Page 67 of The Other Half

I nod. I wish he didn’t have to do that because I know the interest on those loans is insane, but I’m just happy that he’s doing what’s best for him. He deserves it.

He tucks a strand of my still-damp hair behind my ear. “Tell me you’ll come with me. We can live in Knoxville together, there are a few colleges there for you to choose from.” He pecks another quick kiss to my cheek. “I’ll take care of you, you’ll never have to rely on your asshat of a dad ever again. I promise.”

“You don’t have to take care of me, I’ll get a job,” I say as I shake my head softly.

“Whatever you want to do, I’ll make it work. I’m not letting you go again. We’ll graduate, get married, buy a house, have as many kids as you want.”

I back away a couple of steps, searching his face for hints of sarcasm. “Are you serious?”

“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?” His blue eyes are locked on mine and filled with sincerity.

“I just–I thought you weren’t really into the whole marriage and parenting thing. You said you didn’t see yourself ever doing it.”

“I’m into you. I want all of it if it’s with you.” He grabs my hands and squeezes them.

My heart swells and I feel like I’m going to melt into a giant puddle on his floor. “Okay, I’ll come with you.”

Chapter 51

Four months later

Oakley

My alarm wakes me suddenly from my slumber, and I rub the sleep from my eyes and stretch my arms above my head. It’s graduation day. Finally it’s here, the day I’ve been impatiently waiting for since Oliver and I decided to give our relationship another shot.

We’ve kept it a secret from my parents and haven’t really spent any time together outside of school. It was the only way I was able to keep my car, which we both agreed will make moving to Knoxville a lot easier. We’ll both need to find jobs and we plan on living off-campus so that we can share an apartment, without a car that would be a lot more challenging.

I slide the yellow, linen dress over my head and step into my brown wedges. I look in the mirror at myself and take in just how much I’ve changed in the past year. I look more mature, my body has filled out a little bit, it looks softer around the edges and less child-like. My hair is longer, past my shoulders. I’m starting to feel more like a woman than a girl. I smile at my reflection, the energy of the impending day settling over me. I’m nervous, but I’ve been preparing for this for months. It’ll be okay.

After the ceremony Oliver and I plan on telling both of our families about our plans. I used a couple thousand out of my trust fund to go ahead and secure an apartment for us. Now all we have to do is sign the lease and we can move in next week if we want to.

I don’t expect my parents to be happy about it, but it’s no longer up to them. I’ve accepted that they may not ever approve of my lifestyle choices, and that’s okay. Mom backed out of the divorce after learning that my dad refused to pay alimony. I can’t say I was very surprised, but of course I was disappointed. I got my hopes up for nothing. I’ve had to accept that my mother will always put money and her image above anything else, even if it means hurting me. That only solidified my decision to do something different than what they had planned for me.

I walk downstairs, listening for signs of my parents but I don’t hear them. I grab a granola bar and head out the door. I put the top down on my car and pull out of the driveway. It’s a perfect spring day, the birds are singing a familiar melody and there’s not a cloud in the sky. I’ve started to really enjoy driving now that I’ve gotten the hang of it, it’s given me a newfound freedom. I feel more confident, too.

I pull into Oliver’s gravel driveway and wait for him. One of his neighbors shoots me an unfriendly glare, but I smile back at her unbothered. He opens my door and slides inside, the scent of his cologne and body wash assaulting me, a mixture of pine and citrus and Oliver. He’s wearing a crisp, white button-up shirt and black slacks, along with his usual Converses. His auburn curls are freshly washed and pushed back out of his face.

“I’ve never seen you in slacks before.” I smirk. “You look good.”

“Are you flirting with me?” He smiles and pecks my cheek.

“Maybe.” I grin, backing out of the driveway.

“Good. You look sexy as hell in that dress,” he remarks, sliding a pair of gas station sunglasses over his eyes. “Can we just skip this graduation bullshit and spend the day making out?” His comment makes me blush, even though I hear him say stuff like that to me at least once a day.

“Let’s get our diplomas and then we can make out as much as you want.”

When we get to school I pull into my designated spot and put the car in park. “So, my parents are throwing me a graduation party tonight,” I say.

He folds his sunglasses over his shirt and raises his brow. “Are they?” I sense the apprehension in his voice.

I graze my teeth over my lip nervously. “Yeah. I’d like for you to come.”

He shakes his head slightly and opens the door. “That isn’t a good idea, Oakley.”

“Wait.” I tug on his shirt, willing him to sit back down. He obliges and shuts the door again with an exasperated look on his face. “They told me to invite everyone. They won’t mind if you’re there.”

He stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. Maybe I have, I don’t know.

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