Page 113 of Hypothetical Heart
“No, no,” I say quickly. “The ring is for my girlfriend.”
“My best friend,” Genevieve clarifies.
Amy nods, looking suspicious as she steps away. The whole encounter makes me feel uncomfortable, and I can tell Genevieve’s feelings are mutual.
“I think she’d like this one.” I pick up the ring that grabs my interest, a thin gold band with a simple pink diamond that glitters under the bright lights. “What do you think?”
“She’ll love whatever you pick out,” she assures me. “Plus, that ring is gorgeous.”
Luke is busying himself talking to another worker, likely chatting her up so he can get another flute of sparkling water.
I wave Amy back over, handing her the ring. “I think I’ll take this one.”
Her brow furrows, grabbing the price tag attached to the band and showing me the price as if she’s asking, ‘Are you sure you can afford this?’
“He’s not worried about it,” Genevieve answers for me. I’m not even sure if she saw the price. All she knows is that I can afford it.
Looking over my shoulder, I notice Luke’s change in expression as he looks through a different case across theshowroom. “You have my card. Could you excuse me while you ring me up?”
Before Amy replies, Genevieve and I are already heading toward Luke.
“What’re you looking at?”
“Got some secret girlfriend we don’t know about?” Genevieve asks jokingly, bumping her shoulder against his.
He doesn’t break his gaze away from a specific ring. “That one looks just like my mom’s.”
“Did your dad get it here?” I question.
“I don’t know.” Luke shrugs. “I think I should buy it,” he then says, almost in a daze.
“What?” Genevieve and I ask at the same time.
Luke’s always been sentimental–he makes it clear through his love of photography and capturing memories–but somehow, I don’t imagine him being the type to pick out an engagement ring when he doesn’t even have a girlfriend yet.
“What if I come back one day and it’s gone?”
“You understand how crazy you sound… right?” Genevieve looks completely appalled.
Luke stays staring at the ring, like it’s the most important thing to him right now. “I want to buy it.”
“Man, you don’t even know who you’re going to give it to,” I say. He gives me a timid look, like he wants to say something but knows he shouldn’t. “Or do you?” I trail off.
Genevieve raises her eyebrows, not knowing what to say. “Is this about Valerie?”
“What?” Luke’s head snaps back. “No, no.”
He sounds like a fucking liar.
Before we can say anything else about it, Amy comes up behind me, holding the gift bag with Winnie’s ring in it. “You’re all set,” she says, also handing me my credit card.
I thank her before I notice Genevieve walk out of the store in my peripheral with her phone to her ear and a serious look on her face. “I should probably follow her,” I tell Luke, giving him the space to make his own decision about the ring.
When I find Genevieve outside, she’s pacing back and forth, and it’s only once I get close enough that I can actually hear the conversation. “If something is going on, you need to tell me, Val.”
Valerie Mason. The girl Luke hooked up with during our senior year ski trip before he knew she was friends with the girls.
“Okay, okay, I believe you,” she replies after a beat. Then she looks over at me. “Alright, Val, I have to go, but I’ll talk to you soon.”
