Page 122 of Now and Forever

“Yes.”

I have to do something to snap him out of this.

“Get out of the car,” I say.

“What?” he says, surprised.

I open the door and repeat, “Get out of the car.”

“What for?”

“Get out of the car and you’ll see,” I insist.

He slams the door. That’s so him. Before I get out, I turn the music up as loud as it goes and leave my door open. Susto gets out too. Then I go up to my favorite grouch. “Dance with me,” I say into his pissed-off face and hug him.

“What?”

“Dance with me,” I insist.

“Here?”

“Yes.”

“In the middle of the street?”

“Yes ... and in the snow. Don’t you think that sounds romantic?”

Eric swears. He’s about to turn around, but I pull on his arm and give him a firm slap on the butt.

“Dance with me!”

Clash of the titans. Germany versus Spain. In the end, when I wrinkle my nose and smile, he gives in.

He hugs me, and it’s a magical, once-in-a-lifetime moment. He dances with me and finally relaxes. I close my eyes in my love’s arms while the music plays.

“There’s something I like about seeing you jealous, darling, but you don’t need to be. You’re my one and only,” I murmur.

We dance in silence until the song ends.

“Feel better?”

He doesn’t answer.

“I love you, Iceman.”

Eric nibbles my lips and murmurs into my mouth, “And I love you, babe.”

33

It’s my birthday, March 4. Twenty-six long years. I talk to my family, and they all congratulate me happily. I miss them so much. I want to see them and snuggle with them, and I promise to visit them soon. Sonia, Eric’s mother, makes dinner at her house for my birthday. She’s invited Frida, Andrés, and other friends of ours she knows. I’m happy.

Flyn has given me a pretty glass pendant I wear with pride. This gift was very special. Eric gave me a precious white-gold bracelet engraved with his name and mine, and I can’t get enough of it. It’s wonderful. But what gives me goose bumps is the gift I discover when he tells me to take off the ring he gave me and read the words engraved on the inside: “Tell me what you want, now and forever.”

“When did you put that on there?” I ask.

Eric laughs.

“One night when you were sleeping, I took the ring off you. Norbert took it to a jeweler friend of mine, and when he returned with it a couple of hours later, I put it back on your finger. I knew you wouldn’t take it off and see it.”

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