A squeal of delight catches my attention, and I see Toby’s twin cousins come running over with their parents hot on their trails. The dark-haired boy heads straight for the jungle gym, his mother yelling after him to be careful to not get dirty, while the little girl stops a few feet from the swings, the look on her face falling when she realizes they’re all full.
I drag my feet in the sand, stopping the swing and hopping off. When she sees me offering it to her, her smile returns, and she bolts toward me. “Thank you!” she exclaims, hopping onto the seat and holding on. “Will you push me?”
“Jilly,” her mother says sternly.
“Please,” Jilly amends apologetically. “Will you push me, please?”
I look to where her mother stands, and she smiles, nodding, and I grip the chains at Jilly’s hips. “I would love to.”
Greyston stays nearby while I push Jilly on the swings. She’s absolutely loving it, laughing and squealing happily as her dark brown curls fly out behind her. “Higher! Higher!” she requests, and I oblige only too willingly.
When her mother tells her and her brother, Justin, that it’s time to head back, she isn’t shy about letting the world know she’s disappointed. In an effort to save her mother the temper tantrum, I lean down to her level and say, “You know, I’m a friend of Toby and Callie’s, too. Maybe you and I could play later. What do you say?”
This seems to make her happy, and she throws her arms around my neck unexpectedly before chasing after her parents and brother. When I stand up, Greyston takes my hand and he draws it up to his lips. “You were really sweet with her.”
We head back to the hall, and when we walk in, the place is almost unrecognizable. The chairs now surround tables that weren’t there before, and new lights and drapery adorn the tables and walls. It’s so whimsical and romantic.
It’s no surprise that the dinner is as elegant as it is delicious, and the wine is amazing—maybe even more-so since I’m very newly twenty-one and can legally drink it now. I raise my hand to the diamond necklace Greyston gave me that gorgeous day in February and smile fondly. He’d gone above and beyond to make my twenty-first birthday special.
We’d begun our day with a morning swim before getting ready for the birthday dinner he had planned. Our parents and friends had come over to enjoy a delicious meal and cake. Then came presents—even though I told everyone that they weren’t necessary. Mom and Dad got me a new laptop for school after hearing that mine was out of commission—I chose to leave the rest of the story about how I found out it was broken out of the conversation, naturally. Daphne took me for lunch and shopping a few days later, and she helped me pick out the dress I’m wearing now. Greyston’s parents bought Greyston and I tickets to Vegas. I know. It was extravagant and generous, and while I felt like it was too much, I admit, I’m excited for us to go in just a few weeks.
Then there was Greyston. He’d actually given me my necklace that morning. He said he just couldn’t wait the rest of the day—he’s not usually so impatient. The large square-cut stone is set in a white gold setting and hangs from a thin chain, falling delicately in the hollow of my throat. It’s the most beautiful piece of jewelry I own, and I wear it every chance I get.
When dinner concludes, the dance begins. Callie and Toby look so undeniably in love as they dance around the floor, and it stuns me how light Toby is on his feet, because he just doesn’t strike me as the ballroom dancing type.
Soon enough, the dance floor is full, and I think Greyston is about to ask me to dance when I feel a tiny hand wrap around my wrist. Looking over, I see the big brown eyes of one Miss Jilly. She’s got the biggest smile on her face, and it’s hard not to mirror her expression.
“Hi, there,” I say, leaning over.
“Will you come dance with me?” she asks sweetly.
I look over at Greyston, who’s grinning broadly, and he nods. “You don’t mind?” I inquire.
I can tell by the gleam in his eyes that he doesn’t, but I just want to be sure. In fact, not only does he seem to not mind, he seems amazed and full of admiration and wonder. Jilly leads me to the dance floor, and soon her brother and several other children join us. We’re dancing away—and I use the term loosely, because none of us are really dancing. I don’t know how long we’re on the floor for, but several other kids and adults have joined us including Callie, Daphne, Toby, and Xander. I look around, wondering where Greyston is, when I feel his arms around my waist and his lips next to my ear.