Crash Into Me

Chapter Fourteen: Alli

"Where did you say we are going again?" I hold the phone between my ear and shoulder, stepping into my favorite rose tinted floral dress.

"Coastal Blue." Eli responds, driving toward my apartment as we speak.

"And what are all of your friends' names one more time?"

"Jenny, Will and Mike."

I hop around on one foot trying to balance my phone and slip on my other white wedge shoe at the same time. "Jenny, Will, and Mike," I repeat. "And Jenny and Will have a thing, right?"

"Yeah, they're sort of seeing each other. It's kind of new."

"New. Got it." I'm out of breath and sweating already. How can someone who is in such great cardiovascular shape still get winded by this type of activity?

The sound of a car door closing echoes between my phone and outside. "Are you here already?"

"Yes," Eli laughs. "I take it you're not ready?"

"Oh, no, I'm ready!" I'm so not ready. I run my brush through my hair one more time and try to apply some watermelon flavored lip gloss. Color inside the lines, Alli. Meeting Eli's friends terrifies me almost as much as the thought of meeting his parents tomorrow night. Too many first meetings in a row for my liking. There's a knock at the door and I rush from my bathroom to the front door to let him in.

"You look good," I smile, immediately feeling my anxiety dissipate at the sight of him. His navy blue tailored suit hugs his muscles and his face looks as smooth as porcelain, hair pushed back stylishly.

"So do you," he says, pulling me toward him and kissing me. "You taste good, too," he licks the pink gloss off of his lips. Hot.

"Thanks, handsome. Let me grab my purse and then we can go." I hustle back to my bedroom and fling my little white and red crossbody handbag over my shoulder before turning off the light and reappearing in the living room. "Ready!" I say and then stop dead in my tracks. He has a little black velvety jewelry box nestled between his hands. He bought me jewelry?

"I got you a little something. I thought you might like them." He opens up the box, and two brilliant diamond earrings sparkle radiantly beneath the light.

"Oh my gosh, Eli! They're beautiful! No one's ever bought me diamonds before," I laugh in bewilderment and put my hand up to my lips in surprise.

He smiles wide and walks over to me, taking them out of their padded pillow and placing them in my open palm one by one. "Are you sure?" I look up at him, almost feeling guilty for accepting such an expensive gift. I don't know much about carat sizes or diamond quality, but these ones are good. You
can just tell by the way they catch your eye.

"Only you would ask if I'm sure about giving you diamonds. Most girls would just take the earrings and run," he laughs. "Yes, of course I'm sure, Alli. I saw them and thought of you. Luminous diamonds for a luminous woman."

I tilt my hand back and forth, watching the prism of colors glisten magically. "Thank you so much. Really." I fasten each earring on carefully and turn to look at them in the mirror.

"They look like they were made for you," he places his hands on my shoulders and gazes into the mirror along with me. I turn around and swing my arms around him in a massive hug. He returns the hug with a surprised laugh.

"You're too perfect. Are you sure you're real?" I ask, with my arms wrapped around his neck.

"Last time I checked," he chuckles. Immediately after I say this, the pesky reminder of the mysterious chest swarms above my head in a buzz of doubt. Almost perfect. That damn chest. I couldn't find it anywhere when I was unpacking all of his things. Not that I should be looking for it in the first place. It's not any of my business, really. After all, it's not like he's the only one who has a secret.