Defying the Odds: Risking It Book 3 by Autumn Reed

Author:Autumn Reed [Reed, Autumn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-08-26T16:00:00+00:00

Part II

Chapter 14

Two months later

Inspiring speeches. Music. Smiling faces. Applause. It was everything a commencement was supposed to be. Yet, as I stood in my cap and gown, excited graduates milling around me, something was missing. Someone. Two someones, if I was entirely honest with myself.

It had taken half of the ceremony for me to finally spot my small cheering section in the stadium full of families and friends. Dad, Chris, Cole, and Shane sat amongst Simone’s much larger group of supporters. It took me a moment, but I realized the man sitting next to Shane was his father, Ted. He had his arm draped over a blonde woman, who was clearly his wife. Even from a distance I could tell Ashley was gorgeous; no wonder Cole admitted to having a crush on her when he was younger.

Though I was happy to see all of them, the scene felt wrong. I’d known not to expect my mother—she’d made it perfectly clear that she wasn’t interested in being a part of my life as long as I continued my “depraved behavior.” I wished that the snub didn’t hurt, but it did. Would this be the only big day she’d miss out on? Or would she be missing from every significant event in my life from now on?

Her absence would probably be easier to bear if Nicholas had shown up. Without mentioning it to anyone, I’d made today an ultimatum of sorts. If he dragged himself away from James’s campaign long enough to attend my graduation, I would continue to hold out hope that we weren’t completely over. That he cared about me as much as he’d once claimed.

Since he hadn’t shown…well, maybe it was time to move on.

Things had been good with Shane and Cole over the last two months. It was awkward at first, no one wanting to bring up Nicholas and everyone flinching when it happened accidentally. But it gradually got easier. Thinking about him, walking past his bedroom, or hearing his name didn’t make me want to cry anymore. Eventually, it would be like he’d never been the final piece that made the torrid foursome complete. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.

When a pair of familiar arms wrapped around me, I snapped back to the present and returned Simone’s hug. “Congratulations, graduate!”

She pulled back and grinned “It’s only my first degree. No biggie.”

“Tell that to your father and the brand spanking new Mercedes he gave you as a graduation gift.”

Simone laughed. “At this rate, he’ll give me a yacht when I finish my doctorate.”

She was teasing, but only barely. Her dad was extremely well off and had always spoiled her. I wouldn’t be surprised if he upgraded his gift to a house by the time she finished her master’s degree.

“Just don’t forget about little old me when you’re lunching daily at the country club.”

“Oh, please. By that time, you’ll be married to the Ps and parking your yacht right next to mine.” Since Nicholas left, she’d started referring to my boyfriends as the Ps—the Provocative Pair.

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