And while I don’t care what one random woman thinks of me, I do care about the point she so clearly made. So I turn around and march back to her.
“For your information,” I say as I reach her. “He’s lucky, too.”
She looks up at me and laughs. “Oh, okay, honey. You might be pretty and all—I mean I’d love to have your body—but you’re not exactly Dylan Wild worthy.” She pats my arm and turns away again, this time collapsing into giggles with her friend.
I make sure to hold my head high as I walk away from her, but I feel deflated. Like everyone but me can see that this fairy tale I’ve been living is about to end. It’s just a matter of time.
* * *
I meet up with Dylan a little while later, and the rest of our time in Tubac goes smoothly. We hold hands as we stroll through town, and he patiently waits while I run into shop after shop to look at something I spotted in the window. I don’t buy anything because I feel like no work of art can quantify what an amazing time I’m having with this man. I’m falling so hard for Dylan, and I don’t want today to end.
“So,” Dylan says after we’ve stopped into a Mexican restaurant for lunch. “I got you a little something today.”
I stare at him from across the booth as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box. A jewelry box. It’s one of those boxes I’ve never been given before but always dreamed of receiving someday. From a boyfriend. A lover. Someone who loved me.
He holds the box out in his open palm. “Will you open it?”
My hand shakes as I reach out and take it from him.
“Oh, my gosh.”
Inside is a necklace—a silver chain with a little house dangling from it.
“So you’ll always have a home,” Dylan says.
I cover my mouth with my hand. “Dylan. How did you…”
He doesn’t know I’ve always been a foster kid. I was the kid in school who wasn’t sure where she’d be spending Christmas that year. I was the girl who didn’t care about fashion because she was more worried about having a bed to sleep in.
This necklace is the most beautiful gift I’ve ever received. Not because it’s expensive or fancy. I love it because it fits me perfectly.
“I thought of you right away.” Dylan touches the house. “I don’t know much about jewelry, but this seemed perfect for you.”
A tear slips down my cheek. Right as the server arrives with our food.
“Give us a minute, please?” Dylan asks her.
She leaves without a word, taking the food with her.
“Jasalie?” He leans down to try to see my face, which I’ve got pretty well buried in my hair. “What’s going on?”
I look up at him. “I love it, Dylan. I just...you gave me this, and it’s perfect. I can’t explain…”
What this means to me. Because it means everything.
He eyes me steadily. “Do you want to say more?”
I shake my head. “Later. But not like this. Let’s eat and enjoy ourselves. Thank you so much for the gift. Will you put this on for me?” I hold up the necklace as I stand and go sit down next to him on his side of the booth.
“Of course.”
When he finishes closing the clasp, I finger the house around my neck. “What do you think?”
“I think it fits.” He kisses my neck. “It fits you.”
I’m still grinning at him when the waitress returns with our dishes. I slip back into my seat across from Dylan so I can see his face while we eat, and we both dig into our burritos.
We chat about harmless topics for the better part of our meal. He tells me more about football and what it’s like to be a professional athlete, and I fill him in more on my career dreams.
