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“Wow.” Kieran peered at the check with both of her finely tweezed eyebrows nearly reaching her hairline. “Are you sure about this? I know you’re not one of these Harvard brats, Skylar. You could just put this toward your student loans.”
I shrugged. Kieran knew where I was from, but not about my small trust fund. “I’m sure. I got it for a piece of jewelry that was…well, let’s just say I got it under false pretenses. The person who gave it to me doesn’t want it back, and I’d prefer not to keep it.”
I ventured a small smile, though the knowing look on Kieran’s face caused a flush to rise on mine. She looked back at the check, then set it down and pulled a pad of paper out from a drawer. After scribbling, she ripped off the top sheet and handed it across the desk to me.
“You’ll want that receipt for your taxes,” she said. “You’ll save more from the exemption than you would not declaring the jewelry.”
I nodded and tucked the receipt into my purse before going to my small desk. Just then, my phone buzzed with a text message from a number I didn’t recognize.
310-555-2368:I forgot to say you looked gorgeous on Sunday.
I grinned. I had been dressed in a crappy sweater.
Me:Who is this?
310-555-2368:You don’t know?
I turned to face my desk, biting back another telltale grin in case Kieran was watching. I still had a few minutes before my shift started, but she didn’t need to see me all worked up like a smitten schoolgirl. I decided to have some fun.
Me:Ooohhh, Andy, you need to stop using those online text services, baby.
310-555-2368:WHO IS ANDY?
I sucked in a giggle, but Kieran didn’t seem to notice.
Me:Oh, just this other hotshot tycoon I’m seeing. He likes to give me consolation jewelry too.
310-555-2368:Hilarious. I’m rolling over here.
Me:I know. It’s part of my charm. How did you get my number?
310-555-2368:I offered Ana a raise to get it from your friend. She really took advantage of me.
Me:Oh? I thought you were going to stop spying.
310-555-2368:I paid for it. She makes more than me now. Last time, I promise.
This time I couldn’t quite hide the giggle.
Kieran looked up irritably from her work. “Something funny?”
I shook my head. “No, sorry. Just a friend’s text.”
She looked at the clock. “I see.”
Turning around so I wouldn’t disturb Kieran, I punched in another quick message.
Me:Why do you have a California number? I thought you were from Boston.
310-555-2368:This is a Google Voice number, just like yours. I should be working, but you’re distracting me.
Before I could come up with a pithy reply that would somehow request his actual number, my phone buzzed again.
310-555-2368:Anyway, just wanted to say I can’t wait to see you on Friday. Thanks for the third chance. Later, Red.
The affectionate nickname wasn’t anything I (and every other redhead) hadn’t heard before, but somehow the familiar way he used it, the way it sounded like he’d called me that for years, made me smile. I typed a quick farewell and tucked my phone into my bag. I needed to get to work.
“I know someone who gives expensive jewelry like that to women he dates.”
