For the Record (Record #3)(48)

A gasp caught in her throat.

She had known. But he had never said those words. Not like that. Not to her.

“I love you too.”

“I shouldn’t have held that back from you for so long. I’ve known how I felt, but before it was timing and now . . . well now I don’t have a reason. I love you, and I see nothing that could ever change that.”

Liz threw her arms around Brady and he held her against him for a long time. Probably longer than they should have stayed cooped up in her bedroom with guests over. When they walked back into the living room, Victoria had finally ventured out of her room. Daniel walked out of the living room to see her. He had graduated yesterday from Duke and was now joining Victoria for her commencement.

Victoria was in a skintight blue-and-white dress and mile-high blue heels. Her dark hair was piled high on her head with tendrils escaping. She looked gorgeous. If Liz had attempted the same updo, she probably would have looked ridiculous, but Victoria pulled it off.

“Hey, bitch,” Victoria said. “You look hot.”

Liz shook her head. “My parents are in the living room.”

“So are mine.” Victoria shrugged, nonplussed. “Let’s go graduate from this place. There is so much ahead of us.”

“Not even a little bit nostalgic?”

“I haven’t left yet. Where is the nostalgia?” she asked. “Don’t get all sentimental on me.”

“I’ll try not to.”

Victoria linked their arms together and paraded everyone to the front door. The walk wasn’t that long, and there was so little parking on campus that it didn’t make sense to drive. Their surrounding neighbors had the same idea and their group passed a ton of people in graduation caps and gowns.

Brady came up behind her and took her hand. Sometimes it was strange that she could still be out in public like this with him, but she wasn’t complaining. At least if there were pictures today, it would show them together and happy.

They located Savannah at the entrance, and to Liz’s surprise she was standing with Easton.

“Who’s the guy?” Brady asked Liz.

“My tennis instructor.”

“That’s who you’ve been taking tennis lessons from?”

“Kind of hot, right?” He shot her a glare. “Joking. Savannah is totally into him. I guess I kind of set them up by accident.”

“Well, he looks better than the last one. What was his name? It was something ridiculous.”

“Forrest,” Liz offered.

“Yeah. That’s him.”

“Well, Easton is nice. He’s applying to law school and wants to be a politician. So be nice.” She elbowed him in the ribs.

“I’m a politician, baby. I’m always nice. You should know that,” he said, his voice dipping seductively.

“You can be nice like that later,” she whispered.

“I fully intend to.”

They reached Savannah at that point and Brady gave his little sister a hug. Easton puffed up a little until he got a good look at Brady.

“You’re Congressman Maxwell,” Easton said in awe.

“That I am,” he said, sticking his hand out.

“Honor to meet you, sir.”

Liz laughed and shook her head a little. “Easton, this is my boyfriend, Brady.”

Easton shook Brady’s hand and then dropped it as if he couldn’t figure out exactly what Liz was saying. “I knew you were dating someone, but . . .”

“Yeah, you’re not too observant,” she said with a giggle.

“So that makes you . . .” He pointed at Savannah.

“His little sister,” Savannah offered.

“I’m in the presence of political royalty.”

Savannah just laughed. “I guess so.”

“Well, it’s really nice to meet you,” he told Brady, “and put all the pieces together.”

Victoria came up and nudged Liz along. “Show’s over, folks. We’ll see you after graduation!”

Brady gave Liz a kiss on the cheek before Victoria dragged her out on the football field. They found seats next to each other and started flipping through their commencement booklets. Soon the entire stadium was full of graduates and their friends and families.

The chancellor stood up and gave an introductory speech, and then it was an endless bout of speeches ending with the keynote speaker, a certain basketball player who had played at UNC during college and gone on to play professionally for the Chicago Bulls. Then students stood, diplomas were issued, tassels moved from one side to the other, a congratulatory response followed, and then they were free. Hats flew in the air all around Liz. She laughed and hugged Victoria, tears streaming down her friend’s beautiful face.

“I thought you weren’t nostalgic,” Liz cried.

“We hadn’t graduated then,” Victoria told her. “I’m going to miss everything so much.”

“Me too.”

They hugged again. Four years together had officially come to a close and now they had to venture out into the real world. It was daunting, terrifying, and exhilarating all at the same time. Liz smiled at Victoria and threw her own hat up into the air.

The group from graduation arrived at Bin 54 to celebrate later that evening. Victoria’s parents had left that night to get back to New Jersey, so she and Daniel had even joined them. The restaurant was a madhouse because of graduation. Luckily Brady’s parents had reserved the cellar room well in advance, and there was enough room for everyone.