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And then Stacy cuts through my thoughts with, “I love you so much, my girls,” her words heavy with emotion, and when I look up at her through my lashes, I see the two trails of tears that have carved a path down her face, choking me up further. “I’m so proud of you both.”Especially you, honey. After everything you’ve been through,she doesn’t say, but I can feel in her light green gaze when it burrows straight into mine. “This is where life begins. I can’t wait to see where it takes you,” she finishes quietly, with the softest smile, and it’s entirely too bittersweet.
Addy swipes away at her tears in my periphery before grasping her mom’s hand.
“I love you too, Mom. And I love you, Dad.” She looks at him. “We’re going to miss you guys so freaking much.” I nod at her words as she continues, blinking against my own tears. “But I promise you… We’re about to take New York by storm!” Her ringing statement breaks up the emotional tension at the table, and I can finally take a full breath as I exhale a laugh.
“Of course, you will.” Stacy laughs, too, making the sign of the cross. “Lord, help us all.”
It makes the four of us laugh that much harder, tears slipping down our faces, until I can’t tell which are from true laughter and happiness, and which are from the bittersweetness of officially having to leave the only place that’s ever felt like home.
Having to leave some of the people I’ve only just met this summer, too.
These blended emotions bleed further into one another—into this beautiful morning, this beautiful breakfast, this beautifulgoodbye.
______
We stuff our luggage and boxes into the back of Addy’s Explorer, and it’s like a game of Tetris with how snug everything fits. Once we manage to maneuver it all in, though, I’m certain nothing will be moving from its spot until we reach campus in two days.
Reaching up, I push the button for her trunk to shut, and in what feels like slow motion, we watch it lower and latch into place, locking everything inside without much resistance at all.
“I’m not going to lie, baby, that was impressive,” Boss says from behind us, and Addy giggles loudly in response.
“You never should’ve doubted me,” she sasses, right before spinning around and launching herself into his waiting arms.
Boss showed up just after we finished breakfast, as we were carrying our things onto the front porch to bring out to the car. But it wasn’t to anyone’s surprise. Cal and Stacy found out about their relationship the night at the hospital, and while they were admittedly upset, they quickly resigned themselves to the fact that Addy is grown up now and there isn’t much they can do about it. We were leaving for New York in just a handful of days at that point, and in the end, they were more worried about the guys and making sure they’d be okay.
There were no consequences, no repercussions, no hell to pay for anyone after all.
It might have also helped that Boss is one of his favorite players, so Addy says. But I have a sneaking suspicion Cal adores each of his guys as much as the next one.
Addy buries her face into Boss’s neck with an audible hiccup, squeezing him as tightly as she possibly can. Inhaling a deep breath, he exhales it into her embrace, murmuring quiet words into her ear.
I can’t help but feel my heart ache for them, knowing how much they’ve grown to love each other this summer and knowing how far apart they’re going to be from each other now. But they’re going to make a go of the whole long-distance thing, and I think if anyone can make it work, it will be them.
Turning around to give them some space, I come face-to-face with a short line of football players, and all of their warm, bright smiles.
Parker drags me into his side first. “You better be watching our games, young lady,” he demands, and it makes me smile.
“Of course, we will. Cross my heart.” I pat him on the shoulder from where I’m tucked beneath his arm and spot my name in black marker on his cast next to Addy’s. I trace my finger over the six small letters. “Heal up soon, okay? I expect to see you out there, too.”
He huffs out a laugh. “It’s just a pinky, Dec. I’ll be out there in no time. Don’t you worry.”
“I know you will,” I say with a breath of amusement, running my finger along my name one last time, over the temporary cast holding his pinky in line with his arm. A totaled car, and all he wrecked was his pinky, outside of some stitches.Thank God.He’s only supposed to have the makeshift cast on for another few weeks before it’s off, and then he’ll be as good as new.
“Bye, Parker.”
“See you later, pretty girl.”
Warmth washes over my cheeks, and I’m folded into Jameson’s embrace next.
“Hey there, Miss Decky D,” he says, pulling me farther into him, and I shake my head against his chest with a smile.
“Nope. No, not the one,” I say.
“Damn,” he breathes into our embrace, but I can hear his own smile in his words. “I was really hoping that would be the one that sticks. Guess you’re just going to have to keep in touch so we can get this nickname thing right, huh?”
“I guess so.” My smile deepens.
Jameson has greeted me with a different name every time I’ve seen him over the last few weeks, but each one has gotten progressively worse than the last. I wouldn’t dare tell him I’ve loved every single one of them.