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Sadie studied herself in the full-length mirror and smiled. The dress fit her perfectly and her hair looked better than Sadie could ever remember it looking.

I hope Ellie likes it.

The mere thought of Ellie made Sadie blush. There was no denying her feelings for Ellie anymore—not that she’d want to. Ellie made her feel things Sadie had never experienced before.

Things Trevor never ever could make her feel.

Ugh. Trevor.

Sadie groaned at the memory of how she’d let Trevor ruin the end of her senior year. Yes, she knew she also played a part in what happened. But it seemed the whole world was conspiring against her to make the last few months of school miserable.

Or at least that would have been the case if it hadn’t been for Ellie.

Grabbing her phone off the bed, Sadie sent a text to Ellie.

Almost ready! Should be at your house in a few!

They’d made plans a few days ago for Sadie to join Ellie at her house for pictures. Since Ellie and Brayden were both graduating, the Mackenzies had scheduled a photographer to take pictures before the ceremony. There was also a party scheduled for after the ceremony at the bar that Sadie was also looking forward to. Not only did it give her a valid excuse for not going with the rest of the softball team to Portland to celebrate, it also gave her more time with Ellie.

Which Sadie desperately wanted. And needed.

“Sadie, sweetheart, are you almost ready?” Delaney knocked on the bedroom door but didn’t let herself in. After checking herself once more in the mirror, Sadie nodded her approval and opened the door.

Delaney gasped and started to cry, which didn’t surprise Sadie at this point. Her mom had been emotional for weeks over Sadie’s impending graduation. Ellie said her parents were the same way, so Sadie knew it was just what moms did when their babies were about to fly the coop.

At least Isla and Vera still had Everleigh at home. Sadie felt a pang of guilt every time she pictured her parents sitting home alone in the house. She’d had several offers from local schools, even the one Brayden was attending a few hours away. But Sadie had chosen Tennessee because of their softball program and that reason only. Now she wished she’d at least half-ass considered local schools instead of shutting them all out as soon as the offer from Tennessee arrived.

Of course, that was before the reality of leaving her mom and Charlie and Ellie hit her like a ton of bricks.

“Sadie, honey, you look beautiful.” Delaney pulled Sadie into a tight hug. “I can’t believe my baby girl is all grown up.”

“You said you weren’t going to cry before the ceremony.”

“Yeah, well, I lied.” Kissing Sadie’s cheek, Delaney tucked Sadie’s hair behind her ear. “I’m so proud of you, Sadie. You’ve come so far these last few years, and I can’t wait to see where the next chapter of your life takes you.”

Sadie resisted the urge to jokingly roll her eyes as she smirked. “Okay, you’re starting to sound like a Hallmark card so that means it’s time for us to go.”

Ushering Delaney out the door, Sadie grabbed her phone and followed behind her. Her dress, thankfully, had pockets, which meant she didn’t have to worry about keeping up with a bag. Charlie was waiting for them by the front door, dressed in black pants and a light blue button-up that matched Sadie’s dress almost perfectly. Sadie smiled at the way her mom and Charlie complemented each other with Delaney’s knee-length dress in nearly the same color.

I want that someday.

“Okay,” Charlie clasped her hands together, “do we have everything? Phones? Tissues? Tickets?”

“Got them all,” Delaney patted the purse that hung off her shoulder. “Sadie, are you still driving separately?”

“Yup.”

Grabbing her keys off the small table by the front door, Sadie led them all outside to the driveway. Sadie had opted to drive her own car so she could stay at the party longer than she knew her parents would want to. Ellie’s parents were going to close down the bar for the party, which Sadie knew would mostly consist of the Mackenzies and their friends. And that was perfectly okay with Sadie.

As she drove to Ellie’s house, with Gracie Abrams blaring from the speakers, Sadie couldn’t help but wonder if she’d get to kiss Ellie again soon. Thanks to the end-of-school year rush, it had been days since they’d last been together, and Sadie hadn’t realized how much she missed her.

The old Sadie would have been annoyed at her newfound codependency on someone. Sadie was used to having friends live far away; it had never been a big deal. But not seeing Ellie in over a week? A big freakin’ deal.

Arriving at the Mackenzie house, Sadie wasn’t surprised to find nearly half the Cove there, or so it seemed. The Mackenzies had a large family anyway, but add in aunts and nieces and family friends, and the entire driveway and side of the road were packed with cars. Sadie parked her car behind a black SUV with New York state tags and took a deep breath. She scanned the small crowd of people gathered out front for Ellie.

And when she saw her, her heart fluttered.

Literally freakin’ fluttered like she was in some teenage rom-com.