Page 7 of Marvelous

And I couldn’t be prouder of him.

Then, as our row was ready to start, I stood up and scanned the crowd.

The moment my eyes landed on my dad, I saw him wink, and then he pointed at me.

His wife, an amazing woman named Paula, waved at me.

I waved back.

The other students’ names were called, and then my name was called.

“Cassandra Rae Skye.”

I smiled as I walked up the steps, and the moment I had my degrees in my hand, I heard my dad shout, “That’s my girl.”

I was giggling as I walked across the stage.

I was still giggling as my dad wrapped me in a hug and whispered, “I’m so proud of you, darlin’.”

I smiled into his big, burly chest and said, “I’m so proud of you, too, dad.”

We pulled apart, and then Paula wrapped me in a hug, “Congratulations, sweetie.”

I smiled, “Thank you.”

Then my best friend in the whole wide world, Sara, ran over to my side, kissed my dad’s cheek, and Paula’s, and then she said, “Dinner?”

After we all ate, I dropped my dad and Paula off at the airport and then headed to our apartment to get ready for our very last college party.

I was meeting up with my boyfriend, Kyle.

Things had been strained lately, but I was hoping that now that classes were over, things would smooth out.

That had been my thought at least, until I saw something that stayed in the back of my mind.

Why had Sara looked at him with longing in her eyes?

And why had Kyle widened his eyes at her and shaken his head?

‘The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to rely on or blame. The gift is yours, it’s an amazing journey and you alone are responsible for the quality of it.’

– Bob Moawad.

Chapter 1

Cassie

It’s been a month since we both graduated from college.

Sara went to school to be a doctor and was about to start her residency.

I was now looking for jobs.

But first... I had something that I had been looking forward to for months.

“Come on. Let’s go!” I shouted as I pounded on Sara’s door.

I heard her groan as she called through her bedroom door, “Oh my god, Cassie, seriously? What time is it?”