Page 59 of Die for You (Diamond Devils #4)

Finn

Graduation day.

All of us walk the stage, families and friends in the crowd cheering for us. Quinn signs that she’s proud of me. Aurora signs that she loves me.

After the ceremony, Knox is swarmed by his family and Damien’s mother insists on taking dozens of photos of him in his cap and gown.

A knot in my chest loosens when I finally find her. Beaming at me like I’m the sun after a lifetime in darkness. She throws her arms around my neck and kisses me. “How do you feel?”

My thumb presses on her bottom lip. “In love.”

Her lips curl in a wider smile. “You’re so corny.”

Aurora got into Juilliard. She’ll be leaving for the fall semester, and we’re going with her. Knox wants to get into physical therapy and Damien into coaching. Should be easy enough for them in a city like New York. I’ve already been accepted into St. John’s Doctor of Audiology program.

No matter where she goes, we’ll follow.

A six-four man with dark brown hair and fierce blue eyes parts the crowd with a tiny brunette at his side, heading for us.

“Who are they?” Aurora whispers.

“Wes. Violet.”

“Violet Novak?” she squeals. “Oh my god! I can’t believe I get to meet her in person!”

Can’t help but grin at Aurora’s excitement.

When they reach us, Wes holds his hand out to me. “Finn. Congrats.”

“I love your book!” Aurora shrieks so loud, Violet jumps.

Violet flushes and gives a bashful smile. “Aww, thank you.”

“My favorite part is when they fuck in the library.” Wes winks at Violet.

She turns a deeper shade of crimson before swatting at him. “You didn’t even read it.”

“I did,” he protests, defiant.

“You skimmed it.”

“I read the important parts.”

“So the spicy parts.”

“ And the dialogue.”

Aurora giggles and launches into a slew of questions about Violet’s book.

Behind me, someone’s elbow collides with my spine.

I hiss through my teeth and whirl?—

I’m so excited to start here next semester . Quinn’s eyes glint with mischief. Gaze trained on Ryder. Watching him with even more interest than she showed at the Sigma Chi party.

No-sisters rule , I sign. It’s still in effect when I’m off campus.

She scowls. I’m not afraid to disown you .

Luke and Sienna finally manage to break off from their families, and Juliet and Trey join us. Followed shortly by Knox and Damien, who both hug Aurora.

An unfamiliar, bittersweet feeling coils in my chest. Might be the last time we’re all together. At least for a while.

“Who wants to go back to the house for pizza?” Luke calls.

A few whoops and cheers of agreement. Soon, we’ll all be heading off to different parts of the country for jobs and school. Sienna and Luke will move in together, Trey and Juliet, Aurora and the three of us.

But we’ll always be friends. You don’t have teammates like the Devils without becoming brothers for life.

Aurora takes my hand as we follow our friends back to the hockey house. She smiles up at me and signs, in the language she studied just for me, Let’s go home.