Page 287 of Redeemed

She grins. “Of course. See you then.”

With a parting smile, Athelia lets Kellan guide her away. Then I’m alone, the chaos of the crowd washing over me.

I stand in a sea of people, watching everyone greet their families and friends. I’m surrounded by laughter and hugs and kisses and so much happiness. It seems like everyone has someone to wrap them up in their arms and congratulate them.

Yet I stand in a bubble of isolation.

I could try to find Colton, but I can’t bring myself to move. All I can think about is my own family. My parents, my brothers and sisters, and how I could never ask them to be here.

They could never be proud of me. Not for this.

For rejecting everything I was raised to believe.

For falling out of line.

For running.

My heart feels like it’s being crushed under the weight of a thousand boulders when an arm slips around my shoulders, and I feel the sharp point of a knife at my side.

“Hello, Heaven.”

Xander

“Dad!Rachel!”Iboundup the bleachers of the football stadium.

They’re in a wheelchair-accessible area for Phil, who’s finally gotten some color back to his face. Dad told me he wouldn’t be able to make the trip for graduation. Last night, he mentioned they were having trouble finding an affordable vehicle that can fit his chair, but they were able to find something that worked last-minute.

I was a little ticked he didn’t tell me the reason sooner. Colton would’ve covered the cost in a heartbeat. But that’s my dad. He’s already uncomfortable with how much money Colton is giving him.

Still, I’m worried that this is going to set back Phil’s recovery. He needs to rest, not travel. Of course, he wouldn’t hear any of that. He’s too proud of me, and even though I’m worried about him, I’m secretly glad he made it.

“Hi,” I say as Rachel throws herself into my arms.

“You did it!” she squeals.

Her words knock into me more than the force of her body. She’s right. I did it—Lucas and Ibothdid it.

“I’m proud of you, son,” Dad says with glassy eyes.

“So am I,” Aunt Josie says before pulling me into a hug. “Bob sends his congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

Unexpected tears prick at my eyes, and I grin at everyone to hold them back. No one expected me to get this far in life. Even my own mother didn’t think I’d make it to college, let alone graduate.

There were only three people who didn’t give up on me back then, and two of them are right here with me.

“We should find Luc,” I say. “Oh, and Haven. She doesn’t have any family here. Colt should be with her by now, but still. I don’t want her to feel alone.”

“Her family couldn’t make it?” Dad asks.

“It’s… complicated. I’ll explain later. Just let me find everyone first, and then maybe we can go to dinner?”

“That sounds lovely,” Aunt Josie says.

I give Rachel a big kiss on the cheek, ignoring her when she screeches about cooties. I scan the crowd, first finding Lucas with his family, and then Colton. He’s searching the area where Haven was sitting during the ceremony, but she’s not there.

That’s odd.She was supposed to wait over there until he found her so he could get to her as quickly as possible. Colton’s grandfather is trailing behind him and trying to get him to stop, so that probably slowed him down a little, but why did she leave?

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