46. Serenity
Chapter forty-six
Serenity
T hat Friday, there's a knock on my door. I open it to find an older black man and Asian woman, both in their mid-40s.
"Serenity Jones?" The man asks.
"Yes?"
He peers behind me at our tiny apartment, and I get insecure for a moment when the two share a look.
"Mr. Blake sent us to get you ready for your date tonight," the woman says.
I smile and roll my eyes.
I text Declan to confirm that he sent them, only for him to text back,
Declan: Enjoy!
The pair bustle in, finding the place that gets the most natural light in the apartment and dragging a chair over. The man has a massive black roller bag, and the woman hangs a dress bag onto the back of one of the dining room chairs.
They exchange a look that is not very subtle about how surprised they are to be sent to such a small and obviously not expensive apartment, but I simply roll my eyes at their snobbery. Is it shocking to believe that Declan wouldn't date someone because of their lack of wealth? Actually, it may be shocking. He is the most eligible bachelor in DC. He could have his pick of anyone. Handsome, wealthy, successful, and I get a giddy sensation in my stomach that he chose me.
They chat with each other amicably for the next forty-five minutes as he does my hair, and she does my makeup. Is this really necessary to go out? The plan to scold Declan later for this unnecessary extravagance leaves me in a breath the minute they bring a mirror to me and reveal the finished project. I look like a princess. Nothing is over the top or changes my looks so drastically, my eyes just appear slightly brighter and my lips slightly poutier. My hair is stunning and shiny, and after I slip into the dress I want to cry. I've never felt prettier. I never cared overly about how I look, but I look stunning. I look like I belong next to a man like Declan.
I thank them profusely for their time and make sure to tip them before they leave. I don't know how much their time costs, but I hope a $20 tip each isn't insulting.
A few minutes later, I gather my things and walk down the apartment stairs to find Joseph waiting for me.
His smile is blinding as he opens the back door for me, where I find a waiting Declan, looking incredible in a black tux. God, that man looks good in everything. Butterflies swim in my belly as I tuck my dress and slide in next to him.
"Hey baby," he says with a kiss on the cheek. It's strange how he's both known and new. I know Declan like I know my own heart, but I don't know this side of Declan, the charming boyfriend, and it makes my heart swell.
"Hey, handsome," I reply, at once both happy and shy, sliding my hand into his.
I can't believe we almost missed out on this opportunity. If I had let the doubt win, if I had just stayed with the status quo, I never would have seen the sweet, vulnerable side of Declan. I never would have gotten the chance to woo him and let him woo me.
"You know I don't need any of this, right?" I ask him, motioning to my hair and dress. He knows I don't need fancy dresses and dinners, but I feel like I still have to mention it.
He brings my knuckles to his lips and kisses them gently before replying, "I know. But I want to spoil my girlfriend."
I raise an eyebrow. "Girlfriend, eh?"
He ignores me and stares at the road again. "Awfully presumptuous, don't you think? Aren't you supposed to ask?"
His lips twitch up into a half smile, "And give you the chance to say 'no'? Nah, I don't think so."
I laugh loudly and carefree and catch Joseph smiling back in the rearview mirror.
We pull up outside of the Natural History Museum and Joseph pulls to the curb, hazard lights flashing, and opens our door for us.
"The Natural History Museum? Isn't it closed?"
Declan steps out of the car and with a hand on my lower back, ushers me towards the stairs. "Not when you have a friend."
The lights are low in the museum, the dark walls creating an intimate space. Between the iconic bull elephant and the entrance in the rotunda sits a small table, covered in a white linen with China place settings and two low candles.
I gasp.
Standing next to the table is a thin, older man with a thick mustache in a server's uniform, cloth napkin over his arm and everything.
"Dec," I whisper on a sigh. "This is incredible."
The gentleman pulls my chair out for me, and I sit with a small ' thank you' .
The gentleman pours us what looks like two glasses of white wine before leaving.
I look at Declan with a question. "It's sparking apple cider, not alcohol."
I smile and indulge.
We chat easily about my classes. That it's a little strange being the oldest student in my classes, but I do see a few older students walking around the quad. It feels weird doing normal college kid type things like reading in the student center and eating at the cafeteria. I eaves drop on the conversations around me and the topics are so... normal . They're about the latest movies, or TV shows they've binged, or frat parties from the weekend before and who hooked up with who.
Nothing I'm very interested in.
But it makes me think about what life would have been like if I was born to these people’s parents. If I hadn't had to struggle so hard in the beginning.
"How is your ADHD and studying? Doing alright?"
He knew I was worried about that. I could concentrate for a forty-five-minute class if I took notes. I found using colored pens and drawing little doodles helped, too. But reading chapters at a time? I was very worried about that.
I smile. "Yes. I tried a few things the school counselor had suggested so I have a handful of tools I can pull from, like reading it out loud, reading in twenty-minute chunks, or reading on a treadmill. I kind of just try out her ideas until one feels right for that day."
He smiles at me proudly and nods.
"And your apartment? Living with Ella?"
I frown. "It was weird at first. I missed you and your house so much, the sounds, the smells. But it's gotten better."
He reaches across the table and takes my hand in his. "Thank you, Ser. You were right, this was just what we needed."
We separate as the gentleman serves us plates full of... tacos?
I look up to Declan, whose smile has only spread.
"Is this...?"
I pick one up and take a bite and confirm my suspicions and laugh. He bought Jose's tacos for our fancy dinner because he knew how much I loved them.
So, when Joseph pulls up to my apartment building, I pull Declan out of the car and tell Joseph he's off for the night, and pull my boyfriend up to my apartment, kissing him all the way inside.