The Best Man's Baby Read Free Page A

dry steak.
    Holly scoffed. “Hey, this is me you’re talking to, remember? The one who spent her entire adolescence hearing about how you were going to marry Jake Manning?”
    Claire stared at her friend’s pretty face, and memories of the two of them laughing and sharing dreams of what their lives would be like when they were older filled her with sadness, because none of it had happened for Claire. Her life was nothing like she’d envisioned. She was hiding in the kitchen, for goodness’ sake. Claire was not an overweight, shy teenager with acne and braces anymore. She didn’t live with her vain, size-four-or-die mother anymore. She’d spent years trying to get her mother’s shrill, disapproving voice out of her head when she looked at her reflection in the mirror.
    Claire was a successful florist who owned her own business and home. She was not going to cower in her best friend’s kitchen while Octopus Barbie groped the father of her child. And there was no way in hell she was going to let Jake be so happy while she was miserable.
    “Earth to Claire?” Holly’s waving hands in front of her face snapped her back to reality.
    Claire didn’t answer as she marched over to her purse sitting on the kitchen table. She was not going to be a bystander to her own life any longer. Was there ever a better time to assert one’s independence than when one was about to become a parent? And what if she had a daughter? Would she criticize her and plague her with trivial ideas about weight and beauty? Or would she love her unconditionally and encourage her to be strong and independent?
    Holly’s voice softened, but the worry in it was unmistakable as she came to stand beside her at the table. “Hey, let’s get together tomorrow, okay? I’ve missed you, and now that the wedding is over we can catch up and talk.”
    She ignored her best friend and dumped the contents of her purse on the kitchen table in between Holly’s neatly stacked plates and assortment of drinks.
    She was looking for the little item she’d kept in her purse for the last five days. She’d carried it around with her because she couldn’t believe it was true, kept looking at it to see if both pink lines were still on the indicator.
    “What are you doing?”
    She still didn’t answer.
    “You’re starting to worry me. Your face is blotchy and you look upset.” Claire thought Holly sounded as though she were speaking to a mentally unbalanced person.
    She swung her arm wide, clearing some of the mess, her lipstick clinking against the china. Where was that box? Her eyes scanned the mess and finally fell on the thin box sandwiched between the San Pellegrinos and Heinekens. Bingo. She snatched the prize in her hand, clutching it as tightly as a newly won Oscar. She quickly jammed her belongings back in her purse and swung it over her shoulder as she tried to sidestep her best friend before she could see the box in her hand.
    Holly crossed her arms and blocked her path. She could be formidable, but she was no match for Claire right now.
    “What are you doing? What is that?” She tried to unfold Claire’s arms. Claire squeezed her arms together tightly.
    “I’m giving Jake a welcome-home present.” She tore past Holly, nearly knocking her worried friend over. It was now or never. Jake Manning could not sleep with her, take off for six weeks, and then reappear with another woman groping him. Especially that woman.
    “Claire!” She ignored Holly’s plea and stormed down the steps to the outdoor patio. She didn’t even falter as she approached the door and saw Amanda casually caress Jake’s back. His broad, muscular back, the one she remembered clutching, digging her nails into as…
    She flung the Victorian screen door open with a force that sent all the boisterous partygoers looking in her direction, the sound of conversation slowly fading to a frightening silence. Quinn was just placing a hamburger on Jake’s plate and stopped, the plate frozen