The humongous mountain of a creature was not only with tiny dude, but tiny dude was also a drag queen.
I was already in love with Aaron’s friends.
We didn’t have much more time to chat as the band started up withPomp and Circumstance, but I motioned Mel forward.
“Did you have any plans after this? Dinner? Drinks?”
“No, not really. We’re all just kind of poor.”
“My treat, we’ll go out to dinner after this,” I said. “Before we steal him away for weeks on end.”
“Deal,” Mel said. “Never pass up a free meal.”
“Are you really ready to feed two hockey players?” Alexei asked.
“Who else plays?”
Mel raised his hand.
Oh, my God. This mountain could skate, too. I was all in on these friendships. “Who do you play for?”
“I was drafted last year by the Rangers, but…I have the feeling I’m going to be traded before I get there. They don’t need an enforcer.”
“Well, I can afford to feed you, so, my treat.”
Alexei high-fived Mel and we all turned back to watch the commencement.
It was just as boring as I remembered from high school. Though, they had managed to get a decent speaker, so it wasn’t quite dreadful, and they were fast with the diplomas. One right after the other, bam. There were tons of mini cheering sections for different people, and when someone didn’t seem to have anyone, the whole stadium clapped for them.
“Here he comes!” David’s voice was thick with admiration and excitement, and the five of them had signs all of a sudden, ready to wave them.
“Aaron Donner, Masters in Chemistry, Bachelors in Music, high honors!”
Rand wolf-whistled and the signs were in the air behind us as we all stood. We whooped and hollered as he shook the dean’s hand and headed for the other side. He finally found us as he neared the steps of the stage, and almost lost his footing. From the expression on his face, he did not expect us at all.
“Win!” Ora laughed as we all sat down to let the other cheer.
“Nicely done,” Alexei said, patting Rand’s shoulder. “We don’t get to surprise him often.”
“I think we got our shock quotient by asking him to join the band,” Holland said. “So, you all can have this one.”
* * *
Aaron ranup to the group of us after the cap toss, and Gertie tackled him, lifting him right off the ground.
“You did it!” she crowed.
“I did!” he yelled back. “And you assholes drove all the way to Ithaca?”
“Bussed it,” Alexei said. “It wasn’t that bad, actually.”
“Guys…” We could all see the tears in his eyes. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“Why wouldn’t we?” Drew asked.
Drew. On a bus. That tickled me pink.
He turned to us. “And you guys too?”
