"Hey yourself. Don't you look so pretty and sophisticated in your graduation gown," he said, pulling me in for a deeper kiss.

My pulse quickened as my heart began beating harder. I was glad I had kept my insecure thoughts to myself. Sam and Lynn were right, we were fine.

"I brought you these," he said, handing over a delicate bouquet of flowers. "And this," handing me a small, elegantly wrapped box.

I sighed, breathing in the heady smell of the flowers.

"You didn't have to do this," I said, feeling my cheeks heat up, slightly self-conscious that he got me a gift. Mark placed his palm on my cheek, easing away the embarrassment as he placed a light kiss on my lips.

"It's customary to give a graduate a gift," he said smiling.

"Here, I will put those in water, dear," my mom said, taking the flowers from me and strolling to the kitchen. I wasn't fooled by her ploy. She knew how I felt about opening gifts in front of people.

Settling on the edge of the couch, I pulled the wrapping off the small jewelry box. I gasped in pleasure after lifting the lid, spying the delicate heart shaped pendant on a chain. The heart was etched with two words, Always Yours.

"It's beautiful," I said with moist eyes as he helped my shaky fingers hook the chain around my neck.

"I love you," he said, leaning in to give me another kiss.

"I love you too," I said after softly caressing his lips with my own return kiss.

"We better go," he said, glancing at his watch.

"Mom, you ready?" I called out as I stood up to smooth out the back of my polyester robe.

"No reason to yell Dear. I'm right here," she said smiling.

"Oops, sorry mom, I didn't realize you were that close."

"Pretty necklace," she said, stepping in to inspect it. Her eyes tightened slightly at the corners with concern. She had warmed up considerably toward Mark, but made it clear that she wished we would slow down. I guess declaring himself mine, always, didn’t fall under the "slowing it down" category.

The parking lot at the country club where they were holding our graduation was packed by the time we pulled in. Mark circled the driveway and pulled up in front of the awning to let us out.

"I'll go park and join you inside," he said before I shut the door.

"Krista, over here," Sam called, standing by a five-tier elaborate fountain that was located in front of the oversized glass plated doors. "Tom and Karen are inside saving seats for your mom and this lot," Sam said, indicating Shawn, Lynn, Robert, and to my surprise, Haniel, who was standing to her left.

"Haniel, you're back," I said, happy for his return. "Mom, this is Haniel, a family friend of Mark's," I said smoothly.

Her eyes widened, taking in the Greek god-like figure in front of her. "It is a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Miller," Haniel said, holding out his hand.

Her hand was lost in his and I watched all tension leave her face at his touch. Haniel had a way of making a person relax and leave their worries behind. I had grown quite fond of him since his human-like moment after the revival when he healed my neck. I really missed him this past week while he was gone.

Mark joined our group a few minutes later. "You ready?" he asked, quietly placing his arm around my waist.

"I guess," I said grudgingly, not completely excited about being the center of attention.

"You'll be fine, and I'm sure Sam won't mind tripping or something if you mess up," Robert said, teasing Sam.

"Great, now that you jinxed me, I probably will trip. Thanks a lot bro, you're supposed to have my back," Sam said in mock anger as she reached past Lynn to sock him on the arm.

"Oww, I think a mosquito just got me," Robert said, making a production of looking for a mark on his muscular forearm.

"Oh shut it." Sam said giggling.

"Looks like they want the graduates to head down that hallway," Mark said, interrupting their antics.

"Sheesh, you think their sign is big enough?" Sam asked, snorting at the refrigerator-sized sign that simply read, Graduates This Way, with a two foot arrow beneath the words.

Tags: Tiffany King The Saving Angels
Source: readsnovelonline.net