Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
I shake my head.
“She had her boobs done when we were together, but it didn’t go further than that.”
Avery lets out a whistle.
“From what I hear, she’s barely recognizable now. In a bad way.”
I just shake my head.
“Shit.”
He nods, but then I change the subject.
“Why don’t you come out and visit me out in New York one of these days? I can introduce you to the ladies, and you can see what I’m talking about. Prepare to see a lot of silicone.”
“Really? You’d let me crash at your place?” Avery asks, straightening up like a squirrel.
“Sure thing, why not? It could be fun right?” I ask, dipping my head. “For now though, I need to head over to commencement. It’ll look bad if I’m late for graduation.”
“Oh right, the ceremony,” Avery laughs. “See you around then, buddy.”
He strolls off as I stand at the edge of campus and look up at the clock tower’s spire. I grow nostalgic for a moment. I enjoyed my time at Mesa, but it feels like lightyears ago. Now, I’m a pro football player, and I’ll never enter these grounds as a student again. Suddenly, a voice startles me.
“Mr. Brody.”
I turned to find the dean walking towards me with a huge smile on his face. He extends his hand.
“Welcome back to campus! It’s been a while,” he says. I nod as I take his hand and shake it.
“You’re right, it has.”
“Are you ready? I am sure your time is limited, what with your busy schedule,” he says as he escorts me down an open walkway. There are buildings on each side, and I discreetly look into the ground-floor windows. I must be crazy. I’m secretly hoping to catch a glimpse of Catherine in one of these. But that’s insane because I’m not going to randomly run into her here.
“I’m ready,” I say as the dean stops at a set of large grey doors. He shoots me a sunny smile and then straightens his tie while buttoning the first button of his suit jacket.
“It’s show time then,” he says while opening the doors. The sunlight blinds me for a moment before my eyes adjust. The space is cavernous. The commencement is being held outdoors, so “auditorium” isn’t the right word to describe the structure. It was more like a gladiator’s arena, with an open roof, and circular rings of concentric seating. It was more like a football arena.
“Wait here,” the dean whispers. “I’ll let them know you’re here.”
I wait quietly in the shadows, even though a few passerby stop to look and point. Then suddenly, I hear my name being called. That’s my cue.
Lifting my hand up I moved towards the stage. A thunderous round of applause filled my ears as I bounded up onto the stage.
“And now let me introduce Hunter Brody,” the dean announced as the crowd erupted. “Many of you may know him as a former student who now plays professional football with the New York Jets. Please give him a warm welcome!”
I took to the podium and scanned the audience. The faces blurred together and the sunlight was too bright. I couldn’t see anyone really, and pulled my notes from my pocket. I’d just have to try and find Catherine afterwards.
I spoke slowly and clearly, and after I was done, the crowd applauded rapturously.
“Thank you, Hunter,” the dean said, coming back on-stage to take the microphone from me. “Now, graduates, please form a line and file on stage one by one to receive your diplomas.”
I wondered if I was supposed to leave, but instead, the dean placed a diploma in my hand. I guess I’m supposed to give these out.
Slowly, the kids came on-stage, and I gave them their diplomas as the dean shook their hands. The graduates were cute, actually. They were only a year or two younger than me, yet they still had baby faces filled with hope. My heart ached, and suddenly, I wished I was one of them, with a four-year degree under my belt.
Suddenly, an unmistakable name was announced over the mic.
“Catherine Lauder.”
Her name seemed to linger in the air longer than necessary. My eyes flew to the graduating line, and my heart leapt. Catherine was here. She met my eyes and the tension in the air was electric. My hand literally trembled as I took hold of her diploma.
As she moved across the stage, my heart skipped. She hadn’t changed too much. She still had that cute round face and tender eyes that pulled me to her like a magnet. But was her figure curvier? I couldn’t tell under the flowing graduation gown, but it seemed as if her breasts had gotten bigger, and her hips wider.
Within a few seconds, she was standing in front of me. I looked into those chocolate-brown eyes and almost drowned in their warmth.