“No more games, Cassie McBee. No more letting other people get in the way, or cursing bad timing, or letting miles stretch between us. I want you — all of you — from this very moment until my last full breath. I want to follow you to Baltimore and then to wherever you may go next. I want to be the only man who has the pleasure of cuddling you in your sweatpants and feeding you mint chocolate chip ice cream,” he says, and another round of laughters and awww’s reverberate around us. “I want to wipe away your tears, even if I cause them. I want to be the first one to call you doctor when you get that white coat — and I know you will. But more than anything else,” he breathes, taking the ring from the box and holding it in his shaking fingertips. “I want you to know with every beat of your heart that I am yours, that you are everything to me, and that we can face anything this crazy universe throws at us. Together.”
He reaches for my hand then — my left hand — and I tremble as he takes me in his grasp.
“Marry me, Cassie,” he says, his green eyes shining where they look up at me. “Marry me, and I promise, I will spend all my life infuriating you.”
A laugh rips from my chest, but tears invade my vision all the same as I nod, vigorously and relentlessly. “Yes,” I whisper for good measure.
And he slips the ring on my finger.
The crowd at the gate cheers, whistles and claps and hoots and hollers ringing in our ears as Adam rushes to his feet and pulls me into his arms. I kiss him in a way that is far from airport appropriate, but I don’t care. No one else exists to me in this moment. It’s just me and Adam floating on a cloud, his promise weighing down my finger, his love forever in my heart.
“Thank God you said yes,” he breathes into my ear for just me to hear. “It would have been really embarrassing if you’d said no.”
I laugh. “You knew my answer before you even thought to ask.”
“You’ve been known to surprise me.”
“That’s true,” I concede. When we pull back, I hold my hand up between us, moving my finger at the shiny, unfamiliar ring now occupying it. “Wow,” I breathe.
“Do you like it?”
“I would have said yes to an onion ring.”
He laughs, but I can’t take my eyes off the rock.
“Damn, that would have been a lot more affordable. Why don’t we return this one and just hit Burger King on the—”
I press my finger to his lips to shush him, and then kiss him to silence him even more, allowing him nothing but a satisfied chuckle against my mouth.
“Alright, before I lose myself completely and check us into the nearest airport hotel, we need to go beg that flight attendant to give us another ticket for this flight.”
I frown. “Wait, we’re still going?”
“Are you kidding? It’s your last semi-formal. Besides,” he says, kissing my hand. “We’ve got to get you graduated.”
Graduated.
I’ve been so lost in my heartache that I haven’t had time to let it sink in, that this is it, this is the end.
My time at Palm South University is almost up.
Adam collects my bag and then his, shrugging the duffle over his shoulder as he wheels mine behind him. Then, his blazing eyes find mine, and he crooks a smile.
“Ready?”
There he is. My fiancé. My future husband. The man who owns me, body and soul.
I slip my arm around his, the diamond on my finger catching the light. And I know that no matter what happens next, life will be the biggest adventure with him by my side.
“Ready.”
“OKAY, BITCH,” JESS SAYS as soon as we’re in my room. To call it my room at this point is kind of a stretch, seeing as how I have until tomorrow morning to have all my stuff moved out of the house. My sheets and comforter are the only thing still in place, everything else packed in boxes lining the walls. “Time to show me the money.”
“You really don’t believe me?” I ask.
“You really want her to prove it?” Cassie mirrors with a wrinkled nose.
Jess waves her off, popping one of the bottles of champagne we snuck into the house and covering the opening with her mouth to save any drops from spilling over. She snaps her fingers and points at me, then at the floor, telling me without words what she wants.
I laugh. “Alright, but remember you asked for it.”
“Oh, God. She did but we—”
Erin doesn’t have time to plead her case before I dramatically unzip my graduation gown, letting it fall to my feet in a puddle of polyester.
“Ow ow!” Ashlei screams as Cassie covers her eyes and Erin laughs uncontrollably.
