Page 84 of Lucky Penny
He winks at me, and I bite my lip to stop the smile as I turn my attention back to the stage.
Twenty minutes and a million cheers later, we throw our caps into the sky. I throw mine so high it disappears into the blinding southern sun, but I don’t care, because as soon as everyone starts moving, I’m looking for him.
I don’t have to look very far. His eyes lock on mine, and he’s rushing toward me.
“We’re free!” Danny yells, intercepting Jesse from me, leaping onto his back like a wild animal. We all explode in laughter. It’s a rare glimpse of who we all used to be together.
“I have no idea how you even got that,” I shoot at my brother.
He holds his diploma up, shaking it. “By the skin of my teeth, baby! That’s how!” he replies, jumping off Jesse, who’s rolling his eyes but is all smiles.
I’m not sure how my brother pulled it off, but I’m mostly just relieved for him. And my Nan.
We all link arms, me acting as the middle anchor. I start pulling them toward the edge of the field. We’re almost to the fence when a tiny fireball of red hair comes barreling toward us.
“Congratulations!” Fia beams, a small bouquet clutched in her hands. The pink carnations are slightly crushed, but they still make me melt.
“Fia!” I scoop them into my arms and hug her with one arm. “Thank you!”
She shyly hands flowers to the boys, too. Definitely her idea—it has Fia written all overit.
Jesse bends down and hugs her tight. Her face lights up as he ruffles her messy hair.“Thanks, kiddo.”
I know Fia’s going to miss us when we move at the end of the summer, and part of me feels bad about it. Nan assured Fia they’ll visit me for all the special family weekends, and Fia already has a UNC shirt she’s been sporting. It’s adorable.
Nan stands a few feet behind her, blonde hair piled high on her head, a yellow cottondress swaying around her ankles. She’s blinking back tears, dabbing the rims of her eyes as an ancient digital camera she refuses to get rid of is neatly wedged under her arm.
“I can’t believe you three did it.” She sniffles. “You’re so grown up.”
Danny groans as she lifts the camera. “We can do this at the house, Nan—”
“Shut it.” I grab his arm and pull him into frame. “You’ll want these pictures one day.”
I smile at Nan, a genuine smile on my face that I couldn’t bite back if I wanted to.
Today is a good day—the start of a new chapter.
Jesse chuckles and steps beside me. His hand wraps around my waist, and he and Danny sandwich me between them. We have a hundred pictures like this as messy kids.
“Say cheese!” Fia yells from beside Nan—her mini-me.
Click. Click. Click.
We smile until our cheeks hurt, until it gets too warm under my gown, and I take it off to reveal my white cotton sundress.
“You three meet me at the car in fifteen, okay? We can’t be late for the dinnerreservation,” Nan reminds us, putting her camera away and grabbing Fia’s shoulder.
I nod and turn back to the boys.
“Hey, I’m gonna go find Sean,” Danny says, rubbing the back of his neck. “He’s gotsomething for me.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever he’s giving you, don’t take it before dinner. Nan’s taking us somewhere nice. Don’t be an ass.”
He runs his hand through his shaggy blond hair, smirking.“Okay,mom.” He turns to Jesse. “You coming, man?”
“I’ll meet you in a few, just give me a sec,” Jesse replies without looking at him.
Once Danny’s out of earshot, there’s a shift in the air. I exhale.
