Graduation

Summer

"Summer Elise Jones," Dean Jackson calls my name and I walk across the stage.

"That's my bestie," Trina's voice carries across the crowd. I can't help but laugh at her.

Today is the day. A day I thought would never get here. A day that maybe wouldn't have gotten here if not for the man that dicked me down so good in the shower this morning my legs hurt as I stroll across this stage.

After shaking the university president's hand and grabbing my degree, I smile for a picture. Once done, I scan the crowd while making my way back to my seat. I smile as soon as my eyes land on Gabriel. He's hard to miss.

His golden locks are hanging down today. He towers over most people here, but he stands out even more with Gabe on his shoulders. My son has his noise cancelling headphones over his ears. Places like this with loud noises and a lot of people sometimes overwhelm him. But he's smiling right now as he waves at me over his father's head.

I blow the two of them a kiss. Shay is on one side of Gabriel. She's smiling proudly as if I'm her child. On the other side, Trina wipes her eyes as James tucks her into his side. The most important people in my life only take up five seats. But they are all I need.

When the ceremony is over, I rush out of the stadium to search for my family. I spot Gabriel first. He's standing in the middle of the sidewalk, his arms folded over his chest. People are moving around him as if he's a dark hole.

He watches me closely as I make my way over to him. I have tunnel vision as I hustle through the crowd. The moment I'm close to him he reaches his hand out to me and I take it. He pulls me into him, his body relaxing against mine.

I take in his intoxicating clean scent. His smell and the warmth of his arms bring me so much peace.

"Congratulations," his deep voice says in my ear sending a shiver up my spine.

I gaze up into his beautiful eyes. "I think I prefer your congratulations from earlier this morning."

Gabriel woke me up with his tongue buried so deep in my depths he probably could taste my cervix. As I came down from the high of my orgasm, he slid into me whispering congratulations.

A slow smile slinks across his face. Before he can speak again, I feel a tug on my black robes.

"Mommy, look what Hulk got you."

I look down to find Gabriel holding a large bouquet of sunflowers. The arrangement is stunning and almost as large as my son.

"Oh my goodness," I say placing a hand to my chest. Looking up to Gabriel I fight to hold back tears. "They're beautiful."

"Damn, baby daddy, did you leave any sunflowers at the store," Trina says walking up to us.

She immediately wraps her arms around me giving me a hug. "Bitch, I'm so proud of you." she chokes up.

"I couldn't have done it without you."

She waves me away. "Girl don't get me to crying again. You know I have a flight in three hours."

James has a business trip to Dubai and Trina is going over for an influencer event. I initially thought they wouldn't be able to make it today. However, Trina told me she wouldn't miss this for anything.

"Congratulations, Summer," James says handing me an envelope and teddy bear with a bunch of balloons attached to his arm.

"The envelope is from us, but the teddy bear was left by Shay. She told us to tell you sorry she couldn't wait for you."

I wave him off. Today was Shay's oldest son's baseball tournament. I'm happy she even made the actual graduation. "Thanks, James."

"Okay, so where are you guys going after this? It has to be some place nice." Trina directs her last sentence to Gabe and Gabriel.

"Chick-fil-A" Gabe shouts happily.

"G, we talked about this. Today is supposed to be about your mama."

My son looks to his godmother with the most innocent look on his face. "But mama eats Chick-fil-A too."

I can't help but laugh. Trina rolls her eyes but laughs too.

"Hey Summer."

Trina and I both turn to the new person standing behind us. I almost think I'm hallucinating staring back at my sister. Even before the fallout, I had no plans of ever seeing her at my graduation.

I haven't seen her or anyone from my family since I stormed out of my mom's house two months ago. I've gotten a few phone calls from them, but they've all gone unanswered.

"What the hell is she doing here?" Trina asks, turning up her nose.

I'm not going to lie, I'm kind of taken aback by her being here. We aren't actually on speaking terms. I don't think she would be crazy enough to come to my graduation to start an argument with me. But you never know when it comes to my sister.

Raina ignores Trina. "We've been calling you."

Folding my arms over my chest, I give her my undivided attention. "I know. I thought I made myself very clear the day I left mama's."

Raina's eyes widen as she looks over my shoulder. I don't have to guess who's there. I can feel his body heat pressed up against my back.

"Everything alright?" he asks as he places a hand on my hip.

"We're just trying to figure out why Summer's sister would show up at her special day knowing they don't get along," Trina says before I can answer him.

Raina grimaces, cutting her gaze away briefly. "Well, that's what I've been trying to talk to you about. Can we go somewhere and talk in private?"

"No," Trina and Gabriel say at the same time.

I fight my laughter at their protectiveness.

"What do you want, Raina?"

She exhales, pushing her hair behind her ear. "Okay, umm, I just wanted to apologize about what I said that day."

"What did you say?"

