Filed to story: Once Upon a One Night Mistake Book PDF Free by Simone Shirazi
“Speak for yourself,” Michael grunted. “My parents said they’d show up for my graduation once I got my first master’s degree. They certainly aren’t out in that crowd.”
“See?” Taliana said, motioning to Michael for emphasis. “Even his asshole parents don’t think this is worthy of their time.”
Jude still didn’t seem fully convinced. “What would we even do instead?”
Taliana looked around the circle of boys, an idea springing to mind when her gaze finally landed on Sebastian. “How about a road trip? Hamptons weekend two-point-oh?”
Michael and Jacob were immediately on board. Jude shrugged but was clearly excited by the prospect, and Sebastian was quick to sling an arm around Taliana’s shoulders. He was the one she knew would be all for it, considering that was where they’d become an official couple all those months ago. Maybe somewhere in the back of her mind, Taliana hoped that returning there might help fix them. Even though that may have been a long shot, she was definitely up for giving it a chance-not to mention she was definitely up for a beach getaway.
Only Marcus looked like he wanted nothing to do with skipping graduation.
“Oh no. No, no, no.” He shook his head vigorously. “I can’t miss this. I have a speech to give!”
Michael was quick to sidle up to him, standing what must have been uncomfortably close for Marcus. “Come on, you know you want to join us. How can you pass up the feeling of sun on your face and sand between your toes?”
“I worked my ass off to be valedictorian and you think I’m going to skip this? Get real.”
“I mean, yeah. Aren’t we better than reading a dumb speech?”
“Honestly-“
“Leave him be, Michael,” Taliana interrupted, putting a hand to his elbow to get him to step back. “Marcus has a valid reason to be here.”
Relief filled Marcus’s eyes. “Are you guys really going to do this?”
Taliana shrugged, glancing up at Sebastian-whose arm she’d yet to push from around her shoulders-for reassurance. “Are we?”
He grinned, and something fluttered low in Taliana’s stomach, a feeling she didn’t want to put a name to just yet. It would’ve made it all too real.
“I don’t see why not,” he said, gently tugging her closer.
Michael wasted no time shedding his too-small gown and started toward the back of the parking lot. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
Jacob was quick to follow suit along with Jude, although the latter gently folded his gown over his arm before rushing off, leaving Sebastian, Marcus, and Taliana standing in a small circle.
“I’m sure your speech is going to be amazing,” Taliana told Marcus, reaching out to touch his arm for encouragement.
He offered a smile in response but covered her hand with his own and gave it a soft squeeze. “Thanks. And honestly, I’m kind of glad you guys won’t be here for my speech. Michael would never let me live it down.”
“You’re joining us as soon as the ceremony is over,” Sebastian insisted, leaving Marcus no room for argument.
Just then an announcement sounded over the loudspeaker, requesting all graduates go to their designated groupings so the processional could begin. Marcus went momentarily pale but soon regained his coloring after a friendly shot to the shoulder from Sebastian.
“You’re going to be great, man.”
Marcus nodded and gave them one last smile before wandering into the crowd to join the front of the line. When he disappeared, Taliana leaned closer to Sebastian, thankful for his presence.
“You ready to get out of here?” he asked.
She nodded and slid an arm around his waist, enjoying the contact. They’d mostly avoided any sort of touching in the past weeks, not knowing exactly where they stood, but today it just felt so…right. It was like everything was falling perfectly into place.
Happily wrapped up in each other, they made their way out of the throng of people, back toward where his car was parked and the others were waiting. However, on the way there, Taliana spotted a familiar face, and in the next half-second, she made a decision that probably would’ve been considered crazy.
Okay, maybe not? probably . Try? definitely .
“Hey, Blair!”
Sebastian stumbled as Taliana called the name, freezing when the other girl turned toward them. “Talia, what are you doing?”
“Inviting her along,” she said breezily, detaching from his side before jogging to where Blair had stopped.
“Are you absolutely nuts?” he called to her retreating back.
They both already knew the answer to that.
“I was wondering if you’d be here today,” Taliana said when she reached Blair, who looked rightfully suspicious of her approach.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Blair deadpanned, smoothing out a wrinkle in her gown, which, of course, looked a hell of a lot better on her than it did on Taliana.
Taliana shifted her weight from foot to foot, suddenly unsure of herself now that she was standing in front of Blair. After all, this was the girl who’d briefly made Taliana’s life hell and helped ruin her relationship with Sebastian, but she was also the reason Sebastian and Taliana were even back on speaking terms. Plus, the past was the past, and there was no harm in leaving on a good note.
“Actually, Seb and I are gonna skip it,” she told her, making up her mind. “Same with Michael, Jacob, and Jude.”
Blair lifted a perfectly arched brow, expression unchanged. “What about Marcus?”
“You kidding me? He’d never miss this.”
“True, he’s the good boy of the group,” she agreed, a hint of a proud smile on her lips. After all, she’d been friends with Sebastian and the rest of them for far longer than Taliana ever had, so it made sense that she felt pride in seeing Marcus accomplish something like this. However, the smile was quick to disappear. “Well, you guys have fun doing…whatever you’re doing.”
Blair turned to move away, but Taliana was quick to step into her path, knowing it was now or never. “Actually, I was wondering if you wanted to come with us. We’re driving up to the Hamptons, figured we’d just spend the weekend there.”
The look on Blair’s face told Taliana just how outrageous she thought the offer was, and she gave a humorless laugh. “Why would you do that? You hate me. Sebastian hates me. Everyone in your little posse hates me.”
“I don’t hate you,” Taliana said, surprised by how easily the words came. “You and Jude are the reason Sebastian and I are talking again.”
“Yeah, and I’m also the reason you broke up in the first place.” She shook her head. “Believe me, you don’t want me there. Have a nice trip, Taliana.”