Torres visits during winter, spring, and summer break, and every time he does, we meet at the same hotel in downtown Raleigh, spending a full week together, and it’s never any different.
We can never keep our hands off each other. We talk and laugh and eat and watch movies after training so hard for track, and it’s the best feeling in the world to just be lazy and cozy and even sexy with someone.
He was right. Nothing has changed. Even when I thought all would be lost—that he’d move on from a young girl like me—here he is. Always with me. Always wanting me. Always there for me.
Before I know it, the end of my senior year has arrived. My graduation is tomorrow and I can’t believe the time has flown by so fast.
I told Torres the date of my graduation and he said he’d be here, but now that it’s the day of, I haven’t heard from him and I’m getting a little worried.
“You ready?” Mama asks as she checks on me. I’m standing in the bathroom of our shared hotel room. We had to book one for the graduation today. Mama didn’t want to drive the day of. “We’ve gotta be there an hour early and I know this because I read the email several times.”
I laugh as I fix one of my curls. “I’m ready.”
I pick up my phone and check the screen on my way out of the bathroom, but there aren’t any notifications.
I ignore the dread I feel building up inside me and follow Mama out of the hotel room. Torres may not make it because of a delay with his flight or something. Maybe there’s an important meeting at his school that he can’t miss?
It takes us no time to get to Bennett. As soon as Mama parks, I climb out of the car with my cap and as I walk, I notice Kendall standing near the student’s entrance with her mom. Her mom is a petite Spanish woman with brown hair and bronze skin.
“Lakey Lakes!” Kendall shouts when she sees me. She rushes my way, wraps me up in her arms, and I laugh.
“Kendall!” I squeal over her shoulder.
My mom shakes hands with Kendall’s mother as Kendall compliments me on my dress.
“I’m telling you right now, don’t even wear the gown. Take it off! That dress is too hot to cover up.”
I laugh, looking down at my black dress. It’s honestly not much, but it does have a lot of cleavage. Mama was against it at first, but it was my favorite option, so I stuck with it.
“We should probably go with the rest of the graduates. I think they’re going to line up now,” I say.
Kendall looks at the line. “Yeah, that’s right.”
“Go on, baby,” Mama says as she turns toward the guest entrance with Mrs. Ramirez. “We’re going to find a good seat before it starts filling up in there.”
“Yes, and I have to save a seat for your sister,” Mrs. Ramirez says to Kendall.
“That bitch better hurry up,” Kendall snaps under her breath.
“Okay.” I wave as Mama goes and then turn to walk with Kendall, following the rest of the graduates to the lines.
“You good?” Kendall asks as we approach the line to check in.
“Yeah, I’m great!”
Who am I kidding? I’m not great. I check my phone as Kendall checks in and there are still no notifications. But he promised. He has to come.
I check in next and when I’m told which line to go into, I make my way there, parting ways with Kendall who does that silly thing she does where she reaches out to me and pouts her bottom lip.
When it’s time for the graduates to sit in order, I sit but not without scanning the crowd. I see Mama close to the front with Mrs. Ramirez and whom I’m assuming is Kendall’s sister. She’s so much smaller than Kendall, but it’s definitely her. I can tell by all the tattoos on her arms and hands.
Mama waves at me when I see her, and I wave back.
I continue my search, but I don’t have any luck.
As our names are called, my anxiety is through the roof, and when it’s my turn to cross the stage, I force a smile at the dean, accept my diploma, and I know I should be over the moon about graduating from Bennett, but I’m fully distracted.
I walk down the steps and am on my way back to my seat when I hear someone shout, “Smile, Lakes!”
I gasp when I hear the familiar voice and look to find it, and standing in the crowd, wearing a sky-blue shirt is Torres himself. My heart doubles in speed and I’m surprised I don’t trip over my own two feet in these heels.
I wave at him as I walk by and he winks at me. He’s here! I knew he’d show!