, I know the minute she spots me because her eyes fill with tears and her hand goes to her mouth.
Knowing it’s my cue to move, I walk toward her, loving the way she is so overjoyed with emotion that she can’t control the tears that fall from her beautiful eyes.
When I reach her, I hand her the bouquet of peonies I bought from a local florist that knows me by first name now.
“Hey, baby.”
“Tucker,” she says on a whisper. “You came.”
I reach up and wipe away her tears with my thumbs. God, I’ve missed her. “I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.” I take her in and smile brightly at her. “You look beautiful, Emma. Is that dress new?”
She nods. “It’s from you.”
“It’s perfect.”
She stands there, silent for a second before she turns to Adalyn and hands her the bouquet. With her hands now free, she walks up to me and without taking a second to think, she wraps her arms around my waist, her hands threading under my leather jacket. I return the embrace and prop my cheek on the top of her head.
I’m home.
Her lithe body shakes beneath me so I squeeze her tighter, letting her know I have her. When she pulls back to look at me, she says, “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you more, Emma.” I tilt my head toward a concrete wall. “Can we talk for a second?”
She nods and then tells the group we’ll be back. When I turn to look at our friends, they’re all standing in a line together, smiling brightly, even Logan. Maybe that guy isn’t as bad as I thought he was . . . maybe.
With her hand in mine, I guide her to the half wall and lift her up on it. I position myself between her legs so we’re looking each other in the eyes. I stroke her cheek, wiping away her tears and she presses her hands on my shoulders.
“I can’t believe you’re here. When Racer handed me the card, I really thought I was going to break in half. I just wanted you home.”