Page 15 of Steal

I sniffle. “Nothing important to you….”

I hang up and turn my phone off before following my fellow graduates to their seats, the crowd cheering, all while I feel like I can’t breathe.

I lock eyes with Perrie, whose smile disappears, and concern etches off her, but I give her a shaky smile and turn in my seat.

He forgot. I can’t believe he forgot.

Every club event, anything that he had going on that was important to him, I was there, I helped, I got involved, even knowing his club didn’t want me around, and yet one of themost important days of my life and he forgot, just like with everything else.

Mom’s not here, most likely with Andrea, Dad’s dead, and my boyfriend forgot….

So much for always being on his mind.

I spend most of the commencement speeches in my little world, just staring a head, my mind unable to accept that, yet again, he chose her.

It can’t be normal to want to always be around the woman who was your regular fuck for years, unless he has feelings for her. I mean, I know he’s trying to prove himself to the club but he’s hurting me in the process.

Maybe we’re better off just ending things….

The thought makes me sick, but I swallow it down as my row stands, and I follow suit, walking with them toward the stage. Names gets called, one by one, and the crowd cheers, all while my heart breaks.

He’s really not here….

“Our next graduate, graduating a year earlier than her peers and heading to New York Medical school, Cassidy Halliwell,” the dean says proudly, and I take a deep breath as I climb the stairs to the stage, screams and whistles surrounding me.

The dean gives me a grin, and she says, “Congratulations, Cassidy, your father would be so proud.”

I give her a watery smile and shake her hand as I grab my diploma with my left, before walking past her. I look into thecrowd to see Eli and Acid holding Perrie on either side of her as she cheers for me with tears trailing her cheeks.

I head to the stairs, but halfway down, I can feelhim, and my stomach tightens.

I look up as I reach the bottom step to see Colt standing right at the back of the field, his hands behind his head as he breathes hard, looking through the graduates behind me, but when he sees me at the bottom of the stairs, he curses and turns around, realizing he missed my walk before looking back at me, and we make eye contact.

I tear my gaze from his instantly and continue my path back to my seat, trying to come up with a plan to get away from here without speaking to him because I think I’m done.

He forgot….

“Thank you, family members, for coming out to celebrate this day,” the dean says twenty minutes later, her bright blue eyes shining with happiness for her students. “And graduates, you’ve done it, you’ve completed college. Congratulations!”

Everything in me relaxes, and I stand with everyone else, throwing my cap in the air with a small smile, celebrating, before lifting my head to the sun.

“I did it, Dad,” I mumble, my eyes tearing up before I feel arms wrap around me, and I turn, holding my little sister tightly as a sob releases from me.

“He’d be so proud of you, Cassy, so goddamn proud just like I am,” she whispers in my ear, and I nod, holding her tighter before I’m yanked out of her hold. She complains, “Eli…,”making me laugh as I hug him tightly, and then Aurora, before Acid takes me in his arms.

I hold Acid tighter, relaxing into him, whispering, “Thank you,” and he nods, kissing my head.

He’s always been there for us; since Dad died, he’s been our rock.

“Trouble…” Colt says, and Acid and I break apart before I lock eyes with the gray ones I fell in love with.

His shine, full of guilt, and mine tear up as I shake my head and walk away with my diploma in my hand.

“Cass,” he says loudly, but I ignore him.

“Just give her some space, Steal, she’s hurt,” I hear Eli say, but Colt snaps, “What, and let her ignore me for two more months, then decide we’re done? I don’t fucking think so!”

I pick up speed, but he grabs hold of my arm and turns me toward him.

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