She then pulls the arms of her hoodie back to reveal two bracelets on her arm. Each one matches our bracelets but one says ‘Livvy’ and the other says ‘Kai’ in the middle.

“So you don’t forget me when you’re off at school.” She shrugs.

Olivia shrieks and wraps Kylie up in a warm embrace that Kylie happily accepts. They talk excitedly, and I tune out when their voices reach an octave too high to comprehend, but I do slide my bracelet onto my wrist and wipe my eyes before I dig into my breakfast.

“Can you believe high school is over?” Olivia’s voice is whimsical as she stares up at the sky in my parents’ backyard.

The graduation ceremony is over and my parents put together a dinner for me, Olivia, our friends, and their families. Olivia’s dad made it to the ceremony but I am surprised that he came to the dinner as well. He’s been very quiet all night, but I won’t complain about that.

I step up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist. The smell of vanilla and strawberries wafts off her and wraps itself around me, putting me in a trance. Every part of her calls to my very essence. It’s impossible to even see past her. “It feels like just yesterday you were freaking out about freshman tryouts.”

She turns in my arms and drapes her arms over my shoulders. The moonlight reflecting off the rich brown of her skin makes her look like a goddess.

“Hmm and now I get to do it all over again.”

“And you love every minute of it.” I start swaying us from side to side, dancing to the music I can only hear when I’m around her.

“You’re right, I do.” She beams. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being you. I think I honestly would’ve lost my shit without you.”

“You would’ve had it under control.”

“You know what? You’re right; I probably would’ve eventually. But it wouldn’t have been the same. Because everything is better with you.”

She kisses me and then wipes the remnants of her lip gloss off my lips. I kiss her again because there’s no part of me that minds the taste of her lip gloss.

“I’m gonna go in and find Kylie to make sure she doesn’t try to get out of our run tomorrow.” Kylie decided to try cheerleading this year so she and Olivia have been going on runs together every Saturday morning. “You coming?”

“Nah, I’m gonna stay out here for a minute.”

“Okay, take your time, babe.”

The moment Olivia leaves, there’s a shift in the air. I immediately feel irritated when I hear a familiar voice behind me, but I don’t let it show.

“Congratulations, Kai.” Olivia’s dad steps out from the patio door and I wonder if he’s been there long.

“Thank you, Mr. Harding. Are you proud of your daughter?”

“For doing what she’s supposed to do and get her education? I suppose.” I don’t know why I bothered asking.