Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 135539 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135539 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
But this is different. I’m not going to face this particular fire alone.
May and June have remembered I’m here. Quickly, I pocket my phone. June narrows her eyes but doesn’t mention it. Instead, she smiles with clenched teeth.
“Has August met Edward?”
I narrow my gaze right back at her. “He has.”
“He was very cordial to Edward,” Sarah says, somewhat primly.
“Now, that’s a surprise.” June snickers. “He hates frogs.”
Little traitor.
Sarah scowls. “He does a good job of hiding it.”
“Childhood trauma,” I explain. “It isn’t against Edward personally.”
“Look at her, defending Augie. Isn’t it sweet?”
I refrain from pinching May’s side. Barely. “I was just heading out. Why don’t you two come with me.”
“Where do we put our luggage?”
At June’s query, Sarah’s attention darts to their suitcases. “They can’t stay here! Edward doesn’t like strangers sleeping over.”
Sure, blame Edward. He doesn’t seem to mind when she’s hosting a “friend” for the night. In the entire time I’ve rented here I’ve “hosted” exactly zero guests. Toeing on my sneakers, I grab my purse, and a bag of things I’d stored by the door.
May and June raise their brows at that but remain silent and follow me out.
“Did you rent a car or should I call one?” I ask briskly. Unlike August, they know all about my bike.
“Rental.” June pulls out a set of keys. She hands them to me, stating that I know where to go so it’s better if I just drive.
We don’t say anything else until we’ve stowed our things in the trunk and are headed west on Sunset Boulevard. Golden sunlight streams through the windshield and catches on my ring where I’m holding the wheel. The square-shaped sapphire ring glows in an almost unearthly shade of deep tranquil blue, while the flanking diamonds glitter and gleam. I’m still not used to seeing the ring on my finger, or how utterly beautiful it is.
I’m not the only one who notices. There’s a quiet gasp from the back seat, while June, at my side, makes a strangled noise.
“Holy shit,” she gets out. “You really are engaged.”
“Isn’t that why you’re here?” I hedge, because she’s looking at the ring as though she’s seen a ghost.
“That there is Nanna Linda’s ring,” June states in awe.
A pulse of shock slams through my body, and I glance at the ring then at June’s wide-eyed expression. “No,” I say. “No, August said he picked it up in a shop.”
He did, right? I can’t remember now.
“No way,” May says emphatically. “That’s Nanna’s ring!”
“Why would he—” I bite my lip. I can’t ask. Not them, at any rate. I amend my denial. “He would have said it was hers.”
“Hmm.” June tilts her head, peering at me as though trying to crack open my mind and read it.
Good thing she can’t. All she’d hear right now is: What the fuck!?! Over and over.
“He’d definitely tell you,” she agrees.
“Well, why the fuck didn’t he?” May argues. “Because that’s the ring!”
“We might be wrong,” June says. “It’s been years since I’ve seen it.”
“I think I’d remember a stone that big.” May huffs. “Thing must be eight carats. An authentic Kashmir sapphire. It was Nanna’s pride and joy.”
The ring seems to wink at me, as if to say, How you like me now? I don’t know, to be honest. I’m obviously giving it back after all this. But if it’s his grandmother’s? God, what if I lost it? I won’t. I’m never taking it off. But if I did, an heirloom isn’t easily replaceable by an insurance check.
“We were eight when she last wore it,” June says sternly. “All I remember is it being big and pretty.”
“Well, I—” May shuts up when June glances back at her.
I don’t know if it’s for my benefit or what. I’m too busy wondering if May is right and, if so, why would he give me something irreplaceable? The worst part is I don’t want to ask him. How humiliating would it be if he laughed and said, Now, come on, Pen, would I really give you a family heirloom? in that way of his. Awful.
“You’re probably right,” May grumbles. “It has been a while.”
Awkward silence swells, threatening to burst. I turn into my grandparents’ neighborhood.
“You’re finally moving into Pops and Pegs’s house?” June asks. The thoughtful tone makes it sound more like a statement than a question, but I answer it anyway.
“Yeah.”
May leans forward, holding on to the seat back in front of her so her face hovers between me and June. “But you didn’t have the money— Oh, August is paying it, isn’t he?”
It’s the truth in the simplest sense. Even so, it’s as though I’ve been kicked. My hand tightens on the wheel. I don’t miss the way June shoots May a repressive glare.
“You don’t . . .” The words get caught up on my tongue. “You don’t think I’d use August that way, do you?”