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“There’s just a lot of people out there,” I say, gesturing to the audience, even though the one person I wanted to see the most couldn’t bother to make the effort.
He shrugs. “At least they’re all here because they’re proud of us. You don’t have anything to be nervous about.”
I furrow my brow at him. “What do you mean?”
“Those people showed up to celebrate our achievements. And you’ve accomplished the most, so that makes you the most important person. When you think about it, they basically came just to hear you speak.”
I roll my eyes, trying not to smile. If nothing else, he’ll make an amazing lawyer one day. “Your logic may not be as sound as you think.”
He grins at me. “Work with me, for once.” Then he leans forward again to speak against my ear. “Besides, I heard your speech at practice. It’s great. You’ll wow everyone with your witty jokes, and they’ll think it’s adorable when you have to pull out the little step stool you’ve got hiding behind the podium just to reach the mic.”
I shiver against my will. “Adorable? Are you sure that’s the right word?” I return, crossing my arms and trying to hide the way my voice is trembling. Hopefully he’ll just chalk it up to my public-speaking nerves.
“Positive,” he says, still smiling as he holds out a hand. I stare down at it blankly as he continues. “I never congratulated you, Loren. I’m sorry for all the times I let my competitive nature get the best of me, but no one deserves this more than you.”
I blink in surprise before I finally slide my palm over his, and he shakes it slowly, gazing at me the whole time and making my insides feel all warm and mushy. He stops moving but holds onto my hand until I tug it away. And my eyes just happen to dart down in time to see the way his fingers curl in and stretch out as he brings his arm down to his side.
Was that … a freaking Darcy hand-flex?
No, there’s no way Blake Bourgeois is in any way affected by me. Right? He was probably just struggling to swallow his pride long enough to congratulate me on beating him out.
“Thanks,” I mumble. “Congratulations to you too. And thanks for being just a little dumber than me.”
He chuckles, smiling so widely that it reaches his eyes. “Don’t give yourself too much credit. I’m sure it’s a result of our genetic makeup. You’ll probably live longer too.”
“Right.” I smirk back at him. “It was my duty as a female to beat you. After all, we can’t have the good people of Camellia lamenting over that Bourgeois kid putting thedickinvaledictorian.”
He laughs again. “You should have included that one in your address. I bet it would have brought the house down.”
“I suppose there’s still time. I’m sure I can come up with an equally clever roast for our historian over there.” I lift my chin toward the class president. She’s watching us carefully, probably because she’s jealous and still delusional in thinking she ever had a chance of passing Blake and me up.
“Oh, I’ve got Allison covered,” he says conspiratorially. “I left all the good lines out of my speech at rehearsals.”
“The good lines?” I ask, my eyebrows shooting up.
“Figured I might as well piss everyone off on my way out, since I’m never coming back here anyway,” he replies with a shrug.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving your loyal following behind just to become a small fish in a big pond,” I retort without thinking.
He purses his lips and looks away. “I think you might be confusing me with that other Bourgeois kid. Don’t worry—happens all the time.”
I lean around him to peer at the front row where our families are seated. Both of his parents are there, as well as his younger brother. Lilley and her new husband sit in the empty chairs beside my dad and Landry.
“You may be The Other Bourgeois, but at least your parents care enough to show up,” I mumble.
He glances over to the same spot and sighs. “Damn, Lo. I’m sorry.”
“It is what it is, right?” I shrug, my eyes watering against my will.
“Did she … were you expecting your mom to be here?”
“She called last week and said she was hoping to get out of rehab any day now. She also swore that she wouldn’t miss this for the world and claimed that she was so incredibly proud of me,” I say sarcastically. “But I guess the chance to watch her baby graduate and deliver the valedictory address wasn’t enough of an incentive to complete a twenty-eight-day program in forty days.”
Blake shakes his head. Then he surprises me by grabbing my wrist and gently pulling me in so he can wrap his arms around me. I bite my lip, trying my best to hold in a sob, and he presses me tightly against his chest.
“I really am sorry,” he says quietly. “You deserve better. You know that, right?”
He backs away after a second, regarding me carefully as I sniffle and wipe the moisture from beneath my eyes.
