AllFreeNovel
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She laughs the whole time, eyes bright with delight.
And I want to spend the rest of my life doing this. Spoiling her. Taking her out, enjoying her reactions to the world.
That’s how I find myself alone on Fifth Avenue, prowling some of the best designer jewelry stores, a man on a mission. Because just any ring won’t do. I have to find the right one. The perfect one, just like her. A ring that tells her exactly what she means to me, every single day she wears it.
I’m in the sixth store already.
“Let me just fetch some of our new designs from the back,” the manager is saying. “We haven’t put them out in the window yet; they’re new…”
I smile, which makes him run even faster. Only when he’s out of sight do I let out a sigh. So far, nothing has seemed right. Some are too gaudy. Others too plain. Some just downright ridiculous looking. Like a cocktail ring, not an engagement one.
Engagement.
I’ve talked it over with my parents. They worry I’m jumping into this too soon. But they do like Sinclair. Even Margot does. That’s a first for my family. Normally everyone hates whatever girl I’m dating within three minutes of meeting her.
Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve yet to meet someone who’s immune to Sinclair’s charms.
I’m lost in thought when the jeweler reappears. Before he even sets the tray down, my eyes go wide. Because there it is. Perfection. The ring I’ve been looking for.
It’s not a traditional diamond. It’s a sapphire, almost as blue as Sinclair’s eyes—or as blue as the ocean where we met. It’s flanked by two princess cut diamonds, and ringed by smaller diamonds as well, but the effect isn’t showy or gaudy. It’s tasteful. Rich without flaunting it.
“I’ll take it,” I say without bothering to look at the price.
The man’s face lights up. There’s a reason every jewelry designer in the past five blocks have been fawning over me. Commission is a lovely incentive.
He reads me off the price, and I hand over cash, plus extra. “For you,” I tell him, and that only makes his smile bigger.
He’s still wrapping up the box when the doors breeze inward. At first I think it’s just another customer. But then, an irritatingly familiar voice pipes up.
“Well, fancy seeing you in a place like this.”
I turn, my fists tightening with fury. Sure enough, there’s Lily, planted right across from me. She looks the same as ever. Cheap high heels, two seasons’ old outfit, sloppily applied lipstick. She’s also got her cell phone out, and before I can react, she snaps a photo of me, straight on. In a fucking jewelry store.
My face goes red. “Do not post that, Lily.”
“Always trying to tell me what to do. You’re so controlling, Marco, do you know that?”
“God, you are full of yourself.” I scowl and turn back around to accept the shopping bag from the man behind the counter. When I do, the guy catches my eye.
“Would you like me to call someone, sir?”
“That’s all right, I can handle this.” The last thing I’m doing is feeding the local tabloids the news break of the year by calling the cops on my possessive ex. I take the bag and brush past Lily toward the exit.
She grabs my arm halfway out the door. Her hands settles on the bag. “I can’t believe this. Are you really buying an engagement ring for her?” She practically shouts the latter half of the sentence, and the moment I stick my head out the door, I can see why. The street is crammed with people. Some of them no doubt recognized Lily from her YouTube channel and stopped to watch her. More still, unfortunately, seem to recognize me, once they catch a glimpse. More camera phones appear in every direction.
Fuck.
“Lily, this is none of your business.” I try to walk away but find myself walled in by the crowd.
“None of my business?” She storms after me. “How is it none of my business that you cheated on me with some hooker in Hawaii?”
“She’s not a hooker!” I turn on her, face red, fists balled. It takes effort to reign myself in. I can’t do this. I can’t break down and fight in public. It’s not a good look, no matter who Lily is, no matter what she’s done to me. “Don’t talk about her like you know her. You don’t know either of us, Lily, especially not me.”
“I loved you. And this is how you treat me?” She’s good. She even has fake tears glittering in her eyes.
I have to resist the urge to roll mine. I wonder if she’s been taking acting classes. “You never loved me, Lily, you loved the attention. Even now.” I fling my arms out and turn in a slow circle, gesturing at everyone in attendance. “The Lily show is on air. That’s all I ever was to you, Lil. A prop. A means to an end. You wanted more fame than you had before, more money, more attention. Well, now you have it. I hope you and your fame are very, very happy together. But I’m done being used. I’ve found something real.”
