“Do you mean ‘BeBe’?” I shriek at him.
“Yeah, I guess. Is that good?”
“DECLAN! This dress had to have cost two-hundred dollars or more!”
“So? Do you like it?”
“Yes, I love it, but it’s too much… I guess I could wear it next weekend too for your show in Atlanta.”
“Fuck no! I bought it for tonight. Next weekend you’ll be in a potato sack. Since we aren’t headliners, we don’t have any security. You’ll be wearing the least attractive thing you own.”
I laugh and lean in to kiss him. “Do you want to see the dress on?”
“I wish I could, but I need to get going. I have one more present for you.”
He pulls a wrapped package out from behind him and I notice the signature mint box with white bow. I’m pretty sure every girl knows what these colors mean. My heart beats faster in my chest. I sit in his lap and he hands me the square box. I’m shaking as I remove the ribbon and lift open the box. My vision blurs as tears fill the rims of my eyes and start spilling out. When I can finally see clearly again, there’s the most beautiful Return to Tiffany bracelet I’ve ever seen. It isn’t your typical silver chain and heart. It’s completely black onyx beaded with the heart made of silver. It’s fancy, delicate, and rock and roll at the same time.
“Declan, how did you know?”
“Sweet girl, do all the tears mean you like it?”
“Like it, I love it! I’ve been watching this bracelet for months. I saw it in a magazine and thought instantly of us. It’s so beautiful and classy, yet it’s a bit rebellious to the trademark Tiffany bracelet.”
“I honestly didn’t know. I thought about you when I saw it. Read the back; I had something inscribed.”
I gasp; it’s sort of taboo to put an inscription on a genuine piece from Tiffany’s. He knows what I’m thinking because he laughs out loud. “You too? It took all I could do to have our family jeweler scribe on this. That’s why I had my sister’s pick it up today. Please, turn it over.”
The inscription is small, but the meaning is monumental.
“This heart is yours, DPC.”
I’m full out crying now. I throw him back on the bed and kiss him briefly. “You have no idea how much this means to me. I’m so in love with you. You’ve taken my world by storm and I’m not sure how to handle these feelings. You could ask me anything and I’d say yes.”
“So will you wear your new bracelet tonight?”
“I don’t know if you’ll ever pry it off my arm. Thank you– it really is too much. The party, the gifts, tonight; you’ve done too much.”
“Never, baby, never. Now kiss me because I have to go and I promised my sisters and your friends they could have you about ten minutes ago. I love you.”
“I love you too. See you soon.”
He kisses me and then leaves my room. As soon as he’s gone, I’m instantly surrounded by my friends.
“Girl- show me the bling!”- Harper and Charlie
“Thank God he picked your outfit.”- Kendall
“Please don’t be mad at us for abandoning you on your day; Declan had us running errands”- Abbi and Ella
“You didn’t abandon me; we’re going out tonight. I never even gave it a second thought. But I do want to hurry up and get ready. There are shots calling our names in the kitchen.”
Kendall goes to work on my hair, creating long, luscious curls while Harper intensifies my make-up. I’m lost in my own thoughts when Abbi and Ella sneak into the bathroom with a bag behind their backs.
“Um, this is not comfortable for us, but for your birthday, we decided on getting you the PERFECT lingerie to go under your dress. So, here’s what we got you.” They start to pulling things out of the pink and white bag and my cheeks flush.
“There’s nothing to that? A strapless bra and string for underwear? Where is my ass going to go?”
“Oh please, you don’t have an ass.”