32. HIGHLIGHT OF MY BEING

I ring the doorbell and not even a second later, it is pushed open by none other than Elijah.

"Elijah." I say and hug him briefly.

"Hey, man. How're you?" he asks and moves to the side to give me space to enter.

"I'm all good, you?" I answer and start to walk beside him.

"Peachy. Here to pick up your date?" he asks slyly.

"Why else would I be here?" I joke causing him to chuckle.

"She's almost done. Just a heads up though, she looks gorgeous." He tells as we stop at the entrance of the kitchen.

"When does she not?"

"You've got a point." He shrugs and I go inside to greet Savannah and Adam who were cooking side by side.

"Hey, guys."

They both turn around and Savannah squeals in delight, "Oh, my boy looks so handsome in a tux."

She engulfs in a gentle hug which I return with a big grin plastered on my face.

"Congratulations, you just boosted his ego." Elijah remark.

"Wait till your sister does that." I retort making everyone chuckle and go to hug Adam.

He pulls away a second later and gives a fatherly smile, "You're treating her right."

I nod my head slowly, "I am trying."

"That's all I ask of you."

I smile at him in reassurance and we hear a soft thud of the door followed by the clicks of heels against the marble floor.

I walk out of the kitchen, followed by everyone behind me, and halt in my tracks as soon as I look at her.

This girl will never cease to amaze me.

She is dressed in an iridescent silver colored gown with her hair falling on her back in waves. The dress is bringing out her sparkling eyes even more and the way it is accentuating her figure has my heartbeat accelerating. She pushes a few locks back and looks up, our eyes meeting in that moment, and she smiles shyly at me before a small frown replaces it.

Cautiously, she takes a few steps in direction and I am still standing rooted to my spot. My heart skips a beat as she comes nearer and I focus on the details of her face as if I was seeing her for the first time.

She comes to stand in front of me and wipes a hand under my eyes. I blink and give her a weird look as she looks at her now wet fingers.

"Why are you crying? I don't look that awful." She pouts.

What?

I being my hand up to my now wet cheek and truly enough, I am crying. I did not even realize.

I gulp and shake my head, "You don't look awful at all, bambi. You look absolutely stunning." I whisper looking down at her.

Her eyes light up at my comment and I cup her face to place a kiss on her forehead.

"Thank you." She giggles and I clear my throat before composing myself.

"Thank the Lord, I have it recorded on my phone." Savannah comments and I look at her to see her eyes fixed on the screen with a cheshire grin.

"What part did you get?" Adam asks.

"All of it." She tells proudly.

"Ah, send it to me so I can blackmail him later." Elijah says in a smug tone.

I roll my eyes playfully, "I am not afraid if people found out that I cried for my girl."

"I gave you a heads up."

"Nothing could have prepared me for her." I say while looking at a blushing Eliza.

"That's enough. Get out, now." Elijah shoos at us.

"No wait, I gotta take a picture." Savannah says and asks us to stand closer.

After clicking about ten pictures, Adam finally takes the phone out of her hand and says, "That's enough, Isa. They'll be late."

She pouts at him but chooses to agree, nonetheless.

"Have fun." He says, turning to us.

"Use protection." Savannah tries to say discreetly but everyone hears it.

"MOM!"

"Isabelle!"

Both Elijah and Adam scolds simultaneously.

"What? You kids weren't just dropped from heaven. I hope you know that."

"God mom, you just ruined the image of my baby sister in my head. I'm out of here." Elijah says and leaves immediately.

"No funny business you both." Adam turns to say to us in a stern voice.

"None at all." I raise my hands in mock surrender and he follows behind Elijah.

"You can always keep a harmless secret." Savannah shrugs and struts out of there, too.

I turn to look at Liza who resembled a tomato, "Too early for kids, no?" I tease her.

"Nick." She groans and slaps my chest.

I erupt in a laughter and bring her closer to my chest, "I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Let's go, shall we?

---

Both Liza's and mine phones rings at the same time and I pick it up to see an email pop up. I click on the notification, keeping my coffee on the table, and begin to read it.

My eyes widen as soon as I read the word 'accepted' and my head snaps up quickly in Liza's direction whose sitting frozen in her seat.

"What's up?" Finn asks.

We all were sitting in a diner currently. It was kind of our last meet up with Finn and Lily who were going to England, two days from now, after their acceptance in Oxford University.

Anwyll and Isaac got into Princeton and they'd be going all the way to New Jersey.

"What's wrong, princess?" Anwyll asks, bringing me out of my trance.

She looks at me and gulps softly, "N-nick."

"Bambi." I say, equally shaken up.

"Did you get the mail?" I ask.

She nods her head, "What does it say?" I ask, getting impatient.

She bites her lip and shakes her head, "What do you mean?" I ask as alarm bells starts to go off in my head.

"You got in?" She questions with a frown.

"What do you mean I got in? Yes, I did. And you did, too."

"I didn't." she whispers quietly.

My heart drops to my stomach as soon as my mind registers her words.

The whole table falls in an uncomfortable silence as I keep staring at her blank face.

"No." I shake my head and lean across the table to grab her phone out of her hand.

I look at the screen to see the email already open and I begin to read it.

"What the fuck, Eliza?!"

I look up to see everyone trying to control themselves from bursting out laughing and shake my head, "For fuck's sake, you gave me a scare!" I sigh out.

She giggles and pinches my cheek, "I'm sorry."

"This isn't funny, Eliza." I say, feeling genuinely upset.

I stand up from the table and walk out of there after grabbing my car keys and phone.

"Nick!" she calls after me but I don't stop.

When I was about to pull my car door open, I hear her rushed footsteps and a second later, her fingers wrap around my bicep.

"Nick, I'm sorry." She says, resting her cheek against my back.

"I didn't mean to make you upset." She whispers in a sad voice.

My heart clenches and I finally turn around after a few more tugs.

"Liza, I-I thought that you actually did not get in."

"You're doubting my capabilities." She pouts.

"It really wasn't funny, you know. The thought of being away from is physically painful."

"I am sorry. I won't pull something like that again." she whispers and pecks my lips.

I lean my forehead against hers, "It's alright. I won't have to live alone now."

"What do you mean?" She chuckles.

I take a set of keys out of my pocket and dangle it in front of her eyes, "I thought maybe we could move in together now that we'll be going to the same university."

Tears pool in her eyes and she nods her head almost instantly, "I would love that very much."

"And I love you so very much." I whisper before leaning down to kiss her.

We both are going to start a new chapter and having her by my side is the highlight of it all. She is the highlight of my entire being and I'd be damned if I ever prefer it any other way.

A/N:

Guys, leave a brief review of the book and this chapter.

Nick and Liza's journey ends here. ALMOST.

Stay tuned for the epilogue. ❤️✨