My stomach is so full from that delicious meatball sub. I undo the top button of my shorts to keep from exploding.

Thankfully, the gauzy fabric of my shirt is long enough to cover my open fly as Archie and I walk hand in hand through the narrow streets of Crescent Harbor.

I feel carefree, content with myself. Not worried that anyone might notice my bulging stomach or my unzipped pants and report back to my mother’s smack-talking friends.

I smile at no one in particular. Who knew this much happiness and this much cellulite could co-exist in the same person.

Anyway, it’s beautiful here. The sprawling waterfront, the Victorian architecture and the tiny shops that are all calling my name as Archie and I stroll hand in hand down the romantic, cobblestone streets.

I resist the urge to drag him into every shop we pass because I know that would just drive him crazy. But as we approach a stained-glass window with beaded chandelier earrings on display, I can’t help myself.

Squeezing his fingers, I tug him inside with me and I begin to explore. His gaze travels around, pretending to take interest in the odd nick nacks on the shelves in the cozy space. A gorgeous bohemian bracelet with multicolor beads catches my eye as I edge around the other customers in the cluttered aisles. I lift the jewel off of the display rack and slide it onto my wrist just to admire its quirky beauty.

“That looks gorgeous on you.” The rosy-cheeked woman at the far end of the counter beams at me as she approaches. The smile on her face isn’t fooling me. Those eyes tell me she’s coming to close the sale.

Quickly, I slip the piece of jewelry off my wrist and try to put it back in its place. “Oh, sorry. Just looking today.”

Archie comes up over my shoulder, his eyes examining the bracelet. “It is beautiful, babe.” He takes it from my fingers and slips it back onto my wrist. “Look at it.”

“It’s breathtaking,” the shop owner says. “It brings out the gold in your eyes.”

I have gold in my eyes? Well, apparently this bracelet has super powers, too. Now, I’m starting to think I have to have it. I move in front of the mirror and hold up my wrist.

She prods Archie. “Don’t you see how it makes her eyes glimmer?”

“I definitely see that.” His gaze is transfixed to me. He watches me in awe.

Common sense snaps back in. I don’t need the damn bracelet. I try to remove it again. “It’s very beautiful but I’ll pass on it today.”

Back in the day, I wouldn’t hesitate to swipe Josh’s credit card for this but I’ve done a lot of growing up since then. Yes, I like the bracelet but I don’t need it. My little family isn’t starving but we aren’t swimming in money, either. I don’t mind turning down a little unnecessary indulgence like this.

But Archie’s hand is digging into his pocket and he’s pulling out his wallet.

“You don’t have to do this,” I say as he stretches his credit card across the counter to the seller.

The lady is all too eager to swipe the piece of plastic. She does it before I can convince my man not to make the purchase.

As we wait for the slow dial-up connection, Archie wraps his arms around me and leans his chin on my shoulder. “You deserve this, babe. And buying it for you makes me happy. So, just let me do it.”

When he says that, the women in line behind us sigh with jealousy and I beam just a little at how lucky I am to have this man. He peppers kisses up and down my cheek as the store clerk fiddles with the card processing machine.

The loud, beeping sound of doom echoes in the shop and it feels like all eyes land on us.

The cashier’s expression shifts completely. Her friendly demeanor evaporates. She gives Archie a condescending look over the frame of her glasses. “It was declined.”

He clears his throat and tugs his collar away from his throat. “You mind trying again?”

The woman swipes the card over the reader again and that sound of rejection echoes out once more.

“M-maybe it’s broken,” I supply, my heart breaking for Archie as he reaches across the counter and grabs the outstretched card.

“Yeah, maybe.” He slides the card back into his wallet and drops his gaze to the floor. “Maybe we’ll come back for it tomorrow.”

Without waiting for me, he spins on his heel and moves through the crowd, heading for the door.

When we reach the sidewalk, I can see the mortification burning in his cheeks. He feels like less than a man because he wasn’t able to buy me something silly that caught my eye in a random store.

I don’t want him to feel bad. That one little moment didn’t change the way I feel about him. I need him to know that.

But as we walk down the road in the direction of the parked car and I try to reach for his hand, he shoves his fingers into his pocket instead.