“I wrecked everything?” he said, crossing his arms.
“Yes. You’re a pest, Adam. You pester me, taunt me, and frustrate the crap out of me. Half the time I can’t stand you, and the other half the time you’re deliberately trying to make me mad. You push my buttons on purpose. I swear it’s your favorite pastime. And when you aren’t pushing my buttons, you’re nagging me. You could literally give an intro class on how to piss off Claire Collins.”
“Then you should’ve—”
“And I love it,” I said, shaking my head. “I love when I’m in the halls, and we’re standing at my locker, talking about our days. I love when I’m in class and you’re behind me, nagging me for the millionth time.”
“Claire—”
“I love how when I’m stressed, you know exactly what to say to make it better. And I love that you know me. I love that you always know how to make me smile. I love that you can walk in a room and my day is instantly better. I love your quirks, your sense of humor, and your wit. I love everything about you.”
“Claire.”
“And I’m sorry for hurting you,” I said, holding his gaze. “I’m sorry for losing your trust, and for not appreciating you when I had the chance. But I’m not sorry for loving you. I will never be sorry for—”
Adam kissed me, his mouth slanting over mine so unexpectedly that it took me a second to understand.
“I forgive you,” he whispered, pushing his forehead against mine. “Because I miss nagging you. I miss pushing your buttons. I miss the way your nose crinkles when I tell a joke that isn’t funny, and that you laugh anyway. I miss your smile. I miss the way it feels to hug you, and how much I hate letting you go. I miss everything about you. And I love you, too.”
My arms wrapped around his waist as his hands cupped my face.
“And I know we still have college to deal with,” he said, “but we’ll make long distance work. Not an ideal situation, but at least I get you.”
“You’re up for long distance?”
“I’m in, if you’re in.”
I kissed him again and smiled. “Meade, you’ve got yourself a deal.”
24
The End
I stared at the cap and gown hanging in my closet. The black satin robe was draped across a plastic hanger with a summer dress beside it and my heels on the floor. Downstairs, my mom’s voice carried. There was excitement in her tone, despite her occasional glimmer of tears.
“Ten minutes!” I hollered, grabbing my clothes.
The fabric was itchy against my bare arms, and I scratched them as I walked down the steps. My mom stood below, her phone pointed in my direction as she snapped pictures. “Mark!” she yelled. “We’ve got to go.”
“I’m coming,” he answered, adjusting his tie as he entered the foyer. He lifted hazel eyes to the stairs, and his face smoothed with pride, making me want to cry. “You look wonderful,” he commented. Then, staring at my mom, he added, “But she’s running late, too. Want to blame someone? Blame your daughter.”
“Way to kill the sentimental moment,” I answered. My mom pulled me into a hug as Case entered through the front door, grinning. “What’s wrong with your face?” I teased.
He scowled. “It’s your graduation day. Don’t make me be mean to you.”
My dad waved the keys, passing my brother on his way out the door. “I’m the one headed to the car,” he said, looking at my mom. “Remember this the next time you get onto me for being late.”
We pulled up to Pader’s stadium, anxiety running rampant. My parents found their seats in the bleachers, while I trudged across the field. My heels dug into the grass as I looked for Adam, Riley, and Tate. I found the last two chatting with a group of people near the entrance to the field. Adam was nowhere in sight.
“I like those shoes!” Riley greeted, pulling me in for a hug.
“I like your haircut,” I answered. “When did that happen?”
“This morning.”
She slid her cap off and tousled the curls. A long strand of white yarn lay balled inside the cap, safety-pinned to the fabric.
I took it in my fingers and looked at her, confused. “Why is this in here?”
“Because I want to keep my cap.” She tugged the string and smiled. “When we throw them in the air, all I have to do is hold the string. Problem solved.”
“Did you see this on the Internet?” I asked.
“No. I came up with it all on my own.” She smiled and carefully put the cap back on.
I glanced at Tate as he crammed his phone in his pocket. “Any word on Adam? Haven’t heard from him since this morning, and I don’t see him anywhere.”
“Nope,” Tate answered, glancing around the field. “He should be here somewhere. If I had to bet, he’s probably talking to Mr. Acua. It’s his last chance to hit Adam up for Alabama season passes.”
“It’s his own fault for mentioning it in class,” Riley said. “If he wouldn’t go around bragging about his team, he wouldn’t have a problem.”
“Says the girl who told everyone she’s the University of South Carolina’s newest cheerleader,” Tate replied. He slung his arm around her shoulder and grinned. “When you do great things, you have to flaunt it.”
“Is that why you’ve been purchasing UNC T-shirts by the dozen?” she asked.
“I have to represent.”
A whistle blew, and Mrs. Jenkins crossed the grass, smiling as she neared. “Okay, ladies and gentlemen. Let’s get in order! We’re starting in five minutes.”
“You sure Adam’s here?” I asked, scouring the field.
“He’s here,” Tate replied.