Poor Tera, the newest edition to our room squad, is blushing so hard I could probably fry an egg on her cheek.
Jess just smirks, shaking her head and filling red Solo cups with champagne before divvying them out to everyone except Ashlei — who has a water bottle, instead. “I knew you weren’t lying. I just wanted to see your tits.”
“Well, take a long, hard look, baby,” I say with a wink, jiggling them a little bit to further prove that I did, in fact, go commando under my gown.
“Does Kip know you did that?” Cassie asks, hands still over her eyes.
I pull a pair of sleep shorts and a tank top from one of my duffle bags and slip them on. “Please. He was the first to find out. Why do you think I was almost late?”
“I’m surprised you got him to let you come back here instead of straight to a hotel with him after that little fact,” Ashlei muses.
“He’s with the rest of the guys at Ralph’s until we join them,” Cassie answers for me. “Good thing we all picked smart men. They know sisters come first.”
“Damn straight,” Jess says, but eyes the glistening rock on Cassie’s finger. “Although, is that still the case?”
“Always,” Cassie promises, holding out her hand to admire the ring. “He’s my future husband, yes. But you bitches are my soulmates.” She wraps Tera in a hug next. “Yes, that includes you.”
Tera squeezes her back. “I think I picked the best sorority on campus.”
“Duh,” Jess answers easily. “And you’ve got a legacy to uphold, so, allow me to bestow upon you three golden rules.”
I roll my eyes as the rest of the girls groan in unison.
“Number one: sisters before misters, always. You’ve just been reminded of how long that one lasts. Rule two: always be the funnest bitch at Spring Break.”
“Funnest, J-Love? Really? I think I need to see that degree you supposedly got…” Erin teases.
Jess waves her off. “And rule three: avoid dating brothers at all costs.” She pauses. “But if you become an Eskimo sister? Well… whatever. It happens.”
“A… what?” Tera asks.
“Listen, the only rule out of all of that is number one. And trust me,” Cassie says, pulling her Little in closer. “It’s not hard to follow.”
“I’m going to miss you. It sucks I only had one semester with y’all here,” Tera says to Cassie, her eyes finding me next.
“Don’t worry. We won’t be far,” I promise her.
Erin gives Tera a sweet smile before wrapping her in a hug, too, and even Jess looks a little emotional before she covers it with declaring we all drink.
We clink our plastic cups together in the center, take a big gulp of champagne, and then climb into my bed.
Cassie is still in her gown, the other girls in beautiful dresses for the occasion, but we all flop onto the bed and cuddle up, not caring.
“This poor old bed,” Erin says, patting the mattress. “She’s seen more than she probably would have liked.”
“She’s definitely had her share of drama,” I agree. “God, I can still remember us in here when you told us your master plan for Kip.”
“Stop,” Erin says, holding up her hand with a cringey smile. “That’s a time in my life I would very much like to forget.”
“I’m sure there are many things we’d classify in the Happy to Leave That Shi
t Here category,” Ashlei says.
“Not me,” Jess chimes in. “I don’t have a single regret.”
“Not one?” Cassie asks.
Jess frowns, thinking. “Nope. Not one. Well… except maybe when I was a dick to you and Bo, Lei,” she amends. “I haven’t quite forgiven myself for that.”
Ashlei reaches over to squeeze Jess’s ankle.
“I don’t think I have any regrets, either,” I say. “In fact, I don’t think any of us should. We lived a lot of life in this house, on this campus.”
“A lot of mistakes,” Ashlei says.
“A lot of fun,” Cassie adds.
“A lot of booze,” Jess says with a tilt of her cup.
“A lot of sisterhood,” Erin whispers, and when we turn to see her eyes welled with tears, we all smack her.
“Not yet!” Cassie warns. “Please, I’ve cried so much in the last month. Don’t make me bawl again.”
Erin laughs, wiping her face. “I can’t help it. I mean, I’ve already graduated, you’d think it wouldn’t be that emotional for me but… this is it. This is the last time we’ll all be here, in this room, in this bed.”
