And the last one… Aly.
Of course she went overboard.
A small Cartier box.
I froze just holding it, too scared to even open it. I wasn’t familiar with brand-name stuff, but I heard Cartier was expensive. I didn’t know how much, butexpensive.
When I finally opened it, there was a gold ring inside. Elegant, with a tiny diamond in the centre.
It was gorgeous.
Aly had the same one—Silver—on her middle finger.
Her note was the shortest of them all:
“Wanted to match with my favourite girl, wear it!”
My vision blurred a little.
I sat down on the floor surrounded by gifts, rings, books, soft wool, and messy ribbons.
I didn’t realise how much I needed this. How much I needed to feel chosen, even when I didn’t ask to be.
And as I slipped the ring onto my finger, I caught myself whispering, “Maybe it’ll all get better.”
Then I glanced at my phone, at the time.
Joshua.
Dinner.
Fireworks.
Tonight.
Maybe it already was better.
—
The time came. I went into the elevator a few minutes before seven and arrived at the door at exactly seven.
Not on purpose, of course, just a girl who’s good with time.
I knocked once.
The door opened almost immediately, and there he was.
Joshua Lockhart, barefoot, sleeves rolled up, hoodie on, Honey tucked into the hood like a spoilt baby koala. Cute, though. And the faintest curl of steam drifted from the kitchen behind him.
“Come in,” he said quietly, stepping aside.
The second I did, I froze.
Because the smell came first: garlic, lemon, butter, roasted asparagus. Salmon. And not like the cheap dorm-cafeteria kind. The kind that looked like it belonged in a restaurant window.
The table was already set.
Two plates. Two glasses. Even candles.
