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She sat at the table and fidgeted She felt like her heart was going to beat out of her chest She felt like was going to puke She shed at all the appropriate ti about blue eyes and strong fingers

Wrong He’s wrong for you He’s never understood what you want, what you really want

By the ti down She was laughing at sohtened up a little He had cleaned hi, which was a plus Now his hand was back on her knee She ignored the way her skin felt so , nor close to her ear She nodded

"Yeah Just tired," she replied He so upstairs, and I can -," he started, when he was interrupted by one of the coaches Tate let out sigh of relief The last thing she wanted to do was "go upstairs" with Nick

While he chattered away to the coach, her eyes fell on the black velvet box She glared at it Stupid Jah, pearls the first tiether Pearls the last time they parted She wondered how much they cost, wondered if she could leave them at the front desk for hile hiainst the box

"A, did Nicky get that for you?" the same wife from earlier drawled in a thick Southern accent Tate smiled

"Oh no, it’s from , an admirer," Tate joked

"Ooohhh, ed

"I’m not really sure, I haven’t opened it"

"Well, honey, what are you waiting for!? That’s a big box! Open it!" the woed the box forward Braced herself to see what her price was this tione all out - 75,000 She flipped open the lid

She gasped, and her hand flew to herbelieve it Tears filled her eyes, and sheher rong, asking as in the box, but she ignored her A long ago conversation floated into herthe worth of what you have Fake pearls are just as good as real pearls, if they’re given with good intentions and love If Ang gave liest, tackiest, strand of fake pearls ever, I would love theave ave you pearls, huh And what if I gave you pearls? What would they mean to you?"

"You don’t love e"

Sitting inside the fancy velvet box, a box that had a Cartier logo on the inside of it, was the guadiest, ugliest, tackiest strand of fake pearls, ever Fake was too generous a word The necklace was basically costume jewelry It was like he had walked into one of those Claire’s boutiques, then looked through the clearance bin for the cheapest piece of shit necklace he could possibly find It even had the price tag still stuck to it The actual cost had been crossed out with a black inal price was still visible

499

She could not stop laughing

Oh, Satan Got ain

"What’s so funny?" Nick suddenly asked