Page 107 of The Exception

Dylan put a hand over his heart but his smirk betrayed the gesture.

Adam just shrugged.

She was going to kill Emma for this.

The soft music that had ushered them to their seats petered out and a grey-haired man took the podium. Sonya let her eyes glaze and the words trail off without being heard. She didn’t think she could take any sentimental speeches right now. She glanced around the crowd, wondering who else was here to support Trav. Friends? Family?

Jack Travis was probably here somewhere.He’d better be, she thought on Trav’s behalf. She couldn’t imagine Trav’s father skipping this, but then again, she’d met the man so maybe she could.

God, she wished she could see him. If Dr. Travis wasn’t there, Trav’s feelings might be hurt. If he was there, Trav could be nervous, self-conscious the way he only ever was around his father. She knew these things about him, which made hiding from him now even worse.

The memory of Trav standing across Abi’s office from her, shoulders slumped while his dad made his disappointment clear to the room, whispered to her. The way Trav’s bright blue eyes had looked so tired before they’d settled on hers in one last plea for backup.

And she’d stayed silent.

Just like she was now.

Abi was right. She’d epically missed the point and this was her punishment. This…sorrowin her belly. It was far worse than any professional reprimand, but she’d figured that out too late.

The sappy words came to an end and one by one Trav’s classmates were called onto the stage to shake hands with the grey-haired man and receive their diploma.

Sonya took a steadying breath when they got to T, and she felt Emma’s fingers curl around her wrist.

“Benjamin Travis,” the man at the podium said.

On either side of her, obnoxious cheers rose up over the crowd.

Her cheeks caught fire. “What did I say?” she hissed at Adam while he fist pumped the air. Dylan put his fingers to his lips and whistled. Dani shouted something.

She was at a damn adult daycare.

A couple three rows up on the other side turned over their shoulders, stretching to see who was acting like the paparazzi. They had to be friends of Trav’s.

Great.

On the stage, Trav hesitated, looking out over the crowd.

Shit, he’d heard them. Of course, he heard them. They were theworst.

Sonya sunk further into her chair, but she watched him between the heads of the people in front of her. He was smiling. He was happy, as he should be, but it was lemon juice in her open wound to know she wasn’t going to get to share in it. She wouldn’t get to run to him after he tossed his cap, and wrap her arms around his neck, tell him how proud she was.

And she was so proud.

All she could hope for was that his father would find some modicum of decency and feel that same pride. Or whoever that was looking at Sonya’s friends curiously. Whoever they were, whoever he had here, she hoped Trav felt all of the pride and admiration she couldn’t give him today.

By the time the whole class had been called, the back of Sonya’s throat felt like she was swallowing glass. Her eyes burned, so she slipped her sunglasses onto her nose, pretending the glare from the white chairs had gotten to her.

She smoothed her hands over her skirt, controlling her breathing. “Welp,” she said, holding a hand out to Dylan for the purse he still held hostage. “That’s it. Time to go. Thank you all very mu—”

“Sonya?”

Sonya turned to see a small woman in a purple dress eyeing her curiously.

“You’re Sonya, right?” The baby on her hip tugged at her long brown braid while she waited for Sonya’s answer.

“Yes.”

“I’m Tif. I just, I couldn’t help but notice you.” Her eyes darted to the row of Sonya’s friends who had all suddenly decided to shut up. “We’re friends of Trav’s.”

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