Page 66 of My Twin Sister's Ex

Epilogue

Jessilyn

Families and students in caps and gowns milled about the auditorium. I found Bennett coming in with his family. I waved at him, and he headed toward me.

“Look at you!” I said, checking him out in his cap and gown. “All decked out.”

“It’ll be you next year,” Bennett said.

“I know. I can’t believe it.”

Tessa Martin and Spencer Hale walked past, holding hands. They were both in their caps and gowns. It was crazy to think that all the seniors were going to be gone next year. I’d spent so many years going to school with them, and now so many of them were moving on with their lives, heading to college.

I was going to miss the class of 2021. I was just glad I wasn’t going to have to give up Bennett. At least not until I decided to leave for college, but even then, Duke wasn’t too far away. I could still come back and visit him on the weekends. As long as I got in. Either way, I wasn’t planning on going to school too far from home.

I loved Bennett with all my heart. I was so proud of him for achieving his dream of graduating from high school. He took his seat with the seniors at the front of the room, and I found a seat with Reese near the back. Jackilyn had come with her friends, but they weren’t sitting near us. It was normal for Jackilyn and me to avoid each other at school functions. We didn’t move in the same circles. We didn’t interact a lot at home either, and I was okay with that.

We seemed like girls from different planets, not twins who’d shared the same womb. She’d really backed down about me dating Bennett. She said something about me being right for him. She’d seen our chemistry on stage, and it had convinced her that what we had was real. I was surprised. I’d thought she would never let up.

My parents had really warmed up to Bennett. We’d even had him over for dinner. The more they got to know him, the better they seemed to like him. They’d been able to overlook their original judgmental feelings over his financial situation and the path he’d decided to take for his future.

Milla kissed Zayn on the cheek before they took their seats. It was fun to see the couples of Sweet Mountain High’s senior class interacting with each other on their graduation day.

I looked over at where the seniors were settling in for the start of the graduation and saw Bennett taking his seat in alphabetical order near the front of the section since his last name was Andrews.

The ceremony started, and before I knew it, Bennett was crossing the stage to get his diploma. I stood and cheered, whooping his name. When the graduation was over, I greeted Bennett with a hug.

“You did it!”

His lips met mine. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

I savored the feeling of his lips on mine before pulling back. “You earned your diploma through your own hard work too. Don’t forget to give yourself credit.”

“It’s always harder for me to do that for some reason,” Bennett said.

“I know. I’m the same way.”

Bennett’s dad came up to him, giving him a giant bear hug. “I’m so proud of you, my boy.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

His dad wiped at moisture from his eye. “I can’t believe you’re this old already. Your mom would be so happy for you.”

Bennett wiped away a tear. “I’ve been thinking about her all day.”

“She should be here,” his dad said in a thick voice. “It’s just not right that she’s gone.”

Bennett hugged his dad again. “I know, Dad. I know.” He patted him on the back.

His dad turned to me. “Now you have this little lady in your life. You’d better hold on to her, treat her like a queen.”

“He’s already a pro at that,” I told Mr. Andrews.

“Make sure you keep this boy in line,” Bennett’s Uncle Ryan said, coming up to us.

I grinned at him. “He keeps himself in line. I don’t have to do much.”

“Heh! Bennett? Maybe I need to tell you some stories,” Uncle Ryan joked.

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