Graduating (Covenant College Book 5)

by Amanda M. Lee

  “Ah, young love,” Helen said, smiling. “It’s so fiery.”

  “You remember when we were that age?” James asked. “We used to fight just so we could make up.”

  “You’re not helping,” Aric said.

  “Oh, speaking of that, we figured the two of you would be more comfortable out in the guesthouse instead of your old bedroom,” Helen said.

  “She means we would be more comfortable,” James corrected. “This way you two can have a little privacy.”

  “And we can enjoy the buffer of the pool so we don’t have to see – or hear – whatever it is you’re going to be doing,” Helen added.

  My cheeks were burning. “That’s nice of you.”

  Aric’s anger had shifted. Now it was confusion washing over his face. “I’m still angry.”

  “I know.”

  “Of course you are, dear,” Helen said. “If you don’t keep that righteous anger, there’s not going to be any reason to make up later.”

  Aric sat back down in his seat, finally meeting my gaze head on. “I’m not sure what just happened here.”

  “Get used to it, son,” James said. “Women are masters at confusing you. That’s the one thing you can take to the bank. It never changes, and they get better at it with age. You’d better learn to accept it now, because this one is going to keep you on your toes.”

  “Well, great,” Aric said. “That makes me feel much better.”

  Twenty

  “Merry Christmas.”

  I rolled over, meeting Aric’s sleepy eyes with a sardonic smile. “What time is it?”

  “It’s still early,” Aric said. “We have to be over to the main house for breakfast in a half hour. I figured you’d want to shower beforehand.”

  “Why do we have to go to the main house so early? You’re supposed to be able to sleep in on Christmas morning. At least that’s how it was in my house.” For a second, my heart pinged. I hadn’t spent a Christmas morning away from parents in, well, ever. I wondered what they were doing.

  “Well, in this house, breakfast is served at seven sharp,” Aric said, stretching. “Then we have to do the big present exchange.”

  “I didn’t bring your parents presents,” I said. “I didn’t know if I should. I wouldn’t have known what to get them even if I did.”

  “I signed your name to my cards,” Aric said. “Don’t worry about it.”

  Well, that was … cozy. “Really?”

  “Don’t act so surprised,” Aric said, pulling me closer. “I knew you were worried about this visit.”

  “And you weren’t?”

  “I knew everything would be fine,” he said. “I knew my mom would like you right away, and I have to admit, you won my dad over a lot faster than I thought you would. I think it’s because you remind him of my mom.”

  Eww. “Does that mean you’re attracted to your mom?”

  “Don’t be gross,” Aric said, giving me a quick kiss. “Shower and get dressed. I wasn’t lying when I said we’d be in trouble if we’re late for breakfast.”

  “Fine,” I grumbled. “This better be one hell of a breakfast.”

  “I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”

  I THINK I was in food nirvana.

  The formal dining room table was filled with every breakfast food imaginable. There were mounds of blueberry pancakes, bowls of hash browns and corned beef hash, and pitchers of eight different juices. There was even some guy in a chef’s hat standing at a small grill ready to make omelets on demand.

  “It’s still just the four of us, right?”

  “Yeah. My mom doesn’t do anything small,” Aric said. “Just fill your face and enjoy it.”

  “If I eat all of this, I’m not going to be able to do anything but waddle.”

  “I’ll burn off the calories for you later,” Aric promised, arching an eyebrow.

  “Don’t say things like that,” I hissed, glancing around. “What if your parents hear?”

  “Why do you think they put us in the guesthouse?” Aric asked. “They already know.”

  “Well … just don’t,” I said. “It’s Christmas.”

  “Yes, it is,” Aric agreed, pulling something out of his pocket and lifting it over my head. “And, with that in mind, you have to follow the rules.”

  “Is that mistletoe?”

  “Yep.”

  “Why is it in your pocket?”

  “Because I plan on kissing you all day,” Aric said, leaning down. “And, since it’s Christmas, you have no choice but to agree.”

