CHAPTER 209: TWENTY-ONE WAYS TO SAY I LOVE YOU

It was the day of the party. The night of Dominic’s twenty-first birthday.

My phone had been buzzing since morning....classmates posting him, friends tagging him, people he barely even talked to suddenly acting like they were part of his story.

I’d already sent him a bunch of birthday messages, even called to wish him, trying not to give away that I knew about the surprise. My voice almost cracked when I said "see you soon,"but I managed to play it off.

Now I was standing in front of the mirror, surrounded by clothes I’d thrown everywhere.

Shirts, jackets, even one of Alia’s glitter facecap somehow ended up in the pile.

I’d tried on at least six different outfits, none of them felt right. Everyone there would probably be in designer suits, fancy dresses, the kind of elegance that looked effortless but cost more than my rent.

I sighed, dragging a hand through my hair.

"You’re fine," I shook my head. "You don’t need to look rich. Just... presentable."

Still, my reflection didn’t agree.

I glanced at the small gift box sitting on my desk. I’d wrapped it three times because I kept tearing the paper out of frustration.

It wasn’t fancy. It wasn’t something you could flash in front of people. But it was ours.

A sketchbook.

Twenty-one pages.

Each one a drawing of him.

Not the posed kind.....the quiet ones. Dominic laughing, sleeping, looking at Alia. The small moments that made him him.

On the last page was a drawing of us, with my head on his shoulder. And beneath it, I’d written:

"Twenty-one sketches. Twenty-one ways you made me feel seen."

On the last page, I’d written something....just twenty-one words, simple ones, about love and patience and how glass hearts don’t mean they’re weak, just that they reflect everything that touches them.

I’d also tried baking....something small, something that felt like home.

A heart-shaped cookie, made from my mom’s old recipe.

It wasn’t perfect; one edge was slightly burnt and the icing smudged when I tried to shape it right. I’d wrapped it carefully in a little wax paper and tucked it beside the sketchbook.

It wasn’t expensive. But it was us.

Something from the part of me that loved quietly... the way my mom used to say love should taste like something warm, something that melts a little too fast.

I smiled to myself.

I just hoped he’d see that.

I’d already dropped Alia off at Violet’s, she wouldn’t stop bragging about her "sleepoverweekend," so at least she was excited. It gave me time to focus on this, though it felt strange not having her chatter fill the house.

I didn’t have to worry about her seeing me spiral over a bow tie.

I was halfway through trying on another shirt when someone knocked on the door.

I frowned. "Who?"

It couldn’t be June; she texted that she and Ian were heading straight to the venue. And Dominic was supposed to be busy.

When I opened the door, a delivery guy stood there with a huge box in his hands.

"Delivery for Ash Rivera," he said.

"Uh... yeah, that’s me," I muttered, signing the clipboard.

He handed me the box and left before I could even ask who it was from.

I stared at it for a second. "Okay... creepy."

I signed, still confused, and carried it inside. The thing was heavier than it looked.

"Okay," I muttered to myself, shutting the door. "If this explodes, I’m haunting The Coil."

I set it on the couch and peeled off the tape, expecting a prank, or worse. My stomach twisted.

I swallowed and opened it carefully.

Inside was a tuxedo.

A really, really nice tuxedo. And a black shoe.

Black with silver trim, soft fabric that looked like it belonged in a magazine. Folded perfectly, and under it was a small envelope.

I froze. Tore it open, already smiling before I finished reading.

Dominic’s handwriting.

Hey, babe. Turns out my friends are terrible at keeping secrets. I found out about the party two days ago.

So, I figured I’d make it easier for you....got you something to wear.

Can’t wait to see how hot and sexy you’ll look in that.

I love you. Always and forever.

— Dominic❤️

I smiled before I could stop myself, tracing his messy handwriting with my thumb.

I could still smell him faintly on the paper....that same cologne that stuck to his hoodies.

