Page 108 of Scattered Glitter

“You nervous?”

She shrugs, her gaze dropping. “Maybe.”

There it is. The honesty that slips through when she’s not trying so hard to be tough. Let’s see if I can turn that nervousness into something else. Maybe get her a little flustered, like yesterday.

That had been fun.

Her eyesnarrow suspiciously as I reach into my pocket.

“What are you—” she starts to ask, but I cut her off.

“Patience, Little Thief.” I smile, pulling out the simple, platinum bracelet I picked for her yesterday at the shop while she was changing back into her sweats.

Her eyes widen when I reveal it, and I can practically see her defenses going up again. She’s already questioning my motive behind the gift. That’s fine. I expected as much. “This isn’t some big, glittery thing, but something tells me you’ll appreciate it more,” I explain, watching her expression shift.

She blinks, her lips parting as she stares at the bracelet, processing what’s happening.

I take her left wrist, and her skin is soft under my fingers as I fasten the clasp. It’s a simple gesture, but judging by how she watches me, she doesn’t quite know how to react.

She’s not used to this.

Huh. I would’ve bet that guys fall over themselves to buy her things.

“Why would you buy me this?” she asks in disbelief like the idea that someone might do something kind for her is foreign. It’s not the reaction I expected, but it tells me a lot about her.

“The dress needed some jewelry,” I say, shrugging. The truth is, I wanted to buy her something after Levi paid for the dress and shoes.

To ease my guilty conscience about dragging her into this mess and putting her life at risk too?

Probably.

She snorts, a smile dancing over her lips, trying to mask whatever she’s feeling. “Oh, so you want me to give it back with the dress after?”

“Who said you had to give the dress back? It’s yours. And so is the bracelet.” I make sure to catch her gaze,wanting her to hear me clearly. “You don’t owe me anything. Not a damn thing. I… wanted you to have it.”

She stares at me for a moment, and I catch the flicker of confusion in her eyes, the gears turning as she weighs if I really mean what I’m saying. The little crinkle appears beside her nose, the same one she had yesterday when she asked about our wealth. A micro-expression of disgust, not about the money but about herself.

“Think of it as a lucky charm for tonight.”

Her gaze sharpens. “Lucky charm?” she repeats skeptically. “Do you actually believe in stuff like that?”

“My sister believed in lucky charms.” I reach into my shirt and pull out a silver chain. A small rose pendant catches the light as I hold it up for her to see. “She gave me this for our performances, and it’s never failed me.”

Her expression softens, her eyes lingering on the rose. I can tell she’s thinking of her own sister. She told me she missed her, and I can see it now in the way her gaze lowers, something fragile and aching behind her eyes.

There’s so much I don’t know about her yet.

“We all can use a lucky charm,” I add, letting the pendant fall back against my chest.

Her lips part, and I think she might say something. Instead, she looks down at the bracelet and brushes her fingers over the links.

She doesn’t need to say anything. I can feel the shift, the way the weight between us has changed, even if only a little. She’s still guarded, still hiding, but I’m starting to slip through the cracks.

“Thank you,” she whispers like she doesn’t think she deserves any of it.

That’s the part I can’t quite figure out yet.

Why does she see herself this way?

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