He laughed, and after they pulled apart, the Ashford parents came over, taking photos of the two girls in their pink and blue dresses, their caps decorated with flowers, sequins, and glitter. Ella’s featured a silver sparkly high heel, which was fitting with what I knew of how she and Cam met.
“Let’s get one with your boyfriends,” Audrey’s mom shouted. My parents were standing side by side with Audrey’s, their phones also out to snap pictures.
I pulled Audrey into my side, wrapping an arm around her hip, as Cam did the same for Ella. We took pictures of the four of us, and both couples individually.
My girl beamed, turning her head up to look at me. “Thank you.”
“For what?” I tilted my head.
“For finding me.” She closed her eyes, sighing happily. “For making all my dreams come true.”
I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You were always my dream, Audrey Rose.”
We took our photos, and the rest of Cam’s friends joined us with their girlfriends. James and Adam’s girls weren’t graduating this year, but we piled in for a photo of the ten of us all the same.
It was crazy to think that two years ago, when I’d stepped foot onto this campus, I hadn’t had a single friend. And then I’d run into Audrey at that Halloween party, and everything had changed. Now, I had friends on the lacrosse team who were more like brothers. Ones I was sad to say goodbye to. They’d been loyal, steadfast guys—ones you could trust out on the field.
And Cam’s friends had become mine, too, thanks to Audrey pulling me into their group. The last year, we’d hung out more than I could count at one of our apartments, laughing long into the night. It filled a part of me that had been broken. The guy who left Rhode Island, coming to Castleton for a new start, was gone. In his place was a better Parker. One who knew what it was like to love. To be loved, truly, for who you were. To have friends you could count on.
After another thirty minutes of chatting, I was growing impatient for my surprise.
“What do you say we get out of here, sunshine?” I asked, leaning down to whisper the words in Audrey’s ear.
She was breathless as she answered, “Yes, please.”
I grinned. “Good. Because I want to get my girl alone so I can show her how proud I am of her.”
Audrey blushed. “Parker?—”
“You know you love it.” I winked, placing my hand on her lower back.
Quickly saying goodbye to her family and mine, I guided her to the parking lot, not taking my hand off her. Part of me just wanted that connection—to have her warmth—because it grounded me, steadied me and reminded me that this was real and not just a dream.
Because for so long, I’d dreamed of this. Having Audrey as mine. And I wasn’t going to fumble this opportunity. Not now—not ever. I opened my passenger side door for her, helping her in before shutting it.
“Where are we going?” Audrey asked as I settled into the car. Reaching over, I grabbed her seatbelt and buckled her in. Just like I had from our very firstfakedate. Now it was just tradition. She still blushed, her cheeks going that adorable shade of pink I loved so much.
“It’s a surprise,” I answered, not wanting her to know what I had up my sleeve yet.
“You know I don’t need any surprises,” Audrey answered, looking over at me and studying my face.
I still hadn’t turned the ignition on, so I turned to face her. “I know. But I want to, Rosie Girl. Okay?”
She leaned over and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Okay.”
I slid my hand onto her thigh, squeezing it lightly.
As we drove, Audrey stared out the window. “It’s surreal, right? That it’s all over. I can’t believe we’re moving in two weeks,” she said with a sigh. “Where did the time go?”
“It’s bittersweet,” I agreed. “I’ll miss this place. But mostly sweet—because I still get you.”
“You’re ridiculous.” She blushed. “Are we still going to the party later?”
I nodded. Cam’s friends had planned a graduation party—one last hurrah. “Yeah. I just wanted some time alone with you first.” Picking up her hand, I kissed her knuckles.
“Mmm. I can’t complain about that.”
Between her parents and mine being in town the last few days, we hadn’t had much time to ourselves. We were all going out to brunch tomorrow to celebrate, so I didn’t feel too bad about ditching them today.