Page 33 of True Honey
“Pick the one that suits you,” he said gently. I opened my mouth to protest. “Do not pick one because you think it’s cheap or costs less because it’s small.” His tone was stern but low and encouraging all at once. “I’ll know.”
When the man returned the rings he brought were much more reasonable in size. I stepped away from Silas who hadn’t moved despite my sudden closeness and pressed against the glass display case.
The top row featured gold bands with simple, variously cut diamonds that were all similar in size but there was one in the center row that caught my eye. It was smaller than the rest in its row, a teardrop shape and shiny against the golden band. But it had two small diamonds inlaid resting against the thinner end of the teardrop. A trio of diamonds, perfectly welded together.
“That one,” I said to Silas and he smiled, picking up the ring and holding it in his palm, probably just happy that I had chosen one that actually had some weight to it. Silas lifted it to my hand and slipped it over my finger while I desperately fought against the nauseous feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“What are the chances?” He asked when the ring fit perfectly. His eyes trained on my hand as I wiggled my finger around to test if it was loose but much to my surprise it wasn’t.
Silas looked up at me and didn’t say anything but I could feel him wanting to confirm that I was sure about my choice.It’s just a lie Drew, everything is constructed for show… A business deal.If this was just business, why was my throat dry and my heart trying to break free from my chest?
I nodded and Silas took that as confirmation, leaving the ring on my finger, he turned and convinced the clerk to sell him the show piece instead of waiting two weeks for a brand new one. I couldn’t tell the difference, it looked perfect to me.
I flexed my left hand and inhaled slowly, trying to steady my thoughts.
If you screw this up…I cleared my throat and shoved down the bile coming back into myself as Silas paid, not only for the ring but what sounded like other expensive pieces of jewelry I didn’t need. He thanked the clerk and wrote down instructions of where to send the purchases before shuffling me back into the sun.
COURTNEY
“Are you alright?” he asked, his hand wrapping gently around my bicep.
“Yeah,” I lied, my eyes still on the ring.
“Are you sure, we can take a break…shop later…” He started to pivot the plans we had set out and I stopped him.
“We have to be back in Harbor—”
“I didn’t forget. That was just a lot and I’m checking to make sure that you’re ready to handle more,” he said to me.
I took a second to steady myself, breathing in and out trying to convince myself with each breath that I could pull this off, if not for me but for August. For our future. It was just shopping, with a rich doctor who’d probably never done a single thing wrong in his entire perfect life…
“I’m ready,” I nodded.
He eyed me for a second, and in a pathetic attempt to distract myself I let my eyes wander over him as the sun highlighted the peppering of gray in his dark hair. The small scar on the right side of his forehead and the two patterns of freckles that danced across his jaw. I hadn’t really noticed how attractive he was until I was knee-deep and overwhelmed by every little noise around me. It was like everything was muted outside the tight bubble that wrapped around us.
“Before we do this, two rules,” he said, standing in front of me with his arms down at his sides and a serious look on his face. “One, you see something you like, you buy it. No arguments,” he said and I opened my mouth to argue. “Don’t immediately break rule one,” he laughed, the lines around his eyes crinkling in response.
“It’s just a lot to remember,” I said, finding my voice even if it was quiet.
Silas’s laughter faded into a smirk, “rule two, if you don’t like something that they bring you, or suggest, don’t take it just to make anyone feel better.”
“Shouldn’t I be looking for things your mother will like?” I asked him.
“No.” Silas shook his head. I was slightly confused on what he wanted me to do, if impressing his mother was the answer to his problems then wouldn’t he want me to dress for her? “My mother will see right through us if we pander to her, she’s too smart for that. We have to elevate your voice, so pick what you want.”
Ella’s words echoed:Silas gets all his intelligence from her.
What if I didn’t know what I wanted? What I liked?I thought, staring up at the massive glimmering store front. I wore jeans and old t-shirts every single day, the last time I had bought something off the rack was before I was pregnant with August. I’d lost whatever sense of style I had in the last thirteen years of mentally abusing myself and my body.
“Follow me,” he said, reaching for the door and swinging it open for me. He led me inside, his hand warm and steady against my lower back as I navigated each shaky step. The store inside was just as expected, high ceilings and wooden beams all connected to give it a sleek yet warm aesthetic that should have been welcome. If not for the two women behind the counter, their expressions souring the moment they saw me.
A low groan left Silas and his hand left mine to dig into his jean pockets, he pulled out his wallet. Whipping it open as he wandered toward the staring women he pressed something to the counter loudly, making them both turn their heads.
“I’ll get a drink,” he said to them, looking back at me before he turned on them again, “and some manners,” Silas added with a polite smile.
“Of course, Mr. Shore,” the blonde said, scooping up what he set down on the counter before starting to boss the other woman around.
“You know they never stare at me for wearing jeans in here,” he whispered with a funny look on his face as he returned to me. “Why are you still standing around, you have free reign.” He circled me until his chest was against my back. “Champagne?” he asked with a grin.
