by Sara Daniell
I ALMOST MISSED MY name being called, too busy letting my mind race with worry. All I could think about were the hours I had left with Finn. But I made it, walked across the stage, and proudly accepted my diploma.
When the ceremony was over, I walked over to my dad and Nancy and hugged them both. I was so proud of Nancy for getting help and hoped that one day we could start all over again and build a new relationship with one another. She was here on an important day when my mother wasn’t. I looked around one more time, hoping to see her, but she wasn’t there. I smiled the best I could at Dad.
“We’re so proud of you, sweetie!” Dad hugged me again. “Please don’t give up on us after you leave. We’re trying to make this right, and we want you to be a part of our lives always.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
He kissed my cheek and moved back when Finn walked over. Dad shook his hand, and then Finn reached over and shook Nancy’s.
“Is it okay if I bring her over to get pictures with me? My mom will hunt me down if I don’t,” Finn asked.
Dad laughed and nodded. “Yeah, but as soon as we get ours, too.”
Nancy instructed us on where and how she wanted us to stand. We held up our diplomas, all smiles.
After we were done, I walked with him over to his mom, step-dad, and real dad. There were others talking to them, but I didn’t know them. After pictures and being introduced to his family I hadn’t met, Finn and I escaped to his truck.
“There’s a party that the seniors from Kerrville and Fredericksburg are throwing together. A night where all differences are put aside for one last hate-fest.”
A tear slid down my cheek, and Finn reached over and wiped it before I could.
I shook my head. “I just want to be with you. I have to leave at 9:00 which is in an hour.”
“I hate that you’re driving tonight. Why can’t you leave in the morning?”
I looked out the window as he drove. “Because this drive is going to take forever. I want to drive until at least midnight and stop somewhere to sleep and continue with the drive tomorrow. It’s a good plan, Finn.”
“What’s with the attitude?”
I closed my eyes. “Sorry.”
“Look at me.”
I didn’t want to. I’d lose it as soon as our eyes met. “I can’t,” I whispered.
I felt the truck stop and opened my eyes. We were parked on the shoulder of the dirt road that led to our spot at the river.
I looked down at my ring, and a half-sob half-gasp escaped me. I felt Finn’s hand on my back as I cried into my hands.
I calmed down enough to talk. “Why won’t you tell me to stay?”
“I thought we already discussed this.”
“I know,” I whispered. I played with the ring on my finger. “I keep trying to be strong, but it’s killing me.”
“It’s killing me too, but it’s what we have to do. I know you love me, Ellie, but you have to love you too. Stanford is a huge reward for all of your hard work in school. We will make it; you can bet on that.”
“I’m gonna miss Jane and the rest of my friends too. It’s hard to say goodbye, even if it’s not forever. This past year has been hell, and—”
“Is exactly why you deserve to get away from and do something for yourself,” he cut me off. “You’re going to be so amazing there.”
I leaned my head over and rested it on his shoulder. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too. So, what do you want to do for your last hour?”
I smiled and wiped my tears. “Can we go watch airplanes?”
He smiled. “Anything for you. But first I want to give you your graduation present.”
I sat up and raised a brow. “Huh? But I didn’t get you anything.”
He smiled. “And I don’t want you to.” He reached into his glove box and pulled out an envelope. “Here,” he said, handing it to me.
I opened it and pulled out the piece of paper and started to read. My mouth fell open. He was in! San Mateo had found room for him! He could start in the fall.
I squealed, grabbed his face in both hands, and kissed him. “Why did you let me be so whiny about leaving tonight when you knew this? How long have you known?”
He burst into laughter. “I just got it in the mail today. And I waited because of this,” he said motioning his hand toward me. “I wanted this exact reaction. I thought about not telling you at all and just showing up on your doorstep in the fall.”
I shoved his shoulder and laughed. “Jerk!”
“And don’t worry about how we’ll make it. I know before I said that we needed to save for a year, but we’ll figure it out. We’ll figure out a way to live together and make it work.”
I nodded. “We will.”
It was a Friday night, and finally, finally, life didn’t completely suck. Anything goes on a Friday night. Anything could happen. It’s the day that starts the weekend. It’s the day that everyone looks forward to after a long week. And now, life, as confusing as it would continue to be, made sense.
“Ellie?”
I shook my head and smiled down at the letter. “What?”
“Look at me.”
I looked at him and couldn’t stop smiling. “What is it?”
His hand moved to the back of my head, and his fingers knotted in my hair. He brought my lips to his and kissed me. My head spun, and my whole body tingled with the most overwhelming feeling. That was the only way I could describe what love felt like. Uncontrollable, inconceivable, mind-blowing, head-spinning, weak in the knees, imperfect yet perfect love.
Our story wasn’t over. It was just beginning.
SARA DANIELL IS A wife and mother who spends her days teaching children and her nights loving her family, and finding time to immerse herself into her two creative passions. In her free time she not only writes unique and amazing stories, she also takes breathtaking pictures that captures her creative nature in color just like her writings capture her creative nature in print. She is an amazing woman who loves life and people.
VISIT THE AUTHOR AT:
www.saradaniell.com
www.bhcauthors.com
Cover, interior book design,
and eBook design by
Blue Harvest Creative
www.blueharvestcreative.com
Edited by
Kerri L. Bennett and Hannah Loomis
Table of Contents
About The Book
Title Page
Copyright Information
Also By Sara Daniell
Dedication
Anything Goes On A Friday Night
Epigraph
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Chapter Thirty-five
Chapter Thirty-six
Chapter Thirty-seven
Chapter Thirty-eight
Chapter Thirty-nine
About The Author
Visit The Author
Meet The Creative Team