Page 113 of Diamonds in the Mud

The three of them looked so happy. I watched each of my close friends hug the man I loved before Jameson walked to his car and drove away. Aria and Sabrina strolled back to Jazzed Up and disappeared inside without seeing me.

What in the hell?

I was halfway to the salon when realization dawned on me.

The night before, Jameson had gone out on the back porch and talked with Randy for half an hour. When the men had come back in, they were very chummy. Now Jameson and two of my close friends were shopping.

I stopped just outside of the antique store and gasped. My ring!

I rushed through the doors and, to my surprise, the ring I had admired for the past ten years was gone.

“Mr. Lief,” I said, getting the owner’s attention. “Where is it?”

The man’s eyes widened and then softened. “Sorry, girl, it’s sold.”

I glanced at the door and felt my heart jump in my chest. There was only one person in the world who knew how I felt about that ring. Aria.

“Thanks,” I said, and turned to rush down the sidewalk. When I strolled into Jazzed Up, Aria was combing through Sabrina’s hair. The pair saw me and their faces turned blank.

“Spill,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

Both women looked at one another and shook their heads slowly.

“Trust us,” Aria said softly. “Just this once, don’t go poking around.”

My chin rose and I turned my attention to Sabrina. “Would you stop looking into why your two best friends were just seen walking out of a store with the man you love?”

“Aww.” Sabrina smiled and then said sarcastically. “Am I one of your best friends?”

I rolled my eyes. “Talk.”

“No, sorry, this time I can honestly say that this reporter has nothing to report.” She held her hands up. “I’m just here to get my hair trimmed.” She motioned towards Aria.

“And I’m just doing the trimming.” Aria smiled and went back to combing through Sabrina’s hair.

“My ring has been sold,” I blurted out. This stopped Aria’s movement.

“Ring?” she said after a slight pause. “What ring?”

“You know damned well what ring,” I said firmly.

“Rayne.” She drew my name out and then whined, “Don’t do this. Please.” She held up her hands in a begging gesture. “Just… turn around, walk out of here, and forget you saw anything. Please.”

I sighed and, after taking a few deep breaths, I smiled. “I’m getting proposed to.”

Both women smiled quickly, and I squealed like a freaking junior higher.

Then they were hugging me and doing a little crazy circle dance.

“You don’t know anything,” Aria said when we stopped. “If you love him, you’ll forget this.”

I nodded. “Right.” I kept nodding. “Oh god. What am I going to say?”

They both laughed and then said in unison, “Yes.”

“Sit.” Aria shoved me into the chair. “Sorry, Sabrina, I’m going to have to postpone your trim. Rayne needs my help to look her best tonight.”

“Oh god, he’s asking me tonight?” I paled.