  I sighed. He really was cuter than he had any business being. “Well, if it’s the rules.”

  Aric’s lips met mine with playful ferocity. We were so lost in each other, we didn’t hear his parents arrive until James cleared his throat. “Would you guys like us to come back later? Maybe you could put a tie on the door or something?”

  Aric reluctantly pulled away. “Merry Christmas, Dad.”

  “Merry Christmas,” James said. “You, too, Zoe.”

  Everyone sat down at the table, Aric ignoring his mother’s seating chart and settling on the same side with me.

  “The table isn’t balanced if you do that,” Helen said.

  “Who cares? It’s Christmas. Can’t we lighten up on the rules?”

  “Leave him be, Helen,” James said. “He’s feeling the holiday spirit. Let it be.”

  “Fine,” Helen said. “It’s just this once, though.”

  “Everything looks wonderful,” I said. “I’ve never seen this much food.”

  “Eat as much as you want,” Helen said. “You could use some meat on your bones. You’re too thin.”

  No one had ever said that about me before. I certainly wasn’t fat, but I wasn’t exactly waifish either. “I don’t even know where to start.”

  Aric was slinging a big spoonful of corned beef hash on his plate. “Get an omelet. You love eggs. I made sure they had everything you liked. There’s tomatoes, mushrooms, cheese and onions – although go light on the onions. I’m carrying the mistletoe around for a reason.”

  James chuckled, while Helen looked tickled at her son’s gumption. I was still a little embarrassed. “I’m going to eat a whole onion now,” I threatened.

  “Go ahead,” Aric said. “That’s not going to stop me. You’ve been warned.”

  I rolled my eyes and headed to the omelet station. It was a surreal experience, but I embraced it. At least I’d have a story to tell my roommates when school started back up.

  “So, what are you two doing tonight?” Helen asked.

  “Nothing,” Aric said. “We’re staying in and exchanging gifts.”

  “I thought we were exchanging gifts after breakfast,” Helen said, her eyes narrowing.

  “Don’t worry, Mom,” Aric said. “Your plan is still on. We’re exchanging our own private gifts with each other tonight.”

  “Well … why don’t you exchange them with everyone else?”

  “Maybe they’re private gifts,” James suggested. “I seem to remember the year you wrapped yourself for me and I found you under the Christmas tree.”

  “Dad,” Aric groaned. “You’re going to totally ruin my morning.”

  “You could come to the big party with us tonight if you want,” Helen offered.

  “We didn’t bring clothes for that,” Aric said.

  “I’m sure we could find a dress for Zoe on short notice, and you can borrow a suit from your father.”

  Aric made a face. “Mom … .”

  “Helen, they’re young,” James said. “They don’t want to go to a stuffy party. They want to be alone to … do other things.”

  I was mortified, so I kept my back to them and focused on the omelet chef. He shot me a sympathetic look and continued to cook.

  “Well, I don’t understand,” Helen said. “What are you going to do all night?”

  “Well, we’re going to exchange gifts, and then we’re going to watch A Christmas Story,” Aric said. “It’
s Zoe’s favorite. And then? Well, then we’re going to use my mistletoe and play a little game.”

  Helen made a strangled noise, but when I risked a glance in her direction, she didn’t look angry. “Men. You have a one-track mind.”

  “And proud of it,” Aric said, winking in my direction.

  “OPEN it.”

  It was later that night, and Aric’s parents had left for their party an hour before. We were sitting on the middle of the living room floor in the guesthouse, and Aric was more excited about me opening his gift than I was about seeing what it was.

  “You didn’t need to get me anything,” I said. “Your parents got me enough gifts to fill a whole other house.”

  “They don’t do subtle,” Aric said. “You really seemed to like the Keurig, though.”

  “I do. I just felt … guilty. That was a lot of stuff. And now you got me something on top of it?”

  “Only my gift counts,” Aric said. “Come on. Open it.”

