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My breath caught when he set a small box on the table.
A ring box.
It felt like all of the air had been sucked out of the restaurant.
“Rafe…”
He held up two hands. “Relax. It’s not that kind of a gift.”
But my heart was pounding so hard I could barely hear him. “What is it then?”
“It’s a ring. But there isn’t a proposal attached to it.” He smiled. “You look like you might pass out.”
“It’s a distinct possibility.”
His smile widened. “Then why don’t I do the honors?”
Rafe opened the small velvet box and set it in front of me. Inside was a ring unlike anything I’d ever seen. Not a diamond. Not fancy or delicate in the traditional way. It was glass, swirled with soft colors that the candlelight picked up.
“I made it,” he said.
My eyes lifted to his. “Really?”
He nodded.
“It’s beautiful.”
“My friend is a glass blower. A while back, he let me tinker around in his shop, and I gave him a lesson in shattering glass into portraits. I went back the other day and made this for you. I figured glass was my thing, and I wanted you to have something to remember me by while I’m in Vegas.”
As if I’d ever be able to stop thinking of this man.
I lifted the ring from the box and slipped it onto my finger. Somehow it fit perfectly. “I don’t need a ring to remember you, Rafe. But this is the most perfect gift I’ve ever received.”
“It’s one of a kind.” His voice softened. “Just like you.”
Tears welled in my eyes as I stared down at the ring. “Thank you so much.”
When I finally looked up, Rafe’s eyes were glassy, too.
“What happens tomorrow?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
“What are you going to tell him?”
“The truth.”
Rafe was quiet for a moment. “What is the truth?”
“That we spent time together while he was gone.”
“Spent time?” His brows lifted. “I spend time with my aunt Rosie. Do you plan on elaborating? Telling him where most of that time has been spent? In my bed?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think it’s necessary to hurt him any more than I already have. He doesn’t need to know the gory details.”
“Is sparing him the real reason? Or are you trying to avoid telling him the thing you know will make him walk away for good?”
“Calder and I were together for years. He’s always been very good to me. I’ve already hurt him deeply. The visual he’ll get if I tell him we had sex again... I owe him the least painful goodbye possible.”
