It’s my turn to press a kiss on his hand. “Wish it could be for longer, but we’re so close to not having to sneak around like this. We probably won’t see each other much before graduation, but I wanted to tell you how proud I am of you. I can’t wait to watch you give your speech and walk… and I can’t wait for dinner after with you.”

We get lost in each other’s lips for the next few minutes before he eventually gets out of the car and heads inside, while I drive home to deal with whatever bullshit Aida has to talk to me about.

If only I could’ve predicted what was in store for me. Maybe I would’ve done things differently.

******

Cash DeMarco

It’s graduation day.

I can’t believe it’s here. The past four years have been amazing and crazy all the same. I’ve worked my ass off to get here, and after today, I’ll be able to say that I’m a college graduate. I fucking did it.

Of course, this is only the beginning. Come September, I’ll begin my graduate program, but baby steps. This is still a huge accomplishment.

I’ve been practicing my valedictorian speech all week. Public speaking doesn’t normally intimidate me, but I’m nervous as hell. Sunday night was the last time I saw Stone. Our schedules have conflicted. He wasn’t in class the last two days and we’ve barely texted, but I’m chalking it up to the stress of this week. We both have so many things happening all at once. So many moving parts. I’m not letting myself overreact or stress over nothing.

It’s surreal that his divorce is actually in process. He’s selling his house and they’re going separate ways. I still can’t believe it. When he told me all this, it took me completely by surprise. Of course, I’d always hoped he would leave her… for me, but also for him. He deserves to be truly happy.

We’re meeting after graduation. He told me he made us reservations for a nice restaurant outside of town. A place where we don’t have to hide being together. I feel like I’m more nervous about that than my speech. We’ve spent many nights together over the last several months, but being in public together is different. It feels like he truly wants to be with me, which is nuts. I’m trying to not get my hopes up, though. Trying to not expect much. It’s an age-old situation, right? A guy cheats on his wife with you, you fall for him, and he says he’s leaving his wife for you, but never does.