We all fall silent then, looking around the room, at each other, the words we can’t say written all over our faces.
“Hey, maybe not the last time,” Tera finally says. “Who knows? Maybe… Maybe I’ll be president one day.”
I swear, Erin beams so bright at her Great-Grand-Little that I’m surprised she doesn’t steal all the wattage from every lightbulb in the house.
“You’d be an excellent president,” Cassie says.
“Think the girls would be down with a cosplay themed social?” Tera asks with a smirk.
We all laugh, knowing that’s answer enough.
“Well, you’re all welcome into my bed in L.A. anytime,” I say. “It’s going to be a a hell of a lot nicer than this one.”
“I still can’t believe you’re moving across the country,” Ashlei muses, absentmindedly rubbing her belly. “I mean, I can, because… well, because you’re a badass. But, moving to Hollywood, starting a casino-event business…”
“Starting a life with Kip,” Cassie adds.
“It’s surreal,” I say, smiling. “But… I’m ready. And with Kip entering his show into the film festival this upcoming summer? Who knows what life will bring us next.”
“Riches,” Jess says over a sip of champagne. “And I’m sure glad you bitches are taking care of our money, because the wedding planner life isn’t one of fame and fortune, I’ll tell you that.”
“Yet,” Ashlei says. “You just wait. You’re already making a name for yourself, and you’re only a year removed from college.”
“Says the one who’s likely to make partner at her agency before next year is up.”
“I don’t know,” she says, looking down at her stomach with a serene smile. “I might take a little time off. Not a lot,” she adds quickly, eyes wide when she looks at us again. “But… maybe a little.”
“I don’t blame you. I’d want to do the same thing,” Cassie says.
“I can’t wait to spoil the brat,” Jess says. “Kade and I have already decided we’re taking on the role of aunt and uncle for all of your little ones. So just be prepared for them to love us more than you.”
“I feel like I should keep them far, far away from you once they’re sixteen,” Ashlei says with an arched brow.
Jess just gives her a mischievous smile in return.
“What about you, Little?” I ask Cassie, tapping her foot. “You ready to plan a wedding?”
“Not yet,” she says with a laugh. “I need to get through medical school first.”
Erin frowns. “Long engagement?”
“At least a few years.”
“Okay, I’ll allow that,” Jess says, pointing her finger at Cassie. “But I will not allow you to elope like this bitch did.” She points at Ashlei next. “I expect God-awful bridesmaid dresses and a proper bachelorette party and an open bar with a dance floor I can occupy all night long. Got it?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Cassie says with a chuckle.
“I’m so envious of y’all who are done done with school,” Erin says with a longing sigh. “Poor Cassie and I won’t be free for years.”
“But then she’ll be a badass doctor and you’ll be a badass prosecutor and Ashlei will be running the world from her and Brandon’s yacht and Skyler will be throwing an illegal poker tournament on said yacht.”
“And you’ll be…” I prompt her.
She scoffs. “Probably banging Kade on the balcony.”
“It is a rather fun place to canoodle,” Ashlei says with a reminiscent sigh.
“Jess, seriously. What about you?” I ask. “Stop downplaying like you’re not just as badass as all of us — if not all of us combined.”
“Seriously — I don’t know,” she confesses. “And I think that’s okay. I’m only twenty-three. I don’t need to have everything figured out. All I know is, right now, I love my job, I love my boyfriend, I love my messy, no-direction life, and I love being here,” she adds, grabbing us in a group hug. “Celebrating you bitches.”
We’re quiet for a moment, all of us lost in thought as we look around the room again, snuggling into each other’s arms.
“We can’t ever lose this,” Cassie whispers. “No matter what happens, where life takes us… we always have to have each other.”
“Come on, Grand Little,” Erin says. “Didn’t you know that when you rushed? Kappa Kappa Beta isn’t just for four years.” She shrugs. “It’s for life.”
Another silence falls over us, and my heart swells in my chest, tears pricking my eyes.
