"There's my favorite graduate," Tim bellowed up at Sam and me from the bottom of the airport escalator. When I reached him, he held a hand and spun me. "It suits you, Lil. You look good," he praised.

"Thanks, Timmy," I giggled as my spin ended in a hug.

"Hey, man." Tim nodded to Sam as he stuck out his hand for a shake. "How was the flight?" He added as Sam shook his outstretched hand.

"It was good. Thanks for the first-class tickets," Sam said.

"All Billy; only the best for his girl." Tim nudged me as he spoke, but I could see the phrase 'his girl' strike Sam like a slap. "He wanted to come and all, but you know... the crowds." Tim let his hands float around the people hustling to their terminal or to gather their bags.

"Of course," I smiled. "How are you? How's the wedding planning?"

"So much, Lil. All the things and then four more. That's a wedding," Tim absently spoke as he navigated the airport.

Tim's Audi was waiting right outside the doors for us.

"Thanks, brother," Tim shook hands with a man leaning against his car, who nodded and darted back into the airport. He then turned to me as he opened the door and added, "your chariot."

"Thank you, kind sir," I teased as I slipped into the car.

Once Tim and Sam settled in their seats, Tim began to navigate from the airport.

"Thanks for coming, Tim. I just assumed you'd send a car," Sam said from the back.

Tim looked around himself for a second. "You realized this isn't actually a chariot, right dude?" Tim asked, eliciting a slap to his shoulder from me.

"Yeah, I mean, like a service or whatever. You know, a town car or something," Sam awkwardly continued.

"Why would we send a service? It's like a twenty-minute drive?" Tim asked.

"Yeah, but you know. You are you and all," Sam noted.

"What does that even mean?" Tim shot.

"Music," I sputtered, trying to save the conversation. "There's no music!"

"Good catch, Lilypop. I got a song cued up just for you." Tim smiled as he hit the Bluetooth button, and 9 to 5 pumped into the car.

"Really?"

"Aw, come on, Lil. It's perfect for my working girl," Timmy nudged.

"This is going to be my entire week, isn't it?" I groaned.

"You bet, Lilipop," Tim smugly said.

I expected to go to Mary's house. I was looking forward to sliding onto a stool at her kitchen island and catching up with everyone as she danced around, cooking something delicious. Instead, we turned down a road before her place.

"Where are we going?" I asked, but we pulled up to a gate before Tim could answer, and I knew where we were.

"Billy's," Tim absently answered as he punched in his code. "Billy's got a code for you. I'll have security text it to you when we get to the house.

"Security, like Roger?" I asked.

"No," Tim chuckled as he pulled past the now-open gates. "He has a different team for the house now."

"Right, of course. Wouldn't want to mix business and pleasure?" I mumbled.

"What?" Tim laughed.

"You know what I mean. Home and professional," I explained.

"Mmhmm," Tim teased.

"Holy shit," I said as the house came into view. "It's exactly as I pictured it."

"Minus the barn. That should be up in a year or so if all goes to plan," Tim noted.

"How much did he do?" I asked.

"So much. I think the only thing he brought people in for was the electric. Rumor has it he made a promise to a friend." Tim gave me a wink before he pulled himself from the car.

"How are you doing?" I asked Sam as we walked behind Tim to the house.

"Um, this is a bit intimidating," Sam admitted.

"It's just a house. Billy comes from a big family, so I'm sure he just wanted a place where everyone could gather," I offered.

"Yeah, yeah. That makes sense," Sam murmured.

Before we could get to the door, it burst open, and Billy filled the doorway.

"There she is! There's my college graduate; beauty and brains." His dimples prominently pricked his cheeks.

"Hey, Billy," I murmured as I slid into his arms.

Suddenly it all hit me. After seventeen years of formal education, I graduated. There were no more tests or papers, no more first days of school with the smell of new erasers and shoes that kind of pinched, and no more awkward social interaction before the professor arrived or as you walked from the lecture hall. School was over, and now I was a graduate. The panic swirled and manifested in my eyes as I clung harder to Billy.

"Hey," he whispered so only I could hear. "What's wrong?"

"I'm not ready for this," I managed as I burrowed deeper into his chest.

"For what? Visiting me?" His voice was barely audible to me, so I knew no one else could hear him. Still, the long hug must have been raising suspicion.

"I need a minute," I choked. "Please help."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Billy said louder. "I told you to wear those motion bands on your wrists. I'll show you the bathroom."

Great, now everyone thinks I'm going to barf. Still better than a panic attack that I would never get a new backpack and hope on a big yellow bus again.

Billy kept a steady hand on my back as we passed through a great room with a dining area on one side and a living room on the other. Then through a kitchen, before we were in a bathroom. He seamlessly lifted me to sit on a washing machine I could easily fit inside.

"Okay," he started as he brushed my hair from my face. "How can I help?"

"I graduated," I stammered.

"Yeah, that was the goal. Right?" There was a hint of tease in his voice.

"It's just so real when you say it. I graduated. There's no more school. Now, if I fail, there's no make-up; I just fail."

"Wow, that's an incredibly terrible way to look at life." Billy set his hands on either side of me and stretched out his back as he spoke.

"Your back is bothering you again," I noted.

"We're not talking about me right now," he scolded.

"I'd like to," I admitted.

"I'm sure you would. Talk to me, Lil. Let's get you sorted," he pressed.

"What if I fail? What if I fail at life? It could happen, you know," I blurted.

"Could it? Tell me the last thing you failed at," he prodded.

I looked at him, and before I could stop myself, "you" fell from my lips.

Billy's head rolled to the side at the unexpected blow. "Aw, Lil. You didn't fail me," he soothed as he wrapped his arms around me. "You got me going in the right direction. I'd probably be a mechanic if it weren't for you."

"What's wrong with being a mechanic? People are always going to want cars," I noted.

"You know what I mean, Lil. I don't want you to think you failed in anything related to me. You're my best girl." He lifted a hand to my cheek and let his fingers glide over my fleshy skin. "You won't fail, Lil. It's not in your DNA."

"I'm scared," I admitted.

"Good. If you weren't, I'd be worried. But don't let the fear stop you."

"I don't know if I can stop it." I sighed and let my head fall to his chest.

"Lil, you are the most stubborn human I have ever met, and you've met my mother. Don't let the fear stop you," he directed again.

"I wish I had your confidence."

"You can have it. Take it; take all of it. It's yours. I bestow my confidence on you. Take Tim's, too; ever since Tess said yes, he's had way too much of it."

I let out a laugh.

"There's my girl with the smile that can light up a city." Billy smiled down at me as he cupped my face. "You're going to be good, Lil. I know it. And besides, if things crash and burn, you can work for me."

"Um, hasn't Timmy already taken that role?" I jested.

"Sure, you can be his assistant." Billy shrugged.

"Oh shit, failure really isn't an option," I teased.

"See, I knew I could scare you straight. Now, come on; I got a house to show you around and a girl I want you to meet."

Billy lifted me down from the washing machine and gave me another hug.

"I love you, Billy. I don't know what I'd do without you," I murmured into his chest.

"Lucky for you, neither of us has to figure that out."