Page 118 of Campus Crush
“Your Honor,” I said, quietly but clearly, “Mason and I are a family. We’ve already lost our parents and our grandmother. Staying together isn’t just what we want—it’s what we need.”
I took a breath, grounding myself in every sleepless night, every tutoring shift, every minute I’d fought to hold our lives together. “When our mom died, I thought about taking time off from school to help Mason, but my grandmother and friends convinced me I could do both—be there for him and stay on track with my degree. I’ve maintained a 3.9 GPA while working two jobs. I show up for him every single day. It hasn’t been easy, but we’re doing it. Please don’t separate us. I know I’m young, but no one will care about his safety and well-being more than me.”
The courtroom was silent when I finished. I could feel Foster beside me, calm and steady, the way he always was when I needed him most.
Judge Harrison removed her glasses and studied me. “Ms. Walker, your dedication to your brother is evident. I’ve reviewed your academic records and employment history as well as the reference letters from your employers, and they reflect both maturity and responsibility. The number of people here today demonstrate that you have a meaningful support system.”
She replaced her glasses, flipping back through the file. “The court’s primary concern is Mason’s welfare and long-term stability. Based on the evidence presented—including the home study, character references, and Mason’s own statement—I find that granting you guardianship is in his best interest, contingent on a letter from your landlord stating that the tenant swap is approved.”
My breath caught in my throat.
“Thank you, Your Honor,” Patricia said, already gathering her papers.
“Court is adjourned,” Judge Harrison announced, tapping her gavel lightly.
I stood frozen, unable to fully process what had just happened until Patricia touched my arm.
“Congratulations, Abby. You did it.”
Foster’s arms wrapped around me, and he pressed a kiss to my hair.
Mason approached, looking relieved and slightly embarrassed by the display of emotion. “So it’s official? You’re, like, my legal guardian now?”
I pulled away from Foster to hug my brother, who stiffly returned the embrace before stepping back. “Yes, it’s official. I’m legally responsible for making sure you don’t flunk math and eat something other than pizza occasionally.”
A small smile tugged at his lips. “Cool.”
“There will be some paperwork to finalize, and we need to get that letter from your landlord ASAP,” Patricia explained as we gathered our things. “But essentially, yes, Abby is now your legal guardian, Mason.”
As we left the courthouse, stepping into the spring sunshine, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. There was still so much to figure out—selling Gram’s house, managing our finances, balancing all my responsibilities—but for the first time since Gram was admitted to the hospital, I felt like we were on solid ground.
Foster took my hand as we walked to his car. “How does it feel?”
I looked at Mason walking ahead of us, already loosening his tie and texting someone on his phone. “Terrifying. Overwhelming.” I squeezed Foster’s hand. “But also so freaking good to have that stress behind me.”
“You know what this calls for?” Foster said, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Celebration dinner at the hockey house. Gordy’s been planning a menu since yesterday just in case.”
I laughed, and it came easier than it had since before Gram died.
“Never doubted you for a second, Walker. But don’t worry—we had contingencies in place if you lost,” Drew said, coming up behind us.
“What contingencies?” Foster asked, already sounding worried.
“Kidnapping, obviously,” Liam said with a casual shrug.
“Thank God it didn’t come to that,” Gordy added with a shake of his head like he couldn’t believe he cared about these guys.
All of it made me feel so full of love, I thought I might burst. They were insane, but wasn’t that how family was supposed to be?
Tears pricked my eyes again, but this time they were happy tears. When Mom died, I thought our family was broken beyond repair. I never imagined we’d find a new kind of family—one we chose and who chose us back.
I’d learned something valuable over the last few weeks. Home wasn’t a place. It was a group of people—our found family.
FIFTY-NINE
Two days later, there was an unexpected knock on the door.
Mason and Abby were both sitting at the kitchen table working on homework while I was sitting on the couch reviewing notes for an exam I had coming up.
