Page 76 of Trick Play

Professor Clements loved it. Of course, he did. It was stunning. It came together better than I imagined. It would be featured in the art building. Not that I would ever see it. But others would. Maybe they would be inspired. Maybe they would understand.

A shriek came from Lo’s room. “I passed!”

I laughed and closed my computer to go celebrate with her. “Of course you did!”

We danced around her room until we collapsed on her bed, both staring up at the ceiling.

“We’re leaving in two days,” she said.

“Yup.”

“Are you sad?”

I couldn’t even imagine her asking me that a few months ago. She would have known the answer. Things were different now.

I sucked in a breath and let myself think it over. “No. I don’t think I am.”

“Have you heard from him?”

“Nope.”

The biggest miracle was how Lo had softened toward Ethan since he told me he needed to work on himself. I think it made him human in her eyes. She didn’t refer to him as Lucifer anymore, but she didn’t say his name either. We just knew who we were talking about.

“Are you sad?” I asked.

Lo came and got what she wanted. A degree in something that would give her a stable income. Neither of us ever fell under the spell of campus or school pride. We were here for a purpose and that was it.

She dated but never seriously. She had fun, but not too much.

“Not at all.” She rolled over so I faced her. “I know college is supposed to be the time we screw up and party and let loose, but I worked too hard to waste time. I didn’t have extra money in case I flunked a class and had to retake it. I put my head down and did what I had to. I’m so grateful I found you freshman year. I’m glad we pushed each other and are getting out of here early. But I feel like my life can finally begin. When we walk into our apartment tomorrow, we’ll be free. That’s when I’ll let myself breathe.”

This was one of the things that bonded us together, but I loved hearing her say it. After all the work we put in, we deserved the break.

“Happy hours and men in suits and rooftop parties on the weekends?”

She beamed. “It’s why we gave up all the frat parties and flat beer for four years.”

I scrunched my nose. “I’ll never understand the appeal.”

“You know I love you, right?”

I found her hand. “I love you too.”

She turned back to look up at the ceiling. “It’s okay if you love him too. I won’t hold it against you.”

I squeezed her fingers. “I’m not waiting for him. I told him I wouldn’t, and it’s the right thing for me to do.”

“We’ll see,” she said, and I let the conversation end.

We had our whole lives to look forward to. Us against the world. Two professional women making their way and leaving their mark.

It was all we ever wanted. Our plans were coming true, and I refused to let myself think about what I was leaving behind.

Since we weren’t in the same college, Lo and I wouldn’t be walking together. We wouldn’t even be able to see each other because of the scheduling. My college was using the basketball arena, and hers was out in the football stadium. We made plans to meet up after with our parents and go to lunch together to celebrate.

Knowing Whit and my parents were in the stand was all I needed. I reached this moment with their love and support, but on my own. I was ready to stand up in front of them and show them that this was just the beginning of what I planned on achieving.

As I crossed the stage and shook hands with the dean of my college and my professors, I couldn’t keep the wide grin off my face.