I held the tuxedo up against me in the mirror. It was perfect. Even the shoe fit perfectly.

God, of course he knew. Of course he ruined his own surprise.

And of course, somehow, he still managed to make it about me.

I held the tux up to the light.....it shimmered faintly when I moved it, the kind of subtle shine you’d miss if you weren’t paying attention. It reminded me of glass.... delicate, reflective, beautiful.

Perfect.

Just like him.

He made sure I wouldn’t feel out of place.

And maybe that’s what love looked like with him.... thoughtfulness hidden behind all the teasing, care tucked quietly inside every surprise.

I folded the note carefully and slipped it into my pocket. I wanted it close.

Then I got dressed, brushed my hair, adjusted the cuffs, and looked at my reflection one last time.

Maybe tonight, things would actually feel light.

Maybe, for once, I’d stop spiraling and just have fun

And as I reached for the gift box, ready to step out, I whispered....

"Happy birthday, Dom. I love you."

By the time I got to Dominic’s place, I was so nervous, my palms were really sweaty.

The moment I stepped Inside the gate, I froze.

There were cars everywhere.....the kind of cars you only see in commercials, expensive convertibles, a couple of ridiculous sports cars. For a second, I thought I had the wrong address.

"Is this really a birthday party," I glanced around, staring at the mansion glowing under the soft lights. "This looks like a secret coronation."

Before I could spiral too much, I spotted a familiar figure stepping out from the glass doors....June, in a deep red dress that shimmered when she moved, perfect makeup and black heels.

"Ash!" she called, waving with one hand while holding her clutch in the other. "Over here!"

I walked up to meet her, trying not to trip. "You look insane," I said.

She grinned. "I know. Ian’s inside somewhere pretending not to panic. He’s been running around all day setting this up, hasn’t slept in like, two nights."

"Wow," I said, brushing invisible lint off my jacket.

June looked me up and down, widening her eyes a little. "Whoa. You look really nice."

I chuckled. "Thanks. Dominic sent me this tux this morning."

Her mouth curved into a smirk. "Of course he did. Your man’s obsessed with you. Can’t even let you blend into the background on his own birthday."

I groaned. "Stop."

"I’m serious," she teased. "You’re literally going to steal his spotlight tonight. He’s created his own competition."

I tried to laugh, shaking my head. "Yeah, well, I’ll try not to outshine the birthday boy."

"Good luck with that," she said, wrapping her arm through mine as we walked in.

The moment we stepped inside, I gagged.

The house didn’t look like the house I’ve been to several times. They were people in designer suits and glittering dresses talking in soft laughter over jazz. A chanderlier dripping lights like glass rain.

Waiters moved through the crowd with trays of champagne and appetizers I couldn’t name.

"His dad really means business," I whispered, glancing around.

June snorted. "Literally."

We stepped further in. Eeryone looked effortlessly perfect. I tried to stand straight, to blend in, but my fingers still fidgeted at the hem of my jacket.

June leaned closer, whispering. "You’re fine, Ash. You look like you belong here."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Better, actually."

I smiled faintly. "Thanks."

I caught sight of Ian across the room, talking to one of the caterers with that frustrated look.

June waved but he didn’t notice, instead he ran up the stairs.

"How are things with you two?" I asked quietly. as we made our way toward the center of the room. "It’s been, what, two weeks?"

She smirked. "Yeah. We’re... not a thing. Yet. I told him he’s on probation."

"Probation?"

She nodded proudly. "Yep. If he passes the test of not being an idiot for two more weeks, we’ll see."

I laughed. "Wow. Harsh."

"Fair," she corrected, then winked. "Anyway, come on. The show’s about to start."

Before I could ask what she meant, a figure emerged from the grand staircase... ’Is that Dominic’s dad?’ I whispered to June, my eyes fixed on the tall man.

She nodded, and I couldn’t help but notice the uncanny resemblance.

As he raised his voice to call everyone to order, my chest tightened.