Page 64 of Forever Fake

“One magpie represents sorrow. That simply won’t do. Come with me. Don’t worry, we’re not leaving the house. Not yet.”

I’m not sure what he’s talking about, but curiosity spurs me on. I wrap myself in a silk robe and take his offered hand. He leads me through the house to the garage. What can he possibly be hiding in here?

Blake tosses me a key fob. “Click that button.”

“Okay…” I do, and a car up ahead honks and lights up. Slowly, I approach the adorable, glimmery blue, two-seater vehicle. “Is what I’m looking for inside your car?”

“Yourcar,” he corrects me. “I thought it was time you had a little more freedom. This BMW Z4 should help you with that.”

I gape at him. Is he for real? He bought me a car for my birthday? “You’re joking!”

“No joke. Look at the license plate.”

I glance down, reading the plate: MAGPIE. Holy shit. He bought me a car! I squeal and sprint to it, running my palm over the blue almost metallic paint.

“Two magpies for joy.”

I spin toward him. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s nothing, just an old nursery rhyme that I can’t seem to get out of my head these days.”

“How does it go?”

He clears his throat.

“One for sorrow,

Two for mirth,

Three for a wedding,

Four for death,

Five for silver,

Six for gold,

Seven for a secret never to be told.

Eight for a wish,

Nine for a kiss,

Ten for a surprise you should be careful not to miss.”

I giggle, never in a million years did I expect Blake to recite an old nursery rhyme meant for children, much less follow these old superstitions.

“So this car is my two for mirth?”

“Yes. I hope it brings you joy.”

I fling my arms around his neck and pepper his chin and neck with kisses. “Thank you! You’re the best.”

“I know,” he drawls, earning himself a roll of my eyes. He smacks my ass in punishment, which leads to us having sex on the hood of my new car.

The rest of my birthday is like something out of a dream. We shower together, making each other come yet again before getting ready for the day. I get to drive my new car, turns out it’s a convertible which I love on this warm summer day, to a mystery location. No matter how many times I beg Blake to tell me where we’re going, he refuses.

I’m speechless when we pull into a crowded parking lot beside a massive concrete building. They check our names off a list at the door, then suddenly I’m in a film studio.

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