answer.
Mrs. T chimed in, thankfully changing the subject. “I’ve packed a few slices of cake in your bag.” I loved her cakes almost as much as Kane did.
“Thank you for your contribution to the freshman fifteen.”
“I do what I can,” she said with a smile.
Kane’s car pulled up the drive. He hopped out all smiles. “You ready?”
Just looking at him, I knew I had no doubts about my feelings. I didn’t need to play the field, I had the one I wanted. And I hoped, truly hoped, he did too. “Yep.”
Mr. Clancy helped Kane load the car while I said my good-byes. Mrs. T hugged me hard and slipped me two hundred bucks. “Emergency fund.”
The memory of my first day at Raven’s Peak flashed in my mind, and how my eyes had burned with fear. And now they were burning because I was leaving the place that really had become my home.
“It’s only four years, and then you’ll be back. Besides, there are holidays. We’ll see you in November.”
“I know. I don’t know why I’m being so sentimental.”
“It’s a big step. You’re entitled. Be safe, Teagan.”
Mrs. Marks was next, kissing me on each cheek and taking a moment to just stare. “I remember the scared little girl who appeared that first night . . . and now look at you, a confident young woman heading off to college. I’m really proud of you.”
I was about to cry, so I quickly hugged her and kissed her cheek. Mr. Clancy was holding the car door for me, and I pecked him on the cheek, which earned me a smile, before I climbed in.
Kane turned the car around and, as we started down the drive, I looked back at the three of them all waving me off. I waved until I couldn’t see them anymore, and when I turned forward, my cheeks felt damp.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I guess I’m just realizing that they really are our family. We’re lucky, Kane. Our lives could have turned out so very differently.”
“I know. We’re an odd group, but we work.”
“Yes, we do.”
“Classes start on Monday?”
“Yeah, new student orientation is this weekend.”
“You and your roommate are going to do that together, right?”
“Yeah. She seems nice, at least on the phone. I would rather have you as my roommate.”
“Next year, apartment off campus, you and me.”
“Promise?”
“I’ll do one better.” He pulled the car over and shut down the engine before climbing out without saying another word. He came around to my side as I stepped out of the car.
“What are you doing?”
He dropped to one knee and my heart moved up into my throat.
“I love you, Tea. I want my life with you. I want to wake up next to you every morning and go to sleep next to you every night. Marry me.”
My yes came out as a sob, a happy sob—he felt the impending distance too. With his proposal, my lingering worries faded.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a little black box. Inside was a diamond ring, the small brilliant-cut solitaire framed in white gold. “It’s not as big as I would have liked, but I’ll upgrade it when I’m making more money.”
“No! It’s perfect.”
He grinned and slipped it onto my finger. “You’re stuck with me now.”
Dropping to my knees, I threw my arms around him and held on tight. “Exactly where I want to be.”
Kane got me to the airport just in time. We said our farewells at the security checkpoint. “Call as soon as you get to your room.”
“I will.”
“Have fun, Tea. This is a big deal, and you’ve worked hard for it.”
“And you put in double time so you cut the six months to three.”
“Deal.” He wrapped my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing my cheekbones, while we looked our fill. Our good-bye kiss was just a brushing of our lips, and still my entire body sighed. Reaching for my bag, he handed it to me. “See you in November.” He lifted my hand and kissed the ring.
“Love you.” My feet felt like lead as I walked away from him, staring back over my shoulder at the sight of him
Mrs. T chimed in, thankfully changing the subject. “I’ve packed a few slices of cake in your bag.” I loved her cakes almost as much as Kane did.
“Thank you for your contribution to the freshman fifteen.”
“I do what I can,” she said with a smile.
Kane’s car pulled up the drive. He hopped out all smiles. “You ready?”
Just looking at him, I knew I had no doubts about my feelings. I didn’t need to play the field, I had the one I wanted. And I hoped, truly hoped, he did too. “Yep.”
Mr. Clancy helped Kane load the car while I said my good-byes. Mrs. T hugged me hard and slipped me two hundred bucks. “Emergency fund.”
The memory of my first day at Raven’s Peak flashed in my mind, and how my eyes had burned with fear. And now they were burning because I was leaving the place that really had become my home.
“It’s only four years, and then you’ll be back. Besides, there are holidays. We’ll see you in November.”
“I know. I don’t know why I’m being so sentimental.”
“It’s a big step. You’re entitled. Be safe, Teagan.”
Mrs. Marks was next, kissing me on each cheek and taking a moment to just stare. “I remember the scared little girl who appeared that first night . . . and now look at you, a confident young woman heading off to college. I’m really proud of you.”
I was about to cry, so I quickly hugged her and kissed her cheek. Mr. Clancy was holding the car door for me, and I pecked him on the cheek, which earned me a smile, before I climbed in.
Kane turned the car around and, as we started down the drive, I looked back at the three of them all waving me off. I waved until I couldn’t see them anymore, and when I turned forward, my cheeks felt damp.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I guess I’m just realizing that they really are our family. We’re lucky, Kane. Our lives could have turned out so very differently.”
“I know. We’re an odd group, but we work.”
“Yes, we do.”
“Classes start on Monday?”
“Yeah, new student orientation is this weekend.”
“You and your roommate are going to do that together, right?”
“Yeah. She seems nice, at least on the phone. I would rather have you as my roommate.”
“Next year, apartment off campus, you and me.”
“Promise?”
“I’ll do one better.” He pulled the car over and shut down the engine before climbing out without saying another word. He came around to my side as I stepped out of the car.
“What are you doing?”
He dropped to one knee and my heart moved up into my throat.
“I love you, Tea. I want my life with you. I want to wake up next to you every morning and go to sleep next to you every night. Marry me.”
My yes came out as a sob, a happy sob—he felt the impending distance too. With his proposal, my lingering worries faded.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a little black box. Inside was a diamond ring, the small brilliant-cut solitaire framed in white gold. “It’s not as big as I would have liked, but I’ll upgrade it when I’m making more money.”
“No! It’s perfect.”
He grinned and slipped it onto my finger. “You’re stuck with me now.”
Dropping to my knees, I threw my arms around him and held on tight. “Exactly where I want to be.”
Kane got me to the airport just in time. We said our farewells at the security checkpoint. “Call as soon as you get to your room.”
“I will.”
“Have fun, Tea. This is a big deal, and you’ve worked hard for it.”
“And you put in double time so you cut the six months to three.”
“Deal.” He wrapped my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing my cheekbones, while we looked our fill. Our good-bye kiss was just a brushing of our lips, and still my entire body sighed. Reaching for my bag, he handed it to me. “See you in November.” He lifted my hand and kissed the ring.
“Love you.” My feet felt like lead as I walked away from him, staring back over my shoulder at the sight of him
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