on a series of calls, s

ted friend, had "popped

ite leather sofa, scrolling through her ph

p. "Ethan's never kept a girl around this

h. "He's just..

"He likes projects. Don

, cold and assessing.

eep him entertained,"

. "I'm sure

know, Ethan was telling me how much he en

bells went off.

ying to sound breathless. "I've nev

y liked how you reacted to that hideous diamond ne

entatious. And worth a fortune. I'd m

Brittany had watched,

mention of it fe

ious? Or was she just

d ever seen," I said, my voice trem

n't change. But a tiny mu

irritation that

Ethan's phone calls dron

store, after he said you could have all those

made a big show of it.

d," I whispered, looking

ips of ice. "He seemed... flustered. And you, Ma

was encroaching on her territory wit

rittany, I would never! You and Ethan are so c

just a fraction. My fei

her voice returning to its usual drawl. "Thi

urse,"

d an idea. A delic

on the sofa. "I was thinking. All my old colleag

amused. "O

aybe I could take you and Brittany to my old stor

en he told her the plan, practi

iation they craved. The poor shop girl re

rf

when we walked in. My f

looked like he

he sta

to see you! And this is my boyfriend,

put on the perform

s, Sarah, who'd always been kind

, the color, the style. I

ttany had tried with me. But the disd

iet dignity as she endured my charade.

ating with excitement, a smug

me with an expression of pure amusement.

ly an hour, I waved

them all. The o

was at least twenty pairs

t's address," I said, loud

nd Brittany, beaming. "Th

ail of bewildered silence behi

are a natural

st s

ey were watchin

t witnessing

d make it up