13. Dylan

Chapter 13

Dylan

T he cheers are a low hum in my ears as I saunter across the stage, the cap-and-gown crowd before me a sea of blurred faces. The dean gives me my diploma, accompanied by a polite but obligatory smile, and we stop briefly to take the necessary photo. The camera flashes, capturing my smirk forever, and I turn, scanning the audience.

Then I see him.

Matthew is sitting a few rows back, half-hidden behind some of the parents, who are still clapping. His expression is unreadable, but the tension in my chest tightens the moment our eyes lock. We haven't really spoken since that night with Jacob and Ford. It's been the same for my two guys—thanks to my grounding.

My mom's been up my ass ever since she found out that I'm playing lacrosse. Ford and Jacob have been… well, they've been themselves. Ford, especially—he's found some very creative ways and places to mess around at school. The science lab during the assembly? Totally worth it, but I thought Jacob was going to kill him when he walked in on us.

Ford just laughed it off, of course. Jacob… not so much. But that's Ford—never one to take anything too seriously, even when he should.

My stomach twists as I break eye contact and head down the steps, back to my seat, heart still pounding from the rush of being in the spotlight. The rest of the ceremony drags on, each name called out seeming to stretch time. Finally, when they call Ford and Jacob's names, I cheer loudly, my voice echoing in the crowd. They grin at me from the stage, and for a moment, everything feels right.

When it's finally time to throw our caps in the air, signaling the end of the ceremony, a wave of freedom washes over us. The thrill of being done with high school hits me hard, but it's bittersweet, too.

I collect my cap and head out into the sea of bodies, everyone eager to find their families and take those all-important graduation pictures. My heart's still racing from the brief glimpse of Matthew.

"Dylan! Over here!"

My mom's voice cuts through the crowd, and I push my way over to where she's standing with Gideon. Her smile is wide and proud, but there's something in her eyes that makes my stomach sink. She's been hinting at things from the past lately, throwing little barbs my way that don't quite make sense but still manage to hurt. I don't have the energy to deal with her right now.

We take the obligatory family pictures, and I try to put on a good face for the camera. I smile and pose, but it feels like I'm going through the motions. Gideon's arm is around my shoulders, and he pulls me into a tight hug, whispering, "I'm so proud of you, Dylan." His warmth is comforting, a stark contrast to Mom's more critical gaze.

Then, as if on cue, she steps aside, saying something about congratulating a friend on their daughter's graduation. She's gone before I can ask who, dragging Gideon with her and I'm left standing there with my diploma in one hand and a strange emptiness in my chest.

"Dylan."

Matthew's voice is quiet, almost hesitant. I turn to see him standing just a few feet away, his hands shoved into his pants pockets. His expression is softer than it was before, but that same tension lingers between us, thick and heavy.

"I just wanted to say congrats," he says, offering me a small smile. "And… goodbye."

My heart skips a beat, and I force myself to smile back, even though his words sting more than I want to admit. "Goodbye? Aren't you coming home?"

He shakes his head, looking down at his shoes for a moment before meeting my eyes again. "No, I'm headed out to CSU. Figured I'd get a head start on everything."

The news hits me like a punch to the gut. He's leaving—leaving town, leaving everything behind, leaving me behind. And we're not even going to talk about what happened? About us?

"Oh," is all I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper. My mind races, trying to process it all. "Will I see you at all this summer?"

Matthew hesitates, then nods slowly. "Maybe. If you want to, you could come visit for a weekend. We could… talk and stuff."

"I… yeah, maybe," I finally say, my voice wavering slightly. "I'll think about it."

Matthew's eyes search mine, as if he's trying to find something in them that I'm not even sure is there. But before either of us can say anything else, a loud whoop breaks through the tension, and I barely have time to register what's happening before Ford comes barreling toward me, grinning like an idiot.

"Dylan!" he shouts, lifting me off my feet and swinging me around in a circle. "We did it! We're free!" Jacob weaves his way toward us, chuckling at the scene Ford is causing.

I laugh despite myself, the tension breaking as Ford sets me back down, still holding onto my shoulders. "Yeah, we did," I say, my eyes flicking back to Matthew, who's watching us with an amused smile.

"Congrats," Matthew tells the guys.

"And what's going on here?" Ford asks, wagging his eyebrows in that infuriatingly cocky way of his. "You finally gonna tell us what's up?"

