I stare at my parents, unable to verbalize what’s going through my head.
“Are you kidding?” Tina shrieks. Half of the restaurant patrons turn to look at us, including Dylan and his father. Tina’s excitement is infectious. Everyone’s smiling. “Thank you.” She launches herself into Mom’s open arms, nearly knocking Mom off the chair.
Standing, I give our parents another hug. There aren’t many words I can think of other than two. “Thank you,” I say.
Mom and Dad are beaming. They’re so proud of themselves. I’m so proud of them, too.
Tina sits again, and she wipes at her eyes. “I think I can speak for both of us, to say we never expected this.”
“That’s what makes it the best present. Neither of you had any idea your father and I had plans to buy you girls a car each.”
“We appreciate this so much,” I say.
“We know. Now, don’t go thinking it’s a BMW or anything. You got a Toyota Corolla. One’s white, and the other’s black. We’ll leave it up to you two to decide who’s is whose. But we wanted to make sure you’re both safe when you’re driving.”
“What color do you want?” Tina asks.
My forehead crinkles, as I stare at Tina. “Are you actually asking?” That’s not like Tina, she usually tells me, and I go along with it. I know she’s always got my back so something like the color of a car is inconsequential.
“Shut up,” she playfully grumbles. “And yes, I’m asking.” I’m about to tell her which one I’d prefer and she cuts me off. “Actually, I want the black one.”
“There it is.” I point to her.
“Fine, which one do you want?”
I let her sweat on it for a moment. Tapping my chin, and looking out at the distance (by distance I mean Dylan). “Um, I think I want…” I tap my mouth with my finger. I can see Tina jumping out of her skin, not able to contain her excitement. “I think…”
“I want the black one!” Tina snaps, unable to control her impulse.
“Wait.” I hold a finger up to her. Mom and Dad are chuckling to themselves. Tina’s like a kid in front of a candy case. She’s shaking from the excitement. “Yeah, I think I’ll take the white one.”
“Yes!” She fist pumps the air.
“I was happy with whichever color. I just wanted to make you sweat.”
“Grrr.” She narrows her eyes at me, grinding her teeth together. But I know Tina, she doesn’t mean anything nasty. She’s just impatient. “Well, I’m taking the black,” Tina announces dramatically.
“Okay,” I say.
“You can’t stop me.”
“I won’t.”
“You can’t beg me later to change.”
“I won’t.”
“Last chance.”
“No need.”
Tina gets up, and gives me a hug. “Thank you, you’re awesome. And I have something for you.” She goes back to her chair, and takes a little box out of her bag. She hands it to me.
“I didn’t get you anything, Tina.” I feel so bad. We never exchange gifts.
“Good. Because I don’t want anything. Well, except the car.” She blows Mom and Dad a kiss.
“You bought me something, and I didn’t get you anything. That’s not fair.” I don’t want to accept the present, because I feel like I’m not contributing to our relationship.
“When have I ever said you have to do something for me because I do something for you?” she questions.
She’s right. She may be impatient, bossy, and generally a pain in the butt, but she’s not greedy or selfish. Not with me. “Thank you.” I open the little box, and inside is a gold pendant on a gold chain. The pendant is two rings entwined. One has my name on it, and the other has Tina’s. “Wow,” I say in a breathless voice. “This is beautiful, Tina.”
“I want you to know, that no matter where our lives go, I’ll always be with you. If you need me, just call, and I’ll be there.”
I smile again. Tonight’s been really overwhelming for me. I’ve been showered with so much love. I take the chain out of the box, and signal for Tina to help me put it on. I don’t need to say anything. She stands, comes around to my back, and clasps the chain around my neck.
I pick the pendant up, staring at it. “It’s perfect, thank you.”
Tina leans down and gives me a kiss on the cheek.
Tonight, is the best night of my life.
“Who’s ready for dessert?” Dad asks.
“Me,” Mom and Tina answer in unison. I nod my head, too overwhelmed with all the emotions running through my body to verbally answer.
What a night.
“Are you taking Zhen or do you want me to?” I ask Tina as I stand leaning against her door.
“Can you? I’ve got a date, and I want to get ready.”
“Who’s the date with?” I walk in further to her room, and sit on her bed. She’s sitting at her table, cleaning her face with a make-up wipe. Zhen follows me, and lays with his legs spread behind me on the floor. “You hot, boy?” I ask as I lean down and pet his back.
“I swear, that dog doesn’t give a rat’s ass about anyone else in this family. Anyway, it’s with Preston,” she says.
“Oh yeah, that’s the guy you met when you went out with Gabriella and Willow last month. You’ve been seeing a lot of him. When am I going to meet him?”
“I’ll set something up,” Tina says, smiling at me in the mirror.
“You two going out today? During the day?”
“No, not during the day. We’re going out tonight. Dinner, then a movie.”
“And you can’t take Zhen to the vet for his vaccinations, why?” If she’s going out tonight, she can take Zhen to the vet.
“I have a very valid reason.”
“Which is?”
“I don’t want to. I’m getting ready for our date.”
“Now?”
“It takes time to look this good.” She waves her hand over her body, and I can’t help but let out a laugh. “Anyway, he doesn’t listen to me.” She looks back, and sees Zhen laying on the floor. His eyes staring at her. “Zhen,” she calls him. He doesn’t budge.
“Go on,” I say to him.
Zhen gets up, and takes a few steps to Tina. She lowers her hand, and gives him a few pats before she returns to her beauty regimen. “See? He doesn’t listen to any of us.”
“Come here, boy,” I say to Zhen. He slowly trots back to me, and sits on my foot. “I’ll take you to the vet.” His tail wags and flicks my ankle. Zhen stands seconds before I do, it’s like he can anticipate my moves. “Have fun tonight.”
“I’ll see you before I go. Oh, hey, can I borrow that black shimmery top?”
“Which black shimmery top?”
“The black one. The one you wore to Dad’s forty-fifth. Remember?”
“Yeah, sure. Do you want me to get it?”
“Nah, I’ll get it after my shower.”
“Be safe tonight, Tina. If I’m asleep when you get home, wake me so you can tell me about it.”