Page 117 of False Start

Three dots bounced on the screen while more names were announced on stage.

TRENT

I asked them. It’s this really cool trick I just found out about, actually. You ask for what you want. And sometimes, people say yes.

For you.

TRENT

Nope, for you, Kitten. I didn’t have to convince a single person up here. I told them you were graduating, and they wanted to come.

I wiped away a tear while pocketing the phone. The president stepped away from the center of the stage and stood behind the podium. With a few final words, I had officially graduated.

The alma mater played as the professors walked off stage. I stood in line, shuffling back through the arena entrance andoutside. Sun blinded my eyes, and I covered them with my cap, not finding a single familiar face in a sea of people.

“Katherine!”

I spun around just as my mom wrapped me tightly in a hug. “Mom!”

“I can’t believe you weren’t going to invite me.” She sobbed into my hair, and I started crying just as hard.

“I didn’t want to make you come back. You just moved.”

“And miss this? You’re too stubborn for your own good, just like your dad.” The tears flowed even harder at that. “You’re lucky you have a nice boy like Trent to watch out for you.”

“He’s just a friend,” I hiccuped, collapsing into the familiar smell of vanilla cashmere lotion. “But a really good friend.”

“I hate to break it to you, Katherine.” My mom lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Friends don’t fly friend’s moms across the country first-class.”

I staunched the tears and laughed. “Well, you’ve never had a friend in the NFL before.”

“That’s true.” She pulled back, her soft gray eyes committing to memory my face. “I am so proud of you and so thankful I could come watch this.”

“It was a very long, boring ceremony.”

“I sat between Trent and Derek. It was lively as hell in our corner of the arena. I’m only sorry you couldn’t sit with us.” Mom sighed. “Good thing there’s the afterparty!”

“Afterparty?” I asked just as Trent slid in next to my mom. “I thought we were just doing a dinner thing?”

“Itisa dinner.” He shared a smile with my mom. “And a dessert bar and a cocktail hour.”

Derek limped up, kissing my cheek. “What’s a graduation without a proper party? We won’t stay out past eleven.”

Enveloped in the love of my friends and family, how could I say no?

THIRTY-NINE

TRENT

“I think you went a bit overboard,”Derek whispered under his breath as his eyes roved the private room at Topaz, Norwalk’s hottest restaurant.

Looking at the venue through his eyes, I understood his concern. The room was arguably too big for the two-dozen people I’d invited to Kit’s graduation. To distract from the size of the room, I’d asked my assistant to stuff every spare spot with flowers and balloons and pictures of Kit provided by her mom.

And flying Kit’s mom inmighthave also been a little much. But watching Kit’s eyes light up when she spotted her in the crowd? Completely worth it.

Even more worth it because Mrs. Holden loved me, and that could only help my case. Because I wasn’t walking out of this restaurant until I asked Kit Holden to be my girlfriend.

“Trent!” Mrs. Holden called. She had Kit pinned to her side, folding a hand around her elbow. “This is gorgeous. Isn’t this gorgeous, Katherine?”

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