Without You

Sequel Chapter 16 "Sucks to suck"

We pull away and Luke places me back on the ground. Just in time as Eli comes running at Luke.

Eli runs right into Luke, nearly sending him toppling over. It isn't until Aiden hits him from the other side that they all fall over.

Meanwhile, May, Marina, Lorraine, Ella, and many aunts crowd me with excitement.

I catch sight of my granddaddy through the group of ladies and he's got his hands clasped as he looks up into the sky in prayer, a small smile on his face.

"When is he due again?"

"Oh my, I can't wait!"

"Another Taylor boy!"

_____________________

~30 Weeks Preggers~

"Aubrey Taylor; BSN," the Capstone College of Nursing dean calls out my name and I rise from my seat.

I walk over to her and she hands me a small, glass plaque.

"You'll do wonderful things, Mrs. Taylor," she gives me a hug before she and I smile for a picture together.

I walk forward on the stage and come to my granddaddy, who smiles brightly at me.

"I'm so proud of you," he begins as he sticks the nursing pin on my shirt.

"And I know Nick is too- God bless America," he keeps his words clean as he accidentally pricks his finger.

"Are you okay?" I wince and he chuckles.

"I'm alright, Ree," he brings me into a hug and him and I walk off the stage.

"Look at you," Luke brings me into his arms.

"You're a true warrior, my love," he kisses the top of my head, "carrying Easty and getting your SBN."

"BSN," I correct, giggling.

"You're right, I was testing you," he kisses my cheek.

I lean back in my chair and I feel Easton fluttering around in my stomach just the littlest of bit. I listen along as the dean talks about leadership, being a nurse, and the hard work of the students.

"I'm hungry," Luke grumbles in my ear. Of course he is.

I pick up my purse from the floor and hand him a bag of cookies from the batch I made the day before yesterday.

He takes it greedily and opens the bag, catching the attention of surrounding people who turn to look at him.

"Didn't know it was a crime to be hungry," he grumbles at the people and I close my eyes, shaking my head at him.

"I'm sorry," I apologize to the people, "he'll be quieter."

They all look between the two of us one more time before turning back right in their seats.

"Next time, tell 'em to remove the sticks from their asses, pass me a cookie," granddaddy says from the other side of me, a little too loudly for my liking.

Luke just chuckles and passes him a cookie. A tad reluctant to give away a cookie though.

A short thirty minutes later, the dean ends her speech.

All of the graduates gather in a group for pictures, which takes only a few minutes and finally, to Luke's enjoyment, we leave.

"I'm so proud of you," he hugs me to him as we enter the parking lot, "it was just, you know I can't sit for that long without sleeping."