I would be seated with the top ten percent of the class. Riley, Adam, and Tate would sit alphabetically behind me. We lined up according to our seating arrangement, and “Pomp and Circumstance” played through the speakers as we crossed the field.
The warm sun beat down on us, burning its way through my sleeves. I tried to listen to the ramblings of my teachers and administrators, their words meant to be inspiring and insightful. Instead, I looked behind me for Adam.
He smiled at me as he straightened his cap and relaxed in his chair. Relieved, I turned around and tried to focus on the final moments of my high school career.
“Claire Elizabeth Collins.”
My heels dug into the ground as I made my way to the stairs. I didn’t want to fall in front of the entire town. Luckily, I didn’t. With the rolled-up, cardboard-covered diploma in hand, I made my way back to my seat. I sat quietly as more names were called.
“Riley Madison Cross.”
Riley made her way up the stairs, her hand gripping the metal rail. She was almost to the top when her cap flew off. White yarn floated along the breeze, covering the stage where she was supposed to walk. I heard Tate cracking up in his seat, and she laughed, scooting along unfazed while our principal waited to hand her the diploma.
When she reached her chair, she leaned forward. “It worked!” she whispered.
“It worked,” I agreed.
We waited, quiet, while the rest of our class made their way across the stage. Adam was near the middle. His applause was arguably louder than the rest of the graduates’, though I suspected my family and Riley’s and Tate’s were to blame.
After our principal thanked the crowd for their attendance, after the caps were thrown in the air and my high school experience was officially over, I found him. He gave me a quick kiss and bopped me on the head with his diploma.
“Thought you weren’t going to make it,” I said.
“Almost didn’t. They’re doing construction between here and Charlotte. If my grandma hadn’t made me leave when she did, I would’ve missed it.”
I cocked an eyebrow as my parents approached us, Case in tow. My mom looked teary eyed, but my dad was brandishing a cell phone. He was more embarrassing than my mom.
“Here we have two graduates of Pader High,” he said, ducking in closer. “Names, GPAs, future aspirations?�
��
“Oh, look at you!” Wanda said, her face visible on his phone screen. “You look all grown up!”
“She’s going to start crying, too,” Adam whispered in my ear.
Sure enough, Wanda got just as teary eyed as my mom. It disappeared soon enough, when she turned her attention from the screen and glanced at someone in her hospital room.
“Ready for respiratory therapy?” a guy asked.
Her eyes narrowed. “You again?”
“Yes. Three times a day.”
FaceTime ended halfway through her griping at the therapist.
“You two planning to celebrate, or should I whip up a home-cooked meal?” my mom asked, hugging me. “Adam, I know how much you enjoyed my lasagna the other day.” Case gagged behind her, and she nudged him. “You hush, Case Michael!”
“We’re fine!” I said. “Appreciate the thought, but Tate’s grilling.”
“Okay. Call me if you need a DD,” she replied.
“Better yet, call me,” Case said.
She swatted him on the shoulder with her clutch, and they exited through the crowd, leaving me with the good-byes and congratulations of my classmates. My senior year was the furthest thing from what I expected, but it was done. Auburn awaited.
* * *
Smoke hung in a clearing, hovering above our bonfire as flames extended toward the sky. I stayed by the fire and sipped from a red plastic cup. Mosquitoes landed on my legs, and I swatted them, sloshing my soda on the ground.
“Hey, sweetheart.” The fire crackled loudly as two strong arms wrapped around me. “What’s a pretty girl like you doing out here by yourself? Better question: Where’s your boyfriend? If you’re single, can I have your digits?”
“Always such a charmer, Meade.”
“I try.” He kissed my neck and released me, his hand finding my free one. “Where are Riley and Tate?”
“Playing hide-and-go-seek,” I answered. “They wanted to know if we were interested, but I passed.”
“Good choice. Now I can steal you away without Riley protesting.” There was a mischievous glint in his eyes, and I grinned as he pulled me across the grass.
“You aren’t going to get me in trouble, are you?”
“Why? You want me to get you in trouble?” When I shook my head, he shrugged. “Fine, be the responsible one.”
“I’m a stick-in-the-mud. I own it.”
He opened his truck’s passenger door and motioned inside. After we were both inside, he pulled away from Tate’s barn and took the dirt road to the back of the property.
We continued down that road for a while, surrounded by trees. Eventually, the trees thinned into an open space, the sky breathtaking above.
He pulled off the road and parked.
“What are we doing?” I asked.
“Currently, getting out of the truck.” He unbuckled his seat belt and pushed open the door to the warm June air. “You coming?”
“Yeah.”
I unhitched my seat belt and stepped into the night. Adam pulled a flashlight from beneath his back seat and handed it to me. Then he tugged a pair of blankets off the seat and tossed them in the bed of the truck.
“If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you planned this,” I said.
“Well, yeah.” He shut the door and moved to the tailgate. It opened with a thud, and he grabbed both sides of my waist to hoist me up. “I’ve been planning this little getaway for the last twenty minutes.”
