"I hear a merchant ship docked yesterday," Sal said. "They had the most beautiful gems, or so Myra says."
"Didn't you look for yourself?" I asked, and mentally kicked myself.
Sal waved the question aside. "We can go now. There ought to be some left." Without waiting for a reply, she took the corridor to the Market.
"Wait up!" I shouted. "That's not fair!"
The shops were bustling today. Merchandise from across the galaxy was displayed in shop windows and in open-air stalls. Sal headed towards a place called Jewelry, Etc. I lingered near a display of exotic fruit, then heard her impatient call: "Aiden!"
Hurridly snatching up a bright-red sphere, I paid the shopkeeper and followed Sal inside.
"Ah, customers!" The owner, a plump, silver-furred Tirellian, rubbed her paws together. "What can I do for you fine young people?"
"We'd like to take a look at your wares," Sal replied.
"Excellent. We have a fine selection from Earth, Maxwell's Star and others." As she spoke, she gestured at various pieces.
I examined a pale-blue etherite crystal set in a silver pendant. "How much is this?"
"A perfect choice! It matches your eyes." The merchant purred her satisfaction. "Five hundred credits, that is."
I winced. Five hundred would leave me short on money for a while. Still, I could manage.
Weighing the value in my head, I saw that Sal was admiring a tigerseye pendant. It would go well with her tunic, I thought.
"Well?" I turned to find the merchant eying me.
I brought out my credit card. "I'll take it."
She beamed. "I knew you would! I have a good eye." She ran the card through a scanner.
Across the shop, Sal had come to a decision. Loosely danling from her hand was a gold bracelet inlaid with pearls. The center was a crimson garnet.
"That's very nice," I said.
"Yours is too," Sal replied. "I'm surprised she let it go for so little."
I shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe it's because of my youth."
Sal laughed. "And good looks," she teased.
I feigned shock. "What a compliment! I'm honored."
That set her off again. Then she sobered. "I really do like you Aiden.
You know that, right?"
"Yes," I replied. I took her hand and kissed it. "Let no man come between us, though we be worlds apart."
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