The Best of Friends Read Free Page B

without him, the world was a darker place. He hadn’t wanted her. Shades of the conversation she’d overheard when she’d been seven. Her mother complaining to her friends that Rebecca had been an accident—one she’d always regretted. At least Nigel’s dismissal had been kind.
    The diamond was a hell of a consolation prize. Natural blue diamonds were nearly impossible to value, and this one was perfect. A small, cold piece of rock she’d been given instead of a man’s heart. Only time would tell if she’d gotten a good deal.
    She rewrapped the diamond in the cloth and put it back in her carry-on bag. The bag went in the safe, where it would stay until she decided what she was going to do with it.
    She’d barely closed the door and made sure it was secure when her cell phone rang. She recognized David’s number on the small screen.
    “Are you back?” she asked by way of greeting. “Did Mom arrange a band, or did you have to make do with a small plaque?”
    “Nice. Very loving and supportive.”
    “The young prince returns home. All is well in the kingdom.”
    “I’m not the young prince anymore.”
    She grinned. “I know, but ‘the rapidly aging prince’ doesn’t have the same ring to it.”
    He chuckled. “You’re pushing thirty, kid.”
    “You got there first.” She had planned to say more, then heard a loudspeaker in the background. “Where are you? Still at the airport?”
    “No.” He hesitated. “At the hospital.”
    Her humor faded. “What? Are you okay? What happened?”
    “I’m fine. It’s not me, it’s Jayne. She had an accident.”
    Rebecca’s stomach tightened as her whole body went cold. Panic surged. “Is she all right?”
    “She’s going to be fine. She broke her wrist. They’re setting it now. She’ll be released in a couple of hours. I know you two are tight, so I wanted to let you know.”
    “Broke her wrist? How?” she asked, then thought about Jayne’s errand to her parents’ house. “This is about you, isn’t it? This has ‘young prince’ written all over it.”
    He winced. “It wasn’t my fault. She was carrying a big vase of flowers. I wasn’t there at the beginning, so I don’t know how it started. Apparently she slipped, and when she fell, she broke her wrist.”
    Some of the panic eased. “I am so going to kill you. Jayne is my friend. How could you hurt her?”
    “I didn’t hurt her. It was an accident.”
    “It was your fault.”
    “Hey,” he said, sounding both amused and frustrated. “I don’t like this, either. And before you go off on me, I’ll remind you that I have a pass for the rest of my life. Let’s not forget that, little sister.”
    He was right—ten years ago she’d promised him she would never get mad at him again. “This is different. This is about Jayne.” She walked to the master bedroom and dug a notepad out of her purse. “What hospital? I’m coming right over. And don’t for a minute plan on leaving until I get there and say you can.”
    “You’re turning into Mom. You know that, right?”
    “Don’t think you can distract me, David. You’re in big trouble. Now stay with Jayne and make sure she’s all right. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”
    “I’ll alert the media.”
    “You’re trying to be funny, and it won’t work.” She put her purse over her shoulder and walked to the kitchen, where she grabbed her car keys.
    “I’m trying to tell you everything is fine,” he said. “Of course I’ll stay with her until you get here. I’ve always liked Jayne.”
    “Oh, please. You’ve never even had a conversation with her.” She walked out of the condo and locked the door behind her.
    “Sure I have. She’s funny.”
    “Don’t for a moment think you can make time with my best friend. Just stay put and don’t make trouble.”
    “Promise. Jayne and I will be here, waiting for you, planning our elopement.”
    “You’re so not her type.”
    “There’s a challenge.”
    “I’m hanging up