Epilogue

Noah All the drama surrounding the Sext Me line died down. Sara refused to tell me how she did it, but it meant we didn’t have to worry about people staring and murmuring about us as we moved around campus together.

The rest of my final year in college was uneventful. There was only one more surprise, and it came from Dad.

When I was worried about getting funds from part-time jobs to keep me up, after he’d paid all my tuition, he sent me money and told me not to worry about working, just hurry up and graduate, then find a proper job.

I’d wondered where all the money came from, and he answered when I ask, despite what I thought. His business venture took off. Like, really took off. While he didn’t become a millionaire overnight, he was definitely nouveau riche.

It was the day of graduation, after I’d already gone up and received my degree, I saw him. I stood with Sara, who’d also invited her mom. I wasn’t sure how to react, and immediately, turned to look at Sara and Tina, but neither of them seemed angry. Dad gave a wry smile as he stepped away a few feet from us.

“Hey, son,” he said casually.

I scowled. “That’s all you have to say? After disappearing for most of the damn year? Would it have killed you to call a few times?”

“You never called, either,” he said defensively.

I rolled my eyes and walked over to pull him into a bear hug. I still wasn’t okay with what he did, but he paid it back, and he was still my dad. He was awkward as he patted my back, but I didn’t expect any less or more from him. When we broke it off, Sara and Tina had come closer. Sara seemed a little irritated, but Tina looked very cool.

“Greg,” she said calmly.

Dad shifted his eyes away before looking back at her, even more awkward than he was with me.

“I… came because I know I owe you an apology. Both to Noah and Tina. What I did was out of line. I didn’t let myself worry about it because I knew I could get it back quickly, but everything could have just as easily gone south. And I… should have taken your feelings more into consideration. I’d like to ask for forgiveness, but I don’t think I deserve it.”

I had nothing to say. He was my dad, my only family. Unless he killed someone, or didn’t try to right his wrongs, I would ignore whatever he did. Not to say I wouldn’t be mad, but he was trying, and it was all I could ask for. Sara and I both looked at Tina, who just stared at him. It lasted for a while, but no one said anything, and Dad started to fidget.

Then, she spoke.

“At least you’re honest. And there’s no need to ask for forgiveness, I’ve put the whole matter behind me. I’ll take it as a warning to be smarter next time.”

Internally, I was impressed with Tina. Even Sara had a grudging expression on her face as she stopped glaring at my dad.

Then, Tina smiled. “I hear your venture is doing well. I’m happy for you.”

Dad ducked his head and rubbed the back of his neck.

“I actually ignored a few pitfalls thanks to some advice you gave me of your own experiences, so I guess I should thank you for that.”

My mouth gaped open as I stared at Dad, because he was suddenly not acting like himself. I felt a tug on my robe, and looked to see Sara press a finger to her mouth, then off to the side. I nodded, and followed her as we walked away from our parents.

“Is it okay to leave them alone?” I asked, still a little worried.

Sara snorted. “Don’t look down on my mom, okay? You should be more worried about your dad, but they’ll be fine by themselves. They’re both adults. Besides, I’d like to have you all to myself sometime today.”

I smiled as she slid her hand into mine, folding our fingers together. There were people milling around, other graduates meeting up with their families, friends and partners. I’d met up with my friends before, and it was enough for me. What I really wanted, was to go back to Sara’s room. It was still the middle of the day, but we could just lay in bed holding each other and wait for the day to be over. If only I didn’t have so much to do.

“What are you thinking?”

Sara asked.

I shrugged. “Lots of things. For one, I need to worry about getting out of this robe, then I need to stop by the office for a few things. I have to search for an internship, and hope I get a job along the way. I have to settle where I’m going to live instead of camping out with my friends now that I’m leaving the dorms for good…”

She sighed. “You’d think graduating is the easy part, but it’s not, is it? You just get more to worry about.”

I chuckled and reached up to gently pat her hair, before wrapping my arm around her waist.

“It’s going to be different for everybody, but I need to be self-sufficient soon.”

Sara gave me a teasing smile. “You’re going somewhere close by for the internship, right? I could always get an apartment outside the school, it’s totally allowed. Then you could live with me like my kept man.”

I rolled my eyes, because I knew she was joking, and she giggled.

“You don’t have to worry about it. I can still meet you out of campus when we’ve both got free time, and we can call and text all the time.” I squeezed her gently, turning to place a quick kiss on her temple. “I think things are great just like this.”

“Don’t forget I’m still a student,” Sara joked. “And I’ll be in my sophomore year, too, I have to start getting really serious. I won't be able to sleep out much, and you’re going to be around a lot of people every day… around beautiful women…”

I stopped walking and turned her to face me. There were people all around us, but I didn’t care as I caught her face between my hands and gave her a soft, lingering kiss. Then I rested my forehead on hers and gazed into her eyes as I stroked her cheek with my thumb.

“You don’t have to worry,” I said reassuringly. “No matter who I get to meet out there, I’m not going to forget about you. And I won't get so busy that I can't give you a call. Or, you can give me a call. We can do video chats if we can't meet for too long. There’s no way I’d forget.”

She smiled, and her expression this time wasn’t teasing. Her lips trembled as a sigh passed through them, and her hands rose up to twine her fingers in mine.

“Promise?” She murmured.

I smiled gently back, giving her one last peck. “I’ll wait for you. Because I love you. Is that enough for you to believe me?”

She stared at me, her widened eyes stunned. Then, she started blinking rapidly as her eyes grew moist. Sara rocked onto the tips of her toes and gave me a peck back.

“I love you, too,” she murmured.

Then, she wrapped her arms around me as she buried her face in my chest. Everything and everyone else fell away as I slid my arms around her slightly trembling form and closed my eyes, feeling content.

###The End###