“I just needed some time to myself,” she said, wishing Sam didn’t exist, but then again, if he didn’t exist, she wouldn’t have met Mitch. She still believed in fate back then.

“I didn’t spend all that money to fly you out here so you could have time to yourself. I could have bought a steer for what I paid. And my wallet’s a little lighter.”

“I’m sorry.” She wasn’t one bit sorry, but she didn’t know what else she was supposed to say.

“Well, I’m sorry, too, sweetheart.” He handed her a small jewelry box. “I was going to give this to you if you’d stuck around.”

Sherri didn’t want a gift from Sam, but what was she supposed to do? She opened the box. Inside was a gold chain with a pendant on it shaped like Texas, with a small diamond star in the middle. She wished it were Mitch standing there, Mitch who’d given her the gift. “This is sweet, Sam. Real sweet. Thank you. But I can’t keep it.”

The attendant announced they were boarding.

“I’ve got to go,” Sherri said. “This trip was a whole lot of fun. Here.” She tried to return the necklace, but Sam leaned closer to her and put his face next to her ear.

“You’re just a dumb little fuck, you know that?” He threw the roses on the ground, leaving her holding the necklace, before turning and stomping down the terminal, creating quite a stir at the gate. She felt like everyone on the airplane knew more about her than she wanted them to.