Page 18 of Honey Sunshine

Eh?

Oh!

Oh, I completely forgot about it, and I find myself flushing. “Th-thanks. I’m borrowing it from my friend, Alex, you know, the one I was speaking to on the phone in the bathroom...”

I try to ignore the slight frown that forms on his face when I say that.

“If you want to borrow my watch at any time, let me know as well. I didn’t know you liked watches.”

The thing is, I don’t. I just wanted to look a bit different for tonight. What possessed me to do that, I’ll never know.

I consider explaining it, but an idea suddenly strikes me.

“We should probably get some matching couple accessories for tomorrow,” I say without much thought. When Harvey’s body stills beside me, I quickly try to clarify what I meant. “Y-y-you know, to match the story we’re selling!”

He lets go of my hand, seeming to consider it for a moment, and I try not to dwell on how cold and empty the spaces between my fingers feel right now.

All of a sudden, he shoots up from his seat. “Give me a moment.”

He walks away, his footsteps echoing through the vast expanse of the penthouse. Uh ... did I say something out of place? Maybe I’m taking this more seriously than is necessary?

I place the can in my hand on the center table and dab my wet fingers with my handkerchief. Yeah, it’s better there than in my hands. No embarrassing spilling scene today, please.

After a short time, he returns, cradling a sleek black box in his hands.

My brows knit together as he opens it, only to reveal a matching pair of?—

“Rings?”

My heart leaps to my throat as a rush of nerves shoots through my body, and I watch as he carefully removes one ringfrom its place, the glint of tiny crystals embedded in the golden band practically blinding me.

Its centerpiece is a small red jewel.

He takes my left hand and slides it smoothly onto my middle finger, the cool metal sending shivers down my spine. As the weight of the ring settles on my hand, my heart begins to somersault with a mixture of excitement and anticipation when I see him reach for his and slide it onto his own middle finger as well.

“I like the design, but you can only buy them as a set, so... now we match,” he says, staring at both of our fingers.

“It’s beautiful,” I comment almost breathlessly, my emotions all over the place as if Harvey had just proposed.

“Oh, they’re supposed to signify the red string of fate in Asian culture.” He grins. “I didn’t know about it until after purchasing them. According to belief, the string is tied around the fingers of two individuals destined to be soulmates or who have a significant connection. Cute, right?”

Lord God Almighty, how am I supposed to not fall hopelessly in love with this man?

He doesn’t play fair at all! This isn’t real.Weare not real.

Still . . .

“I never thought I’d have anything matching with my significant other. Funny, now I do, it’s with my pretend boyfriend,” I say, extending my hand and staring at the ring. I’ve always been a romantic at heart, but I mistakenly prioritized thatsnakeover what I had wanted. As a result, I never had the chance to enjoy simple things like getting matching items or spending time together. So I can’t help but find it somewhat ironic that I’m doing all this now with someone who’s not actually my boyfriend.

“Well, we can get matching phone cases and ties before we head to my parents’ tomorrow.”

I roll my eyes and wonder if he realizes what he’s even offering.

“Yeah, that’dreallysell it.” I grin.

“Would it?” he questions, but it doesn’t seem like he wants an answer to that, the way he’s surveying me up and down. “I think maybe matching last names would really sell it.”

“Matching... last names?” I repeat dumbly, putting my hand back down to gawk at him.

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