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“I’m just as surprised as you are,” I said with a teasing grin. Then I shook my head. “Nah, just kidding. You’re smart as hell. You could graduate under any conditions.”
“So could you.” She wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. “God, I can’t believe it’s actually over!”
“Honestly, me neither.” I drew back to plant a kiss on her forehead. “It totally flew by.”
“I guess time flies when you’re—” She paused and tilted her head to one side. “Getting arrested for murder, exposing gross PTO scandals, and falling off cliffs.”
I chuckled. “Apparently, yeah.”
We watched and cheered as Bobbi and Erin received their diplomas. Then I grabbed Kinsey’s hand and led her away from the edge of the stage.
“Where are we going?” she asked, eyes wide with confusion. “We’re going to miss the rest of the ceremony.”
“This’ll only take a minute,” I replied, leading her to a thick oak tree several yards away from the sports field where the ceremony was being held. “I was going to wait, but I don’t want to anymore.”
“Wait for what?”
I didn’t reply until we were safely behind the tree in a private little spot. Then I took a black velveteen box out of my pocket and popped it open. “I got you a graduation gift.”
Kinsey’s mouth dropped open in shock as she stared down at the green gemstone glimmering on the silver ring.
“Don’t worry, it’s notthatkind of ring, so you don’t need to say anything,” I said. “I know we’re only eighteen, so we should probably finish college and figure out our lives before we think about getting married. But I promise you… that kind of ringiscoming one day.”
“Oh my god, sorry!” Kinsey said, vehemently shaking her head. “I wasn’t shocked because the thought of getting engaged to you horrifies me. It doesn’t at all. I was just wondering how you could afford such a beautiful ring!”
I grinned. “Well, I know your mom didn’t want us to work while we were still at school, but I secretly picked up a bit of early-morning football coaching work for some of the younger guys. I’ve been saving up just for this.”
“Jax, it’s amazing. Thank you so much.” Kinsey’s cheeks flushed as she accepted the ring. “I love it.”
“I loveyou.”
“I love you too.” She stood on her tiptoes to kiss me. Then she pulled back. “Oh my god. I just thought of something.”
“What?”
“If we actually get married one day… will I have to change my name to Kinsey Kingsley?”
I laughed. “Maybe we should just invent a whole new surname for ourselves. Or you could keep your own name.”
“I guess we have a while to think about it,” she said, admiring the ring on her right hand.
“Yeah. But like I said…” I paused and winked. “A proper ring is definitely coming one day.”
“Glad to hear it,” she said, eyes sparkling. “Anyway, should we get back to the ceremony before they send out a search party?”
“Yup.” I smiled and took her hand in mine. “Let’s go.”
I stole another glance at the ring on Kinsey’s other hand as we walked, heart lifting with pride. I didn’t have a cent left in my bank account after buying it for her… and I didn’t regret it one bit.
Growing up, I never had to worry about money. Hell, I never even had tothinkabout it. Then, when all the shit went down with my dad and the PTO, and all our accounts and assets were stripped from us, I started to worry about how things would turn out. But it turned out I didn’t have to worry at all, because being with Kinsey made me come to a realization.
Money was very useful, but it didn’t make you rich in the end. It was people who made you truly rich. People who loved and cared for you. People who’d always be there for you.
I had that sort of love in spades thanks to Kinsey, and I’d never felt richer or luckier. She was worth everything in the world to me.
High school was over for us now, and this chapter in our lives was ending, but we still had a lifetime of other chapters to experience together.
I couldn’t wait.
THE END
