Flashback ( PDFDrive )

should’ve let Vertina talk her into. Fitz had called it cute, but . . . it had
a sparkly pom-pom on the top.
“Okay,” he said, leading her into the shade—which did help a little.
“I was going to save this for later, but I think you need a distraction.”
“Uh . . . what kind of distraction?” she asked, very aware that they
were back under the swaying branches of Calla’s Panakes tree.
Fitz’s lips curled into a shy smile. “I realized it’d been a while since
I gave you a present. So I snuck over to Atlantis this morning and . . .”
He reached into the pocket of his burgundy cape and pulled out a
small silver box. “I really hope you don’t hate it. Biana’s always telling
me I have the worst taste in gifts—but . . . I figured it’d be weird
letting my sister shop for my . . . for you.”
Sophie didn’t miss that tiny slip.
But . . . had he been about to call her his ‘girlfriend’?
Or his ‘hopeful’?
Because there was a big difference.
In fact, even with all their Cognate training, they’d still never
addressed the questions that sat between them like a giant, gaping
chasm.
Was she going to register for the match?
And if she didn’t . . . ?
“Here,” Fitz said, handing her the box.
The size and shape screamed jewelry—and Sophie’s stomach felt
extra flippy as she lifted the lid and . . .
“Oh wow.”
“Do you hate it?” he whispered, sounding genuinely worried as she
traced her fingers over the shimmering teal pendant.
It was shaped like a heart.