“I love you too,” I squeeze her back.
We hold each other, fully embraced in each other like when I was a small child. She looks at me, a laugh breaking from both of our lips as she pulls away from me. “Now, I think someone has something he would like to say.”
I look over to Richard, blues meeting blues. His eyes speak so much but that won’t be enough this time. “Callum…” He rubs the back of his neck. “What can I even say?”
I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know, because I would never abandon my child, make them feel as worthless as you’ve made me feel.”
His eyes glitter under the weight of my words. “I just wanted to protect you,” he whispers.
“I understand that but…”
Richard sighs, “I know. I went about it the wrong way, but, Callum, you’re my only little girl. When I thought I lost you, it killed me worse than watching the boys lose their mother. I love my boys, but you,” he smiles slightly, “you’re my baby girl. And fuck, I’m so proud of who you’ve become. You don’t understand why I did what I did, but it was never because I was ashamed of you. You terrified me. You were this small, beautiful bundle of pink I knew I had to protect. From the world, from the media, fuck, from me. When I think about all I missed out on, I want to punch myself in the face. I should have been there. Between you and I, I was. I’ve never missed a volleyball game, a program. Anything. You just couldn’t see me. And, Callum?”
I look up through blurred eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
A sob burst past my lips as my body shakes from the emotions. Richard isn’t doing much better than me.
“If you give me the chance, I’d like to make it up to you.”
“I think it’s going to take some time,” comes my broken whisper.
Richard smiles. “I’ve got time.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Journal entry: And so she finished high school and still had no clue what she wanted to do in life.
My senior year has flown.From being obsessed with my teacher to being kidnapped, it’s no wonder if feels like it’s gone by in the blink of an eye. When I saw my grade for government, it made me sick. But I figured after all I’ve endured, maybe it was okay to accept the grade. After all… I did earn it. Economics went by a lot smoother for me. I vibe with the subject. I did, however, leave Lincoln’s class. It was too risky, given our relationship and the fact that he can’t keep his eyes off me, or maybe it’s the bows? Don’t get me wrong, we still find time to sneak around school, keeping our secret until the very last day.
Macy got a full-ride scholarship to the top school for volleyball. I was offered one right beside her, but I politely declined it. I have some other things on my mind for the rest of my life.
Jake finally came out; I was there every step of the way to support him. His dad was furious but after Richard gave him a few choice words, he was more accepting. Richard is kind of a hard-ass. Who knew?
Speaking of Richard, he wants me to call him Dad, but I haven’t quite made it there yet. We have been working on our relationship, doing activities together. He did sit me down and apologize, explaining his fucked-up way of thinking, and me being me, I forgave him. He makes me and Mom happy. And he was right, it’s never too late to make things right again.
Jennifer, yeah, I never believed we’d be friends again, but after the kidnapping, we talked. She was being a bitch as a way to protect herself—not an excuse, but I understand armor. It’s weird seeing her date Heath, but since he didn’t use a condom with her one time, and I have my very first niece due in a few months, I guess I might be stuck with her.
Bethany met someone, she’s super-secret about it, but I have a feeling I know who it might be. She’s decided to take a gap year to travel. She wants to go to Forks, Washington really bad. To hunt for vampires or something. And guess who is going along? Brock. Most say it’s an odd couple, a jock and a goth, but I find poetic justice in flipping social norms off.
Elizabeth and Noah are… well, they’re okay. They fight a lot. But sometimes I catch them staring at each other, as if one couldn’t possibly live without the other. But I don’t think anything is happening there. Yet. Lincoln is homeschooling her. Only under Noah’s close watch. He won’t leave her alone with anyone but me. She’s starting to come out of her shell, though.
And Lincoln, he’s still grumpy. He’s pretty much an ass to everyone but me, and I find that hot. How could I not?
“Callum Madison.” Shoot. That’s me. I walk up to the stage, smiling at the loud crowd as they cheer me on. I grab my diploma, beaming for the camera. I feel on top of the world. My first big milestone is officially in the books. I walk off the stage, shaking each of my teacher’s hands with a bright smile on my face. When I get to him, I readjust my cap. I decorated it with bows and lipstick prints.
“Congratulations, Miss Madison.” Lincoln holds out his hand.
I take it, smiling at him. “Thank you, Mr. Boyd.”
He grins and then he pulls me in. My body crashes to his while his arm wraps around my waist and he kisses me. I think I hear some gasps, but mostly I hear cheers from my fellow classmates.
“Yeah, Callum! You claim your man,” Macy shouts.
It makes me laugh and I pull back to look up to twinkling ashy eyes. My cheeks heat when I realize what he’s done. “I better go take my seat,” I whisper, laughing.
“Probably.” He grins, releasing me.