Page 48 of Changed By You
Ten minutes later, Dalton is walking me out to the edge of the security perimeter.
“I have a car here,” I murmur. “I should have just taken it.”
“You shouldn’t be driving right now. An Uber driver can drop you off right at the door.”
I look up at him. “Thank you.”
“It’s gonna be okay.” His phone buzzes and he looks at it. “Driver’s one minute out.”
He carried my overnight bag out for me. He unzips it and slides a box inside.
“This is for you to open later. Don’t worry about it for now.”
That must be what he needed to get from his room. The sun isn’t up yet, so I risk a quick kiss, tears of gratitude and worry gathering in my eyes.
“Thank you, Dalton.”
He raises my hand to his lips and kisses the back of it. “Text me when you take off and land, okay? One step at a time.”
The car picking me up pulls to a stop next to us. I nod at Dalton. He opens a back-seat door for me and sets my bag in the car once I’m in.
“I’ll see you soon,” he says.
“Okay.”
He stands there, staying as the car pulls away. When I turn to look over my shoulder out the back window, he raises a hand, waving at me. I wave back, already missing his closeness.
I check my phone. No new texts from my mom. I type out a quick message letting her know I’m on my way. Then I look at my bag, my curiosity piqued.
What did he put in my bag? He told me to open it later, but I could use a distraction now.
The distinctive little blue box is from Tiffany. My heart pounds as I open it. There’s a folded piece of paper and a beautiful necklace, the pendant a flower shape made of diamonds. I run my finger over it, my lips parting in shock.
It’s beautiful. I carefully set the box beside me on the car seat and open the note.
Alice,
I wanted to get you a hundred dozen red roses. But since we’re keeping things quiet, I got you this instead. You’re so close to me right now, but way too far away.
I’m not a man who falls in and out of love easily. I’ve seen friends fall for women hard and fast, but it never happened for me, until you. I always wanted to keep women at arm’s length. But not you. I want to be where you are. If you want to wait, we’ll wait. I’m not giving up, though. Be with me, and I’ll care for you in every way.
Yours,
Dalton
Yours.I read the word again and again, smiling despite how worried I am about my dad. Then I read the whole thing again and again after that. He’smine. And in my heart, I’m his. Now that I know what this feels like, I can’t settle for something average, not in a month, not in a decade.
I don’t know what’s going to happen, but if I can’t have Dalton, I don’t want anyone.
eighteen
Dalton
“I’ve madesome good friends in my time here, and more importantly, I fell in love. And because I have those feelings for her and only her, I can’t stay here and pretend to be considering anyone else. It’s not right.”
Alex bites his fist off camera, his eyes imploring me to say more. When I agreed to go on camera to explain why I was leaving the show, I told him I wouldn’t get specific. He’s trying everything he can think of to make me change my mind.
“If the two of you are in love, why is she staying and you’re going?” he asks.