Page 92 of Lords of the Campus

“You clean up real nice,” Zane adds with a grin, giving me an appreciative once-over.

Levi steps forward, taking my hand and twirling me around. “Absolutely stunning,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

Blushing, I thank them, feeling a surge of confidence as we head out together for the event. It’s being held in the student center and the place is decorated to the nines when we arrive. The grandeur takes my breath away.

The space is decorated with twinkling lights and elegant floral arrangements, creating a magical atmosphere. As we make our way inside, I spot Valencia and Emma near the entrance, both of them beaming when they see me.

“Lyric! You look like a sexy mermaid!”Valencia gushes, pulling me into a hug.

Emma nods in agreement, her eyes sparkling. “Hey, everybody, this is the Sister of the Year, right here!”

I laugh, feeling the warmth of their friendship envelop me. We chat for a bit, catching up and enjoying the festivities. The boys stay close, their presence a comforting anchor in the bustling crowd.

As the night progresses, the moment I've been waiting for finally arrives. The president of the Panhellenic Council takes the stage and I feel a surge of nerves.

"And now, it's time to present the Sister of the Year award," she announces, her voice echoing through the hall. “She has shown dedication, resilience and true commitment to the Panhellenic community. Please join me in congratulating Lyric Shaw!"

A round of applause erupts as I make my way to the stage, my heart pounding with awe and disbelief. The boys cheer loudly, their support giving me the courage to step up and accept the award.

As I hold the glass award in my hands, I glance out at the sea of faces, my gaze lingering on the boys. They smile up at me, their expressions filled with pride and love. In this moment, surrounded by friends and family, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude and joy.

After a brief thank-you speech, I rejoin the boys and my friends, the weight of the award a reminder of how far I've come and the incredible support I've had along the way. The rest of the evening is a whirlwind of congratulations, laughter, dancing and by the time we return home, I'm all but exhausted.

Before we head upstairs to bed, though, the boys pull me aside.

“We have one last surprise for you,” Archer whispers, deferential to the late hour.

I tilt my head, wondering what they have up their sleeve.

“You and Eli are coming with us to Europe this summer,” Levi reveals, pulling out his phone to show off the plane tickets. “We’re spending all summer there, just the four of us and our son.”

My jaw drops. “Oh, my God. This is incredible! I’ve never gotten to travel there before. I can’t believe it!”

This truly is the perfect way to end the year. After everything we’ve been through, it will be wonderful to get away and relax for a while. I take their hands and we head upstairs to bed, basking in the glow of the evening.

53

ARCHER

The summer sun casts a golden glow over the bustling streets of Paris as we step out of our hotel. Lyric holds Eli's hand while Levi, Zane and I surround them. The air is filled with the scent of freshly baked croissants and the melodic sounds of street musicians. This trip to Europe is a much-needed escape, a chance for all of us to unwind and create new memories together.

“Look, Daddy!” Eli tugs at my sleeve, pointing to a mime performing in the square. The mime tips his hat to Eli, making him giggle. Lyric squeezes my hand, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

We stroll along the Seine, stopping at quaint cafés for pastries and coffee. “Try this one, it's amazing,” Levi says, offering Lyric a bite of hispain au chocolat.

“Delicious,” she agrees, wiping a crumb from the corner of her mouth.

Every day is a new adventure with my family by my side. In the Louvre, Eli's fascination with the artwork surprises us all. He's particularly taken with the statues, his little fingers reaching out to trace over the hard marble. We have to keephim from touching everything. I scoop him up and show him a sword. “Look, it’s a big sword!” I say, pointing it out. Eli claps and points at it.

“Sword!” he repeats. He’s almost three now and he’s very chatty. “Real sword, Daddy?” he asks.

“Sort of.” Zane chuckles. “It’s a replica.”

After Paris, we head to Rome. Tossing coins into the Trevi Fountain, we make silent wishes for the future. “I wished for more adventures with you,” Lyric whispers, leaning into me.

We also take a tour of the Colosseum ruins. “Imagine being a gladiator here,” Levi muses, pretending to hold a sword.

“I protect you, Momma,” Eli says earnestly, making us all laugh.

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