Page 10 of Resilient Rhythms
I pull in a breath, cross the stage, and accept the diploma I nearly sacrificed my life for.
A party gone sideways, crippling debt, a crumbling of my foundation.
And yet, law school also gave me Mav. It brought me into his life in ways I never anticipated and showed me what true love looks like. What it feels like.
My chest tightens and I force a smile, shaking the dean’s hand and murmuring my thanks.
I turn to grin at my dad and friends, posing with my rolled-up parchment for a quick photo.
But I falter as I descend the stage. Because there, five rows back, are the brilliant blue eyes that I can sketch from memory. Mav stands, his clapping steady, his eyes trained right on me.
My breath catches and I pause, frozen to the spot.
I drink him in, blinking hard to ensure I’m not hallucinating.
But it’s him. This time, it’s really him. And he’s here. For me.
The side of his mouth tugs up in a half smirk.Proud of you, he mouths. His eyes bleed with remorse and admiration.
His hair is longer on top but styled to look like he just ran his fingers through it. He’s dressed in a white button-down, his sleeves rolled up to show off his beautiful tattoos. Navy trousers and a leather belt. He looks sophisticated and polished and nothing like the casual, familiar, sweat shorts and cutoff tank top I’m used to.
But God, is he gorgeous.
I roll my lips together as feelings crash over me. Relief, joy, remorse, pain. It’s a heady cocktail.
Thank you, I mouth back.
He dips his head, his expression softening. It’s as if he knows I mean more than just thanking him for showing up today. I’m thanking him for getting me to this point, in one piece, even if his methods were questionable.
Behind me, a classmate descending the stage clears his throat. I offer a quick smile breaking eye contact with Mav and move back to my seat.
I release an exhale as I sit, pressing my clammy palms together.
When I look up, my eyes snap back to Mav and I suck in a breath, because he’s staring right at me. Dazzling, deep blue I could lose myself in.
Time stops and the ceremony ceases to exist. Instead, it’s us again.
Steady and safe and whole.
“Congratulations!” Robyn squeals, throwing an arm around my neck from behind.
Mav averts his gaze as I turn toward my friend. “You too!” I kiss her cheek in congratulations and gush over her amazing, and heartfelt, speech. Emily joins us and for the next ten minutes, I don’t look for Mav.
But when all the names are read and my class stands to toss our caps in the air, his seat is empty.
He’s already gone.
And I pray I haven’t lost him all over again.
THREE
MAV
I leanagainst the brick wall of the building, a bouquet of peonies dangling at my side, and watch as the ceremony wraps up. After making eye contact with Mckenna, I needed a fucking minute.
She wasn’t supposed to see me. I didn’t want her to know I was here. I didn’t want her to think she owed me her time or a smile or anything at all.
But then our eyes met and she smiled and…fuck. How the hell can I walk away now? How can I leave without knowing that maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance for more?