  I ripped into the paper on the small package, unveiling the white jewelry box inside. I cocked an eyebrow and pulled the top off.

  The bracelet inside was exquisite. It was sterling silver, with eight chunky turquoise stones strung together. The turquoise was bright teal, and breathtaking. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Turn it over.”

  I did, noticing an engraving hanging from a small heart charm near the clasp. It was only one word, but it caused my heart to swell: Love. For some reason, and I had no idea why, my eyes were suddenly filling with tears.

  “Why are you crying? You hate it, don’t you?”

  “I love it,” I said. “I just … I have no idea why I’m crying.”

  “Is this a girl thing?”

  “I guess so.”

  Aric smiled, reaching for the bracelet. He affixed it to my wrist, helping me lift my arm so we could admire it in front of the crackling fireplace. “It fits you.”

  “What made you decide on it?” I asked, cradling it to my chest so I could gaze on it up close.

  “You’re different,” Aric said. “I thought you needed a different piece of jewelry. I also wanted it to match the necklace I got you two years ago, so you could wear them together.”

  “I can’t … this is the most beautiful thing anyone has ever gotten me.”

  “Don’t get mushy,” Aric said. “If you get mushy, then I’m going to get mushy. We can’t be mushy and watch A Christmas Story. That’s against the rules. That reminds me, that should start in a few minutes. Do you want a drink?”

  “Wait.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t you want your gift?”

  “I don’t need a gift,” Aric said. “I consider you being here my gift.”

  “Oh, don’t be a martyr,” I said. “You know you want your gift.”

  Aric smirked. “You’re right. What did you get me?”

  I slid the much larger box sitting next to me across the floor. “I wasn’t sure what to get the guy who had everything,” I cautioned. “If you don’t like it, you can pick something else out.”

  “I’m sure I’ll like it.” Aric lifted the box to his ear and shook it. “Underwear?”

  “You got me.”

  Aric unwrapped the present and opened the box, surprise washing over his face as he lifted the leather jacket from inside. It was simple, but it also fit his bad boy appeal. The minute I’d seen it in the store, I knew it belonged on him.

  “This is pretty cool,” Aric said, shrugging into it. I was relieved to see it fit him perfectly. Aric lifted the sleeve up, inhaling the scent. “I love the smell of leather.”

  “I noticed your other jacket was pretty ragged,” I said. “If you don’t like it, tell me.”

  “I love it, Zoe,” Aric said. “You know, not everyone can pull off a leather jacket like this and not look like the Fonz. I happen to be one of the few who can.”

  “All you need is the motorcycle.”

  “And the biker chick,” Aric said, leaning forward to give me a kiss.

  “Hey, there’s something else in there.”

  Aric glanced back down in the box, smiling when he lifted up a pair of red satin boxer shorts with a strategically placed Christmas tree. “What are these for?”

  “You said you wanted underwear.”

  “Yeah, what I’m planning tonight isn’t going to require underwear.”

  “You can put them on for when we watch the movie,” I suggested. “It would hurt my feelings if you didn’t.”

  “Fine,” Aric said. “If you take pictures of me in these, though, I’m breaking up with you.

  I snuggled in closer to him. “Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas, trouble.”

  January

  Twenty-One

  “Well, it sounds like your break was magical,” Paris said, running her fingers over my new bracelet appreciatively. “This is really gorgeous. He has good taste. He has gay-guy taste.”

  “Of course he has good taste,” I said. “He picked me.”

  “Oh, you guys are going to be all snuggly again, aren’t you?” Kelsey was sitting on the far end of the couch flipping through a magazine. “Of course, you’ve been that way all year. I don’t know why I should be surprised.”

  “What did Kevin get you?”

  “A day pass to a spa,” Kelsey said. “It was Heaven.”

  That did sound like something that would appeal to her.

  “How did Aric like his jacket?” Paris asked.

  “He liked it,” I said. “I was worried, but he really seemed to like it, and he’s worn it every day since.”

