Falling Down(110)

"Oh yeah," Ben says. "Those are more her."
I nod and look down and I see it immediately. I reach down and pick it up. Sera gasps, her hands fly to her mouth.
"Yeah, this is the one."
"Excellent choice," Bart says. "You've chosen the platinum tiara diamond ring with a princess cut diamond. With the accessory diamonds the total weight of diamonds is 3.42 carats."
"Get the matching band," Sera says. "She can have two wedding bands. This set is too perfect."
"I agree."
"Very good."
Bart starts talking about clarity and color and I don't know what the hell he's talking about but I nod along. All I know is this is Lucy's ring.
"With the wedding band, the total weight is 4.54 carats."
"Will that be too much?" I ask Sera.
"May I?" she asks Bart.
"Please."
She slips the rings on and oohs and ahhs. "It's beautiful, Jesse. Perfect. Not too heavy, not too flashy. The design of the platinum, the way it curves like that, she's going to love this. Look how it fits perfectly. Lucy and I wear the same size."
"Don't start crying," Ben barks. As if that's going to work. I send him a look like, are you f*cking kidding me? And he shrugs.
"I can't help it. It's just so amazing. Bart, you keep things confidential, right?"
"Of course. We are very professional."
"I thought so. You look trustworthy." She slips the rings off and puts them on the velvet square on the counter. She reaches into her purse and pulls out her wallet.
"Here," she says, thrusting a picture of Lucy at Bart.
"Ah, yes. She's quite beautiful and an amazing actress."
"You should hear her sing," Ben tells him.
"I'm sure I will soon if the press conference was truthful."
"True facts, Bart. Lucy doesn't lie."
He nods.
"Here's the story. It's so romantic. When we were in seventh grade…" She launches into the entire story of the crush, the fangirling posters, the party for the video, concerts, Chicago, the video, and the living together.
"They are such idiots," she says.
"Hey," I protest.
"You are. I mean even I knew you were in love with each other the first day on the set."
"Me too," Ben says.
"Idiots. Anyway, soon they'll profess their love for one another, we'll record our album, then we'll tour with our new band and open for Falling Down. I have no idea when Jesse will propose to her, but it's like a fairytale romance."
"Yes, it certainly is," Bart says.
I hand him my credit card and he rings up the sale. I don't even pay attention to what he said the cost was. I don't give a f*ck. Lucy's worth it.
Bart hands me the bag with the rings and certificates of authenticity and other crap I'll figure out later.
"Be sure to hold onto your dream, Mr. Kingston. It's not every day they come true," Bart says.
I nod. True story.

***~~~***

Sera agrees to hide the ring in her room since Lucy's in mine.
"I'll put it in my panty drawer. She won't ever go there."
"I don't even want to think about that," I tell her.
"I do," Ben says following behind Sera.
"What are you doing, Ben?"
"Following you."
"Why?"
"Because I want to… finger your silk and lace."
Seriously. My brother.
I walk into the kitchen to grab a soda and there she is. She's in those sexy-as-hell tight black pants that come to just below her knees and cling to her sexy f*cking body like a second skin. Her top is some short lacy thing and her belly button is peeking out at me, her piercing glinting in the sunlight.