The following Monday after New Year's, we start back to school. After being off from school for two weeks, I was eager to get back and to start my life with Dakota. Even though it would be another year and a half until we were married, it still seemed closer than I would have ever imagined. If someone would have told me that I was going to meet the man of my dreams at the beginning of the school year and plan to marry him two years later, I would have laughed.
But now, the weight of the rock on my hand seemed much heavier than it actually was. I guessed it was because I was more self-conscious about it than I should have been. After all, I hadn't taken it off since Dakota gave it to me.
As I headed down the stairs and out the door of my house, Dakota was leaning against the hood of his truck, waiting for me. A thrill ran through me as I headed toward him. "Good morning, mister. Going my way?"