Even though I know exactly what she said, I was going to make sure she repeated it. She didn't get to give me some half ass apology. It doesn't matter that I already know this apology is bullshit. She wants something. It's the only reason she's here.

She shifts her weight and glances over my head before looking back at me. "I shouldn't have said you were jealous. It's obvious you're not."

"Very damn obvious," Trina adds.

Raina bites down on her bottom lip. What is obvious is that Raina is definitely here on some groveling shit. Because there is no way she's not responding back to Trina, those two have never gotten along.

"Anyway," Raina says clearing her throat. "We're having a birthday party for MJ this weekend and we're hoping you and Gabe will come."

I look at Trina, and she's staring at me. Without saying a word, I relay to her how odd this is. And her silent response is that she doesn't trust them.

Turning back to Raina, I plant a smile on my face. "Okay. Text me the details."

She smiles for the first time since popping up. "Great, I'll see you then. Oh and ummm, congratulations." She says the last part as an afterthought before scurrying away.

As soon as Raina is out of sight, Trina turns to me with her arms folded over her chest.

"You know they want something right? That bad ass boy has had five fucking birthdays and they've never invited G."

She's not lying. Usually, mom makes up an excuse about it being too ‘loud' for Gabe to come to the party. So why suddenly do they want him there?

"Yeah, I smell BS too. But, I won't lie, I'm kind of interested in what they want."

"Most likely money. Since I won't be in the country, thankfully you'll have baby daddy there with you incase shit pops off." She turns her attention to Gabriel. "You got her back, right?"

I turn in time to see him dip his chin.

"Good," she says. "Because I don't trust them."

Neither did I. However, a curious part of me really wanted to see what they wanted. The other part of me was still hoping that maybe I'm wrong. Maybe, after our time apart they genuinely wanted Gabe around again.

The only way to know for sure is to go to the birthday party.

***

We parted ways with Trina and James. By now they were probably on their flight to Dubai.

Instead of sitting at some loud busy restaurant, I opted for a more intimate graduation dinner. We were having a picnic at the park. Gabe got his Chick-fil-A and Gabriel and I got barria tacos from a shop not too far from the park.

I was lying on the blanket, belly full, feeling absolutely happy. Gabriel was sitting behind me rubbing his arms up and down my thighs as we watched Gabriel blow bubbles with his bubble wand.

"Are you happy?" His hand stills on my thigh at my question.

I know it came out of the blue, but I was just wondering if he felt the same way I was feeling. This moment, here with him and my baby boy was the purest form of happiness.

"I never thought about happiness before," he says.

Tilting my head, I look up at him. He's squinting as he stares off in the distance.

"Were you never happy with your brothers and Priest?"

"Yes," He answers quickly. "I was happy with them. Although I spent much of my childhood waiting for the happiness to end. I was convinced that it wouldn't last. I knew at some point the happiness was going to be taken away from me. It usually was. Because I was always on guard, I didn't learn to appreciate those times until we were much older."

"And now?" I sit up between his legs turning my body slightly to face him better. "Are you happy?"

He runs a finger across my nose where my freckles are the most abundant.

"I'm at peace. And to me that is more valuable than happiness. Happiness comes and goes, but finding peace is something that stays with you."

I feel like the story of the Grinch where his heart suddenly grows three sizes larger. I lean up on my knees and place a kiss on his lips. He wraps his arms around my waist bringing me in closer. He opens his mouth deepening the kiss.

Suddenly bubbles start floating around our head. We pull apart laughing as Gabe stands over us blowing his bubbles.

I grab for him and he starts to laugh as he plops down on my lap.

"Mama, you kissed Hulk," he chuckles.

I look at Gabriel who has his eyes glued to me.

"Yeah, I kissed Hulk," I say, before looking down at my son. "But do you want to know a secret?"

Gabe nods his head.

"Well, Hulk is your father."

This time when I look at Gabriel there is an intensity to his gaze that I can't read.

But I wanted to let him know that we accepted him. Yes, I know he's got issues, and I don't believe that those issues will ever go away. I heard him that day in my backyard when I found that body.

Gabriel is a killer. It's why I didn't question him when Andrew went missing. I knew Andrew wouldn't live to see another day. It's why I initially hesitated to tell Gabriel what happened. I knew what the outcome would be.

However, if I claim to love Gabriel, then I have to love all of him. And I do.

"I already know that secret," Gabe says with a laugh.

Now I'm confused because I never told him. Even Gabriel looks baffled.

"How did you know," Gabriel asks.

"Well, your name is Gabriel, and my name is Gabriel. And you look like me."

Now I know my son is pretty smart for his age, but I had no idea he was doing deductive reasoning like that.

"Plus," he goes on to say. "Aunt Trina told me." He gives a big goofy grin.

Gabriel laughs that low throaty sound that makes my panties wet. I can't help but join him. We spent the rest of our day hanging out at the park and then after we put Gabe to sleep, I rode Gabriel's dick on the couch until he nor I could move.