Page 80 of From Me to You

“It’s from Yale,” I whispered. “I am scared to open it.”

“I am sure it’s good news, sweetheart.” Jay kissed my cheek.

I nodded, and my hands shook as I opened the app. I breezed through it until I saw the word congratulations. Oh, my God, I actually got in.

“I got in,” I muttered in disbelief.

Jay beamed, hugging me so tight. “I am so proud of you. Congratulations, sweetheart. I love you so damn much.”

I was so excited, but I was also terrified as the dread started to set in. Things were starting to get too real. The one thing that I had always wanted my whole life was here. It was possible. But why didn’t I feel happy at all?

CHAPTER 17

I spent every moment of the last four days with Jay. We cuddled and made love for hours. And when he left, it felt like he took a part of me with him. It felt so lonely, but I kept telling myself that he would be back soon.

“Are you all right, Evy?” Lily frowned.

I swirled my fork through the noodles, having no appetite to actually eat them. “Yeah. I just miss him. It feels weird.” I shrugged.

She placed her hand on mine. “Em will be back in a couple of days, Evy. Hey, you’ve been without him for a whole month before, so this is nothing, right?” She smiled, trying to cheer me up.

But my melancholy wouldn’t just fade away.

“I know, Lily. But this time I just have this feeling that nothing will ever be the same again. And it terrifies me,” I admitted.

“Yes, maybe, but Em loves you, Evy. That is the one thing that will never change.”

“Yeah, I know.” I exhaled. But I didn’t feel any better.

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“Bye, Evy. I will see you later and don’t worry about anything. Everything will be just fine,” Lily called out as she headed home.

“Bye, Lily. I will see you tomorrow.”

Lily and I walked together every day to school. And mostly returned together unless she had her swim class, which she didn’t today.

I sighed as I made my way to the door. It had been less than twenty-four hours since Jay left for Los Angeles. And he still hasn’t called me, except for the text I received during school that he had reached.

“Congratulations!” Aunty M screamed as I walked inside the house. She had a huge smile on her face and a big red velvet cake in her hand.

I couldn’t help but smile as I made my way to her. “Thanks, Aunty M.”

She set the cake aside and pulled me in for a bear hug. “I am so proud of my darling niece for getting into Yale,” she said, kissing my head.

“Thank you, Aunty M. I couldn’t have done it without you or Grandma. I am so grateful for all the sacrifices that you have made for me,” I whispered.

Tears shone in her eyes as she pulled back. “Oh, honey, I love you like you are my own child. It was never a sacrifice.”

“I love you so much, Aunty M.” I smiled at her.

Tears now flowed down her cheeks. “Ah, you are making me cry.” She beamed, wiping away her tears. “I told Liam that I would move in with him. He was so excited,” she said while we sat on the couch, enjoying a slice of the cake. “I told him I would fully move in two months after you graduated high school. Do you know where you will be staying with Emerson?”

“No idea, Aunty M. I am not sure where he will end up.” I sighed “All I know is that we will be together.”

Since I had applied for the spring semester, I had well over six months to be with him before I left for college. Which I dreaded already.

“I have asked Liam to put all your things in the guest bedroom. That way, no matter what, you will always have a home to come back to.” She smiled softly.