15. Epilogue

"Danielle Lorraine Gillespie."

A professor in the College of Life Sciences, who's dressed this evening in dignified graduation regalia, says my name into the microphone. The sound reverberates out of the humungous speakers and across the university's football stadium. My fellow graduates, who are seated in the countless rows of chairs that are in front of the stage, applaud and cheer along with the sea of family members and friends who fill the stadium's bleachers. With a smile on my face, and dressed in a fancy graduation robe of my own, I make my way across the brightly lit stage. I accept my ceremonial diploma from the dean of the college and turn so the professional photographer can take my picture. I next look to the stands and wave at my parents, Dylan, Savannah's family members, Joel, and Joel's family. My dad is video recording, my mom is taking pictures with her phone and blotting tears of delight from her eyes, and Dylan―who's usually the master of keeping his emotions under wraps―is grinning and clapping loudly. Beside them, Savannah's family is also cheering me on with the same love that they've always shown me over the years. Joel's parents and younger sisters are applauding boisterously, too. And Joel . . .

Goodness, I love that man.

Joel is on his feet, clapping and smiling in that way of his that gives me exhilarating shivers. As if his smile wasn't alluring enough, he's looking strikingly handsome in his button-up shirt, slacks, and glasses that he knows I go crazy over. Yes, he might be built like Hercules, but he's a sexy computer nerd at heart, and it's one of the countless things about him that will forever make me weak in the knees. As of yesterday, he's also an official college graduate; last evening, Savannah and her family, my family, and I joined Joel's family here to watch him graduate from the College of Computer Sciences magna cum laude.

Still facing my loved ones, I shift the tassel that's hanging from my graduation cap from the right side to the left. I then make my way down the steps to leave the stage. I join Savannah, who has been waiting for me since her name was read. Savannah waves her diploma holder in the air. I laugh and give her a hug.

"We did it, Dan!" Sav declares. "We're officially college graduates!"

"Can you believe it?" I'm smiling so much that my face hurts. "Who knew that when we met all those years ago, we would be making this incredible walk together one day?"

"I knew." Savannah gives my hand a squeeze. "From the moment we met, I knew we were destined to be best friends."

Tears brim in my eyes. "You're right, Sav. We were definitely destined to be best friends."

We link arms and make our way back to our chairs, and we resume applauding for the other graduates who are crossing the stage. I continue smiling as I soak in this perfect moment. The warm June evening is being accented by a gentle wind. The stadium lights are shining prettily against the growing hues of twilight. The air is filled with a stirring sense of joy, pride in the past, and excitement for the future. Though I've dreamed of this day for so long, this is better than I ever imagined, and it's even more incredible to ponder what's to come.

Savannah and I are both graduating summa cum laude , and we're preparing to start med school right here in the Lakewood region this autumn. There is no way to adequately describe the elation we felt when we each learned that we received early acceptance into our number-one choice for med school. We're thrilled to be staying in this area that we love so much while venturing forth into the next stage of our training and education. I'm profoundly thankful that I'll have my best friend at my side through it all.

I break from my thoughts, and my eyes drift back to the stands, landing on Joel. Like he senses me watching him, he meets my gaze. He winks as he grins. I smile adoringly back at him. Being with Joel these past seven months has brought more meaning and wonder to my life than I knew was possible. As strange as it sounds, I can hardly remember what it was like not having him as part of my world. He shows me the true meaning of love in all that he says and does. He's an anchor, a confidant, and a never-failing support. He's quite simply my knight in shining armor. With Joel alongside me, the other pieces of my life fit into place better than before. Amazingly—yet exactly as we both intuitively sensed on that autumn day when we professed our love to one another—his sports, my plans for med school, and academics haven't driven a wedge between us; to the contrary, as we've supported one another, it has brought us closer while making our lives more rich and fulfilling.

I loved attending his home basketball games and volleyball matches throughout these past several months. Who knew that cheering wildly at sporting events was so much fun? Along with all the games and practices he starred in, Joel was constantly in the media, too, and for good reason. During basketball season, he led the conference in points and assists, he was one of the top scorers in the nation, he made the All-American first team, and the school's team went far in the post-season tournament. Right after basketball was over, Joel hopped into volleyball season. He was the nation's top libero, and the team made it to the national semi-finals. Through it all, though, Joel remained as humble as ever, and he made sure that I never felt bothered or intruded upon by the media madness.

I show Joel another smile before I return my attention to the stage. It isn't long before the ceremony officially concludes. While the crowd applauds, Savannah and I get to our feet with our fellow graduates and toss our caps into the air. I laugh with glee at the sight. Music starts playing over the speakers. The guests come onto the field to congratulate their loved ones. Savannah's family members give me enthusiastic hugs. My parents make Savannah and me pose for approximately three billion photos. Dylan gives me a huge hug while lifting me off the ground. Joel's family members warmly congratulate me. Eventually, Savannah gets wrapped up in taking more photos with her family, and Dylan and my parents begin chatting with Joel's family while comparing pictures from yesterday's and today's ceremonies. While everyone else is busy, I turn toward Joel. He takes my hand, and suddenly it's like it's just the two of us.