“Impressive.”
“I’m awesome. You can thank me later.”
I stood in the bed of the truck and situated the blankets against the metal. Once I was done, Adam joined me. He relaxed against the cab, and I cuddled up to him, a soft breeze riffling my hair as he glanced at the sky.
“I can’t believe high school’s over,” he said, sighing. “It feels like everything else took forever, but this year flew by.” I looked at him, and he lowered his gaze, a small smile gracing his face. “Except for prom week. That lasted too long.”
“You looked good in that tux. Suits do you well, Meade.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m gorgeous. I know.”
“And arrogant.”
“And you like it.”
He kissed me and shifted against the metal, his arm loosely draping over my shoulders. I nestled against his chest, soaking in his scent and relishing his touch. We would head to college soon, but the University of Alabama was only three hours from me. We could make this work. This would work.
“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he said, his chin coming to rest on the crown of my head. “You’re being quiet. You’re never quiet.”
“You think we can do this?” I asked, lifting my gaze. “You, me, long distance, college?”
“It’s not going to be easy,” he answered. “I think there’s going to be many nights where I randomly show up at your dorm because I miss you, or where you get a pair of football tickets emailed to you as a hint to come watch me play.”
“Ooh, someone’s clingy.”
“I own it,” he said, grinning. “But I know we’re going to get through this. You’re going to kick butt in Auburn’s Honor’s College, and I’m going to get a national championship. We’ll see each other on the weekends, and it’ll be like nothing ever changed.”
“I think you’re right.”
“I’m always right.” He leaned back, his eyes still on me. “And one day we’ll be sitting in this very same truck, talking about our plans for after college. We’ll look back at everything we went through, every year that passed, every stupid argument, everything that should have torn us apart and didn’t, and I’ll still feel the same. I don’t care where we’re at or what we’re doing, as long as I have you.”
I kissed him, his warmth radiating through me as we sat beneath the North Carolina sky. I didn’t know what the next chapter held, or the challenges we’d face, but we could handle it. We would always survive.
Acknowledgments
When I wrote Surviving Adam Meade, getting published was a far-fetched dream from a small-town girl. There were so many people who helped me get here. Without your love and support, this wouldn’t be possible.
To Kat and the entire Swoon Reads team, thank you for taking a chance on Claire and Adam. You’ve taught me so much about the publishing process, and pushed me beyond what I thought myself capable. Working with you has been amazing. Jessika, Melinda, and Danielle, I’m so glad we were chosen together. Thank you for being there for me, for anything and everything. You are incredible! Katy, the best mentor I could’ve asked for, thank you for the million questions you’ve answered. Thank you for guiding me through this process, and for being so patient with me along the way. And to the readers, I could never tell you how grateful I am for your unending support. Thank you for all your votes and comments, and for going on this journey with me. You’re the best!
To Allen, my inspiration in so many ways, you never saw writing as a dream I couldn’t achieve. You listened to me talk about these character for years, answered every football question I asked, and refused to let me give up. You’ve been there every step of the way, my guide and my confidant. Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for the sacrifices you made so I could do this. I love you more than words could ever express. To my little ones, I hope this inspires you to go after your dreams. I will love you until the end of time.
To my mom and dad, words could never thank you for everything you’ve given me. Mom, you were always my biggest fan. You never let me shy away from my goals, even when I thought they were impossible. Thank you for encouraging me to share this passion with the world, and for reading all those first drafts without complaint. Dad, the bravest man I’ve ever known, it’s no coincidence that Claire’s dad has your humor. I love you so much and carry you with me always. I can’t wait to tell you about this someday. And to the rest of my family, especially my brothers, thank you for making life fun.
To Ashley, Laurel, Kylie, and Dionn, I’m so lucky I
got to do high school with you! Thank you for the sports trips, Friday night football games, UIL events, moments spent goofing off in class, and summers I could never forget. I will cherish those memories forever. To the families of those four ladies, thank you for treating me like I was one of your own. You made Post feel like home.
And to the people of that small West Texas town, your guidance and influence got me here. Thank you for making me fall in love with football as only you could, and for giving me such an amazing place to finish school. Post will always hold a special place in my heart.
About the Author
SHANNON KLARE is a Southern housewife, born and raised in Texas. As a teenager, she found herself in a small town near Lubbock. There, she earned an appreciation for small-town living and sports—both prominent elements in her writing today. When she isn’t writing or daydreaming new plots, Shannon is a reality TV fanatic and movie connoisseur. Surviving Adam Meade is her debut novel. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
1. Water Girl
2. Itching for War
3. Four-Wheeling
4. Revenge
5. Tales of Tofu
6. Skeptical
7. Hit On
8. Keep It Simple
9. Propositions
10. The Truth
11. Trips
12. Distractions
13. Trouble
14. Tell
15. I’m Here
16. Fate
Surviving Adam Meade Page 19