“Okay,” I say, leaning up to face them all head on. “I don’t want to get super mushy, but I have to say this, so you all just sit there and let me say it.” I point at Jess. “Shut up,” I tease before she can get the words out.
She smiles. “Fine. Two minutes only. Go.”
I take a deep breath, looking at each of them. “I couldn’t have survived the last four years without you. I mean it. I came into this university not knowing who I was or who I wanted to be, and while I still might be figuring that second part out, you girls loved me every step of the way. In the in-between,” I whisper. “And I know if you love me then, you’ll love me always.”
Ashlei squeezes my hand.
“Thank you for being my friends,” I say, and then I can’t help it — I start blubbering, which makes them all peg me with pillows before we’re wrapped in a tight group hug, our heads resting on each other as we sigh and soak it all in.
“We shouldn’t make the guys wait all night,” Ashlei says. “Especially since I’m not sure I trust Brandon with a bunch of ex-frat boys.”
“Technically, Kade still is one for another semester,” Jess reminds her.
Ashlei taps her nose. “Even more reason to get to Ralph’s.”
“You’re just being driven mad by your hormones and want to sneak off with Mr. Church,” Erin teases.
Ashlei shrugs, not denying as we all start making moves.
“Wait!” Cassie cries out before we can get off the bed. She jumps off long enough to grab her phone before piling back in, and we all huddle in close so she can snap a selfie.
She flips to the camera roll to show it to us, and for a long time, we just stare at the picture, at our smiles, our red, puffy eyes.
“I love you,” Jess whispers, wiping her tears before they can fall. “All of you. So much.”
We wrap her up in another fierce hug and stay there, fighting back emotion for as long as we can before Jess claps her hands and hops up first.
“Alright! That’s enough. Come on,” she says with a wicked smile, yanking us up off the bed one by one. “Skyler, put on a dress. Cassie, ditch the gown. The rest of you, in the bathroom so we can fix our hair. And in ten minutes exactly, I’m calling a cab and we’re going to Ralph’s one last time.”
“One last time,” I echo.
/> “Guys,” Cassie whines, about to cry again, but Ashlei smacks her arm.
“No,” she warns with a laugh. She points at Tera next. “Get your Big in line, Tera.”
“Aye-aye, captain,” she salutes.
Once we’re dressed and ready, we link our arms together as we walk across the yard to where the cab waits. But Erin pulls us to a stop at the street, making us all turn back toward the Kappa Kappa Beta house.
Memories flash like rave lights in my mind — socials and formals, sisterhood events and boys snuck into our rooms, Spring Breaks planned and Halloween costumes assembled, happy tears… and plenty of sad ones, too.
We stand there for a long while before Erin sighs, turning us toward the cab.
“Come on, girls,” she says. “Let’s make it a night we’ll never forget.”
And as we join our guys at the bar, I start to feel it — this unnamable spark.
It flickers to life when Bear wraps me in a hug, telling me for the hundredth time tonight how proud he is of me. It grows a little stronger when he then turns and takes my Big into his arms, his eyes on her like she’s everything his world revolves around.
That spark burns brighter at the sight of Brandon’s hand on Ashlei’s stomach, her eyes wide and bright as she stares up at him before he leads her to the dance floor. It nearly blinds me when Adam takes Cassie’s hand in his, kissing her ring, and then her lips.
Tera joins up with a group of our active sisters at the bar, taking pictures and laughing with young women I know will play a huge role in her life now and forever.
Jess and Kade order a round of shots, doing some awkward kind of hand dance at the bar that makes us all laugh and sets the spark into a full-blown fire.
But I can’t name it — not until the exact moment Kip slides up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and setting his chin on my shoulder. He kisses the sensitive skin under my ear, and I sigh, warmth and light flooding through me.
And then I feel it in my bones, deep in my soul, the truth that anchors us all.
This isn’t the end.
No, this is only just the beginning.
The End
Greek: A New Adult College Romance (Palm South University Book 7) Page 30