Page 93 of Unraveled

“Tucker Ryan Pierce.”

He swaggered out with his shoulders back when his name was finally called, and when Mr. Hiller announced his scholarship, Tucker beamed, his chest sticking out proudly with his boast. He looked up in the stands after his photo and took a bow, waving at his family as he stood, just making them cheer more. His eyes landed on Izzy as soon as he headed for the stands, and she and I bumped shoulders and rolled our eyes when he sent her a teasing smirk.

“Jet Dimitris Thanos,” Mr. Hiller called out a few names later.

Izzy and I cupped our hands over our mouths to cheer, and I could hear Tucker yelling and whooping from somewhere behind us.

“I’m especially pleased to share this graduate’s accomplishments with you all tonight. Not only is he receiving a full-ride football scholarship to Ridgeside University next year, he is also one of our first graduates from our certified auto mechanic program. Congratulations, Mr. Thanos.”

He handed Jet his diploma and a separate leather bound certificate, and I didn’t know who was beaming harder, Jet or myself. I was so freaking proud of him. As soon as he stepped off the stage, Jet threw his arms in the air, his diploma and certificate held high as our families cheered, and I could tell the moment he realized he’d forgotten to smile for the picture, watching him double-take and then shrug before heading back up the stands.

I just beamed, locking my eyes with his as he passed.

‘So fucking proud,’I mouthed, and by the look in his eyes, I knew promises for us to celebrate were being made for later. I clenched my thighs together, already too eager, and Izzy shook her head as she grinned.

Principal Hiller’s closing speech felt like forever, but when it was finally done, we all filed out onto the field, and Izzy and I rushed to find Jet and Tucker as our class all formed a circle and linked arms. The four of us looked at each other, then out at our classmates, excitement mixed with a tinge of sadness as we took in this final moment together on the field. And when Tucker shouted out the countdown to three, we flooded the air red with our caps in celebration.

Chapter 29

ISABEL

That text from Nic still stared up at me hours later, and I frowned down at it, my thumb hovering over the screen as I debated if I should text again.

Fighting myself for just a minute, I slipped my phone back into my shorts pocket and looked around the crowd. Corey’s party had been underway for a few hours now, and while it had started with mostly just us seniors from Breaker Ridge, I was starting to see some faces I didn’t know.

Keeping to myself while Annie went for another beer, I leaned against Tucker’s truck, wishing someone would put on some music for dancing. Corey usually had some going by now, and it was how I made it through the party scene the few times I came.

I caught Tucker’s gaze from across the fire where he was hanging with the guys, and his brow furrowed as he paused from whatever cute idiot thing they were doing over there. I sent him a small smile, not wanting him to worry, and watched Jet clap him on the back. Even Micah and Kurt were over there having fun.

“What are you doing hiding over here?” Emma asked, coming over when she spotted me.

“Watching. Observing everyone in their habitat,” I joked, making her grin.

“You know what this party needs? Music.”

“Thankyou. I was just thinking that.”

“Where’s Corey?” Emma glanced around and then cupped one of her hands up to her mouth. “Hey, Corey! Play some music!”

His head popped up from over by the kegs, and he raised his arm with a thumbs up before disappearing into the cab of his truck. A few minutes later, bass was pumping through the night air.

“Thank you. You’re seriously a Godsend,” I praised, my muscles already alert and itching to move, the urge to dance calling for me. But I’d still wait until more people were out there.

“No problem.” Emma smiled against her cup and looked around the fire. “But now that you basically owe me a favor, I gotta ask why you never told me your cousin was so hot.”

“Who? Kurt?”

“Yeah, Kurt. What other cousin do you have?”

“Gabe, but he’s married.”

Emma gave me a‘then why would I care’look, and I shrugged.

“What about Ian?”

“Oh, you missed that drama,” Annie said as she walked up, a fresh cup of beer in both hands. “Emma dumped him when Daniel mentioned all the stuff Ian’s been saying she does with him.”

My brow shot up in surprise, and Emma nodded.

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