  “What did he think about the boxer shorts?” Kelsey asked.

  “He only wore those for two hours.”

  “I bet.”

  I glanced over at Paris, finally ready to address the elephant in the room. “So, how was your Christmas break?”

  “Dismal,” Paris admitted. “I broke up with Seth.”

  “I figured that was a forgone conclusion after the Mark incident,” I said. “What happened with that, by the way?”

  “Oh, well, Heather continued to scream for another hour and then hid in her room until she left the next day. I didn’t see her again, not that I was looking. She’s not back yet,” Paris said.

  “What about Mark?”

  “Yeah, that was all really embarrassing, so I kind of kicked him out of the house,” Paris said.

  “And?”

  “And what? I haven’t seen him since.”

  “You one-night-standed him? That was ballsy.”

  “What else am I supposed to do?” Paris asked. “It was one of those things that just happened. He was there. I was drunk. I immediately wanted to take it back.”

  “Are you sure you didn’t just do it because you didn’t want Heather to have him?” It was a risky question to ask.

  “I considered that,” Paris admitted. “I’m not joking. I did some soul-searching over break.”

  “And?”

  “I think that Heather dating Mark bothered me more than I wanted to admit,” Paris said. “I just can’t figure out why.”

  “I think it’s that whole ‘you-didn’t-want-him-but-you-didn’t-want-anyone-else-to-want-him-either’ thing,” Kelsey said. “It’s normal.”

  “You’ve felt that way before?”

  “I think everyone has,” Kelsey said. “Even Zoe.”

  “I have not,” I protested.

  “What about Will?”

  “Hey, when I was done with Will, I was done with Will.”

  “You still didn’t want Brittany to date him,” Kelsey said. “In fact, it drove you crazy.”

  “That’s because I didn’t want Brittany to be happy,” I said. “It had nothing to do with Will.”

  Kelsey and Paris both regarded me with dubious looks.

  “What?”

  “No one thinks you were jealous,” Paris said. “It’s just human nature to want your ex to be miserable and alone.”

  She had
a point. I definitely wanted Will to be miserable.

  “Let’s talk about you,” I said. “What are you going to do about Mark?”

  “Oh, I’m going to pretend that it never happened,” Paris said.

  “What if you run into him on campus?”

  “Then I’m going to hide.”

  “Well, that seems mature,” Kelsey said.

  “Would you do anything different?” Paris asked.

  “Nope. I would run and hide, too. I’m not big on confrontations.”

  “What happens if he forces the issue?” I asked.

  “Then I’m going to tell him it was a mistake,” Paris said. “Then, when he’s standing there looking hurt, I’m going to tell him that the sex was bad and leave him there stunned as I make my escape.”

  I laughed, despite myself. “That sounds like a plan.”

  “What sounds like a plan?” Kate asked, joining us in the living room.

  “Paris was just telling us what she was going to do if she ran into Mark again,” Kelsey supplied.

  “Which is?”

  “Call his manhood into question and then run.”

  “That seems like a good idea.” Kate’s affect was flat, and her face was drawn.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” Kate said. “I’m just kind of worried that Heather isn’t back yet. Classes start tomorrow.”

  “Maybe she plans on sneaking back in when we’re all asleep,” I suggested.

  “Maybe,” Kate said, her attention drawn to my wrist. “Oh, that’s pretty. Is that new?”

  I held it up. “Yeah, it was a Christmas gift.”

  “Did your parents get it for you?”

  “Aric got it for her,” Paris said gleefully. “He even had it engraved.”

  “Oh,” Kate said. “Speaking of that, I think we need to talk. I don’t want you to think that I’m hitting on Aric.”

  “He’s a good-looking guy,” I said. “Women throw themselves at him all the time.”

  “I’m not throwing myself at him,” Kate protested.

  “You’re flirting with him,” I said carefully. “Please don’t deny it.”

  “I’m … I just find him interesting.”

  “He’s also taken,” Paris said.