Afterglow ❃ l.m.j

• chapter fifty four •

Normani's mini twists swayed behind her as she walked, my hand in hers. When we reached our private section, she pulled out my chair. I couldn't help but blush when I looked at the arrangement in front of me. A bouquet, a handwritten note with my name on it, and a rectangular velvet red box.

The brunette draped her blazer behind her chair and took a seat. Her smile was shy as she watched me.

"Do you like it?"

I couldn't help the way my lips were parted in such surprise. I looked at her.

"Normani, I love it. But this is a lot, a private section, flowers, whatever this is?" I held up the box.

She nodded. "And what you did wasn't?"

"Yeah, but that's just how I am."

"And this is how I am."

I tried to hide my smile as I picked up the flowers. Pink roses with baby's breath and dashes of eucalyptus leaves. I held them to my chest for a moment in bliss.

"Thank you." I murmured. She ducked her head in humility.

"Of course." She gestured in the direction of the note and the velvet box. "Open it."

I wrinkled my nose playfully. "I'm scared to."

"Why?"

"What is it?"

She raised her eyebrow. "Are you genuinely asking?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm just joking. I know you'd actually tell me."

The brunette laughed. "I was literally going to. Don't be scared, just open it. I promise I didn't go overboard."

I set the flowers down and reached for the velvet box first. It eased open slowly. A row of square shaped jewels with the occasional heart looked back at me.

A silver bracelet.

I didn't know what to say. Normani tapped her fingers against the table.

I took the bracelet out for myself, holding it in my hands. It was beautiful. Without a word, the brunette reached a hand out to place it on my right wrist. I just couldn't stop looking at it. Wow.

I felt her eyes on me as I took everything in. She glanced from my hands to my lips to my eyes. I could tell she was waiting on me to pick up the note. I hesitated because I had a feeling it'd make me cry. But I also knew me prolonging it was making her anxious.

I picked the paper up with an inhale, marveling at my name in cursive on the top. When I unfolded it, I began to read. Her penmanship was small, allowing for many words to span the page.

I almost didn't speak to you the night we met.

I was so nervous it was obvious. I just kept looking at you, kept trying to gauge whether you'd be the type to give me a dirty look for even trying. But I just couldn't stop. Even from the beginning, Lauren, I thought you were so beautiful. I even remember what you were wearing.

When I first first saw you, you were wearing a cherry red bodysuit and your hair was in a ponytail. You were paying me little to no mind, you just instantly talked to Ally and walked away so fast I couldn't introduce myself or catch your name. I recognized you from the posters as the headliner. How lucky was I to be able to even stand in front of you that night? I know so many men were pulling at you just for the chance of being under your body. I didn't think I compared to them.