Page 127 of Something in Between

“It’s special, that’s for sure,” he says. “But you’re even more special to me. I want you to know that you’re the love of my life.” His arm around me tightens.

I should let him go, I think, my stomach twisting as my heart beats loudly in my chest. I’m being selfish, holding him to me. But I can’t. “I love you too,” I say, holding him closer.

“So we have to talk about the future,” he says.

“What future?”

“I brought you here so you can understand that there’s a part of me that loves my father even though he isn’t the best father. The part of me that loves my brother, even if he can be a turd.”

I lean my head on Royce’s shoulder. “I do understand. I like your Ferris-wheel story.”

“Me too,” he says. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything to Mason at dinner. I just didn’t want to blow it up.”

“It’s okay,” I say.

“I was glad you were there. But I’m more glad that you’re here now,” he says.

“I don’t want to be anywhere else,” I say, feeling happier now that we’re alone together.

And then, I’m stunned. Royce stands up and pulls me to stand too. “I was going to do this at prom the other day, but I was too nervous.” He brushes the sand off his pants, then gets down on one knee. He’s holding a little box, and he opens it to show me a diamond ring. “Before she died, my grandmother gave this to me to give to the person I love,” he says. “Jasmine, I love you. More than anything.”

My heart flies out of my chest. It’s spinning around in the neon of the Ferris wheel. It sails from there through the darkness above the clouds.

“Royce! What are you doing!”

“I want you to stay with me always. Will you marry me?”

Now my breath is completely taken away. I’m literally on the verge of passing out. My legs have never felt anything like this. My stomach. My chest. My throat.

“We’re both eighteen now,” he says, knee still in the sand. “We’re in love. And this way you can stay here in America. We can be married and go to Stanford together. You’ll be eligible for all those grants and loans. I want to be with you. I don’t know what I’d do without you. What do you say?” He grins, happy, so beautiful to my eyes.

My heart is in my throat. I don’t know what to say. We’re so young, and we’re still so unsure of ourselves, of who we are, who we’re meant to be. What would our families think? And what would happen to my family? Would they be able to stay if I married him?

I know I love him. I can’t sleep at night unless he tells me good-night. I think about him all the time, about his happiness. I can’t imagine life without him. I know why he’s doing this—because he can offer this from the depths of his big, generous heart. He knows this can save me, can fix all our problems.I’ll find a way, he promised.I’m not letting you go. If I were in his place, if I was the one who could do this for him, I would do exactly the same thing he’s doing now.

“Babe,” he says. “Um, I don’t want to rush you, but my knee is starting to hurt.”

I’m on the verge of laughter or tears. I love him so much.

“Say something,” he says. “Before my leg cramps.”

“But how? When?”

“I don’t know. We elope. Right away. Within a day or two.”

“Okay,” I say.

“Okay. What?” he asks.

“Okay, I will. Yes, Royce, I will marry you, yes,” I say, and I pull him up to stand. We’re crying and laughing.

Royce shakily puts the ring on my finger and we kiss with all those neon lights spinning like luminescent flowers through the night sky.

I love him so much.

I’m going to marry him tomorrow. We’ll be husband and wife, and I’ll be able to stay in the country.

Everything’s going to be all right, isn’t it? It has to be.

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