"Congratulations." Joel kisses me in a way that's tame for being in the presence of family yet charged with so much passion that it makes me quiver in the most titillating way.

"Thanks, hon." I stand on tiptoe and give him another fast kiss. "You know what's funny? While the ceremony was wrapping up, I realized that I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself for the next several weeks. I have nearly three months before med school starts. That's the longest break I've had from studying since . . . well, since elementary school." I laugh. Slowly, though, my laughter fades. "I'm glad to have the time off, though. It'll allow me to spend as much time as possible with you before you . . . move away to start your new coaching job."

Joel's expression grows serious, mirroring mine. "Danielle, regarding that coaching job, there's something I need to tell you, but I wanted to wait until tonight to do so."

"Okay." I work down a swallow. "Do they want you to move out there sooner than originally planned?"

I'm doing all I can to appear happy. After all, I want nothing more than to support Joel in his career endeavors, just like he supports me. A few months ago, when he officially announced that he had decided not to play basketball professionally and had instead accepted an incredible coaching job at a Division One university, I couldn't have been more thrilled or proud. However, the job is on the other side of the country, which means we will be transitioning to a long-distance relationship. I know we'll make it work, but I'll miss him desperately.

"No, actually, I'm not going to move away sooner than planned." Joel is searching my face. "I'm not moving at all, in fact."

"What?" I peer at him in stunned confusion. "What do you mean? Did the job fall through?"

Joel shakes his head. "No. A couple of days ago, I told them that I had changed my mind, and I formally turned down the offer."

"You turned down the offer?" Another pulse of shock hits me. "Why? I thought this was your dream coaching job."

"It was my dream coaching job." Joel unexpectedly shows a relaxed smile. "However, my dream of being with you is infinitely more important. You mean everything to me, and no fancy coaching job could ever make me happy enough to be without you."

I stare until I'm finally sure that I understood him correctly. Emotion lodges in my throat. New tears brim in my eyes.

"You gave up your dream job—your hugely respected, high-paying, dream coaching opportunity—for me?"

"I gave it up for us." Joel raises one of my hands to his lips and kisses it. "To be honest, as honored as I was to be offered the job, it never totally sat right with me. No respected, high-paying job is worth being apart from you."

"Joel." I can hardly speak. "I'm overwhelmed by the sacrifice you're willing to make, but I cannot allow you to do this. I can't let you give up your dream job for me. You have so much to offer. You're so talented. You've earned the right to do this. So I can't―"

"My dream is to be with you." Joel gently brushes a strand of my hair from my face. "Yes, the coaching opportunity would be great in many ways. However, the job would also be an all-encompassing, exhausting, isolating existence. It would be like what I've been living these past several years but with exponentially more demands. So, yes, I once thought that coaching was what I wanted to do after college. Now, though, I'm certain that a fast-paced, sports-obsessed, lonely life isn't what I want at all. I've loved every moment of my athletic career, and I consider myself immensely fortunate for each and every opportunity it provided me. Now, though, I'm glad to be moving into a new chapter of life. It's liberating. It's exciting. It's right."

"You're sure? You're really sure?"

"I'm sure." His smile is so sincere. So genuine. "What I want is for us to be able to be together. And I want to have time to spend with family and friends. I also want to be able to enjoy other things I've missed out on for far too long." He takes my hands in his once more. "Trust me: I gave this a lot of thought, and I'm totally certain about it. This is why I accepted a job with a big IT firm that's located in the area. The pay is fantastic, and I'll get to work independently and choose my own hours. No travel, no stress of wins and losses, no getting hounded by the media, no living and breathing sports at the expense of everything else―just a steady, awesome job that's located in the place where I want to live. Most importantly, it's a job that will let me be with the woman I adore."

I draw in a breath. "You're absolutely positive that this is how you're going to be the happiest? Nothing matters to me more than your happiness, Joel."

"I am positive." Joel slips his arms around my waist. "The real question, though, is: will you be happy? Will you be happy with Joel Lambert as he becomes less and less of a weight-lifting, basketball-shooting, volleyball-passing, media-hounded athlete and more and more of a computer geek?"

I giggle. "Joel, I love you, always and forever, no matter what. Whether you're a famous athlete or a computer geek, you're the caring, brilliant, funny, wise, sexy man I fell head-over-heels for."

Joel's smile grows. "No words have ever made me more relieved or overjoyed."

I throw my arms around him. "I love you, Joel."

"I love you, Danielle."

We kiss again, and then we walk, hand-in-hand, to rejoin our families. I gaze around the stadium before turning to Joel once more. The look we share conveys everything. Yes, this era of our lives is closing, but the best years are yet to come. I cannot wait to see where they lead.

***

Thank you for reading A DOUBLE SHOT OF LOVE!