Page 58 of Things We Fake
She gasped softly as she stared at it. The ring was gorgeous on her delicate finger. The rich color of the sapphire was mesmerizing, and the diamonds added just enough sparkle without feeling over the top.
I chuckled, knowing that look on her face. “That’s the one. It’s perfect.”
She hesitated, looking between me and the ring. “It’s gorgeous, but—”
“We’ve talked about this, Susanne,” I said with the patience of a saint. “Do you like the ring? No, do you love it?”
Stuart, sensing her uncertainty, chimed in. “This particular design is also quite practical. Platinum and sapphires are ideal for daily wear.”
She glanced back at the ring. The sapphire seemed to glow, its rich blue color reminding me of moonlight on water.
“It’s perfect,” she admitted softly.
I leaned closer, my voice warm but firm. “Then it’s settled. We’ll take it.”
Stuart’s professional smile grew slightly warmer as he carefully removed the ring. “An excellent choice. Allow me to prepare the ring’s documentation for you.”
Sue gulped, a wave of panic flooding her face. I could bet she’d never owned any jewelry that came with documentation. She had no idea how much the ring cost, and I wanted to keep it that way.
As Stuart disappeared to box the ring, I looked down at her. “See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
She shook her head, looking dazed. “It’s beautiful. But you really didn’t have to—”
“I wanted to. This isn’t just about pretending. It’s about making sure you have something that feels right. And this?” I took her hand to my lips. “It feels right.”
She didn’t argue. She was either cold or petrified, because her whole arm had broken into goosebumps.
Stuart returned with the paperwork and the iconic blue box of the ring. “How will you be paying for it?”
I handed him my gold card and my Colorado driver’s license. Maybe I should have been nervous about spending so much money on something like this. I wasn’t though. All I felt was a sense of peace, of doing the right thing. I couldn’t understand it, I just trusted myinstinct. That ring belonged on her finger. For a second, I wished this was real and that we were truly engaged.
But this was madness. Sue was only doing this to fool her parents and save her job. I couldn’t let myself forget that. And even though we had chemistry, it was a long way from that to something serious.
I looked down at Sue’s grandmother’s ring. To love the same woman for fifty years… Not long ago it would have seemed impossible. Now it felt like a rare privilege.
“Do you want to have this sized for your right hand?” I asked Sue.
She nodded, and I handed it to Stuart. He took the measurements and promised Sue her Nana’s ring would be ready on Thursday.
“I’m giving the ring back to you as soon as this—whatever this is—is over,” she whispered in my ear as soon as Stuart’s back was turned.
My reply was as evasive as a politician’s promises. “We’ll figure it out together. Let’s focus on the here and now.”
We thanked Stuart for his help and headed out. Before we reached the doors, Sue’s gaze drifted to a small display tucked near the exit. A collection of silver charms winked up from the velvet case—hearts, stars, clovers, and animals.
A laugh escaped her before she could contain it. “Oh my God, the cuteness!”
I followed her gaze, trying to figure out what had caught her eye. “Let me guess. The muffin?”
“The pig.”
Of course. I saw it immediately: a plump little pig, polished to a gleam, with tiny pink enamel ears and the most ridiculous curly tail.
I arched one eyebrow, amused and intrigued. “That’s an unusual crush.”
“Not really. Pigs are clever and full of personality. Besides, they’re simply adorable, especially those tiny ones people have as pets.”
“Did you ever have one?”