Just as the words leave his mouth, my mom reappears, her eyes narrowing as she takes in the scene. "What is happening over here?" she asks, her voice sharp and suspicious.

Matthew clears his throat, stepping back slightly. "Oh, nothing. Just congratulating Dylan and, uh, inviting her up to campus sometime this summer. You know, so she can tour before she comes in the fall."

The mention of CSU makes my mom's face tighten as she pieces together the implications. "I told you if you went there, I wouldn't pay for it. So how are you going to afford that? Who's going to pay for it?"

I resist the urge to roll my eyes, instead offering her a sweet smile. "Oh, did I forget to mention? I got a scholarship."

Gideon beams with pride, pulling me into another hug. "That's amazing! Congrats, Dylan."

But Mom's expression doesn't soften. If anything, it hardens as she gives me a pointed look, one that carries the weight of a thousand unspoken words. I can see the wheels turning in her mind, the past coming back to haunt her as she tries to fit this new piece of information into whatever narrative she's constructed in her head.

Matthew, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents swirling around us, steps forward and extends his hand to my mom. "Goodbye, Holly. Thanks for everything."

Gideon looks surprised. "Where are you headed, son? We'll just see you at the house."

Matthew glances at me, then back at his dad. "To CSU. I've got to get started early, so everything is set when the fall term starts. Plus, I want to get settled in a house since I plan to stay out there permanently."

"That makes sense, but when were you going to tell us? I didn't even know you'd been packing or were planning to leave today."

"I'm grown, Dad, and your fiancée is miserable to be around. I'm not taking anything with me but my clothes and laptop. You can do whatever with the rest."

The words hit me harder than I expected, the finality of them settling into my chest like a stone. He's really leaving.

Mom, ever the dramatist, lets out a theatrical wail, clutching at her chest as if she's just been told the most tragic news in the world. "He better be back for the wedding!" she exclaims, her voice rising in pitch as she glares at Matthew. "You promised you'd be there!"

Matthew's jaw tightens, and I can see the frustration simmering beneath the surface. "I already told you, Holly. I'm not going to be a part of it. I made that clear."

I can feel the eyes of everyone nearby turning toward us, sensing the drama unfolding. My cheeks burn with embarrassment, but I force myself to keep my expression neutral. This isn't the time or place to get into it with my mom, not with everyone watching.

Ford, ever the peacekeeper, steps in with a grin, clapping Matthew on the back. "Hey, man, don't worry about it. We'll see you around, yeah?"

Matthew forces a smile, nodding. "Yeah, sure."

He glances at me one last time, and for a moment, I think he's going to say something more. But then he just gives me a small nod, turns, and walks away, disappearing into the crowd. The ache in my chest intensifies, and I feel a sudden, overwhelming urge to run after him, to call out to him and beg him to stay just one more night.

But I don't. I stay rooted to the spot, watching as he vanishes from sight, the reality of it all sinking in. He's gone. And whatever we were, whatever we could have been—it's gone too.

My mom's voice snaps me back to the present, her tone sharp as she continues her theatrical tantrum about the wedding. I tune her out, my mind still reeling from everything that's just happened.

"Come on, Dylan. We're leaving." She walks off, heading to the parking lot.

Jacob leans in and whispers, just loud enough for me to hear, "You know you're an adult and don't have to listen to her, right?"

I glance at him. "I know, but I have to ride it out until I can leave for Colorado. I don't have anywhere else to go right now."

Jacob's brow furrows. "We get it. We just don't like seeing her treat you like this."

"I'm used to it," I say. "But I'm done with the grounding. I've graduated, and she won't be keeping me from you guys anymore."

Ford lets out a relieved laugh. "Oh, thank God. I've been having withdrawals."

Jacob raises an eyebrow. "Not sure how with the science lab, the janitor's closet, and the cafeteria pantry."

Ford nudges Jacob playfully, a grin spreading across his face. "Hater."

"Can I take you out, then?" Jacob asks, his eyes twinkling with hope.

I can't help but smile at the prospect. "Yeah, when?"

"Tomorrow. Ford, you're not invited. I want some alone time with our girl."

Ford throws up his hands in mock defeat. "Fine, fuck you too. Have fun. Mom wants to take me to dinner anyway, so it's perfect."

"Perfect," I echo, feeling a flutter of excitement at the thought of spending time alone with Jacob. "I'll text you two later."

I lean in and give each of them a passionate kiss. My lips linger on theirs, and in that fleeting moment, the world outside feels like it falls away.