“You really don’t recognize it?” Eric let out a quiet laugh. “It’s the gift you gave me.”

Recognition dawned on her. She hadn’t expected him to actually turn that peach pit into a pendant and wear it on his wrist.

A memory flashed—Hadley had tried to make whistles out of peach pits the other day, mostly to amuse Joy. She later gave Eric one as well. Now, seeing it on Eric’s wrist caught her completely off guard.

“I had it polished and added to this cord.” Eric flexed his wrist, making the small pendant dangle. “Looks good, doesn’t it?”

The small charm gleamed, looking far more beautiful than she remembered.

Still, Hadley hesitated, unsure how to respond. “You really shouldn’t wear such a cheap trinket,” she murmured, feeling awkward.

After all, something so simple didn’t seem fitting for someone of Eric’s status.

“You’re missing the point.” Eric shook his head, patience in his eyes. “You can’t put a price on this. It’s one of a kind.”

A gentle smile touched his lips as he added, “You made this for me. To me, nothing compares.”

For a moment, she stood silent.

When Hadley looked up at him, the sincerity on his face made her heart flutter. “Let’s get some dinner,” Eric said, dropping his arm around her shoulders. “You must be starving. The chef here cooks great food.”

Together, they headed to the restaurant and chose a private room. Since it was Hadley’s first time here, Eric took care of the ordering, picking dishes he knew she’d like.

Her appetite surprised even herself—she ate more than usual that night. After the meal, Hadley pressed a hand to her full stomach and winced, regret settling in. “I definitely ate too much,” she said.

“That’s alright. Come on.” Eric reached over, offering his hand to help her up. “It’s a bit of a walk back, but moving around will help us digest. Plus, the night air’s pretty refreshing.”

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Hadley nodded in agreement. “That sounds good.”

She knew she needed to walk off the heaviness before even thinking about sleep.

Stepping outside the restaurant, the crisp air greeted them.

“This is wonderful.” Hadley closed her eyes for a moment and breathed it in.

Eric watched her. “I was worried you might get chilly.”

Hadley shot him a teasing look. “Chilly? No way! It’s summertime!”

Just then, something off in the distance caught her attention. She pointed ahead. “What is that?”

Eric squinted. “Where exactly?”

“Right there!” She jabbed her finger toward it. “Do you see it? That spot is sparkling.”

He frowned and shook his head. “I’m not seeing it. Where do you mean?”

“Eric, it’s right there!” Impatience crept in as she grabbed his hand and pulled him along. “How can you possibly miss it? Are your eyes really that bad?” The closer they got, the clearer the shimmering spot became. For original chapters go to find?novel.net

“Do you see it now?” she asked.

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