The ocean moved behind him, black and silver under the moon.
Dylan looked down at my earrings. His gaze caught on the diamonds, then moved to my face. “You look beautiful.”
My throat tightened.
“They were my mother’s. Sort of. Tarak had them made from diamonds in a ring he gave her.”
His eyes softened. “That’s good.”
“Edge gave me her turquoise ring too. It’s upstairs. I didn’t want to lose it in the ocean.”
His mouth curved faintly. “Smart.”
“I felt like an adult when I put them on.”
“You are one.”
“Then stop looking at me like I’m something you’re not allowed to want.”
The words landed hard between us.
Dylan looked away.
For a second, I thought he might leave.
Then he reached into the pocket of his damp shirt and pulled out a small box.
My breath caught.
“What is that?”
“Birthday present.”
“You got me something?”
“Don’t sound so surprised.”
“I thought you were avoiding me.”
“I was.” He held the box out. “Didn’t mean I forgot.”
I took it carefully.
The box was simple. Not professionally wrapped. Just dark paper folded neatly, tied with a thin silver ribbon. No glitter. No fuss. No birthday nonsense.
It felt like him.
I slipped the ribbon loose.
Inside was a silver cuff bracelet.
For a second, I couldn’t speak.
It was beautiful. Not delicate exactly, but feminine in a strong way. Silver curved in a clean band, with mother-of-pearl inlayset along the center. In the moonlight, the shell shifted soft white, blue, and pink, like ocean light trapped under glass.
“Oh,” I whispered.
Dylan rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking less like an outlaw and more like a boy who had wandered into feelings without a weapon. “It reminded me of you.”
