AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I proceeded to fire up the cast iron skillet, pouring a little olive oil over the surface. “So … tell me all the things, Ly. How’s work? How’s New York? Got yourself a new boyfriend?”
She scoffed. “Good, good, and no.”
“Come on,” I coaxed. “I’m trying to catch up with you.”
She rolled her eyes. “You just called me last week.”
She stood from the table and approached the stove. The steaks sizzled against the pan, which made my stomach grumble in response. I’d been running around for the wedding all day and so preoccupied by that stupid locket that I’d skipped lunch.
After she rested her hip against the kitchen counter, she leaned into me. “What’s going on with Brandy?”
I peered behind me, at the entrance to the living room, which was crazy because no one was here. My brother and Addison were out.
I gave her a level look. “You know how I almost always trust my gut?”
She raised an eyebrow. “It’s your mother’s intuition even though, technically, you’re not a ‘mother’”—Lyria put the word in quotes—“yet.”
I turned off the stove and faced her directly, feeling my facial features drop. “I think she’s cheating on Alec. I’m pretty sure of this, Ly. I saw her kissing some scruffy guy with a red beard. I swear it was her.”
“Hmm.” Her face scrunched.
I slumped against the counter, resting my hip right by hers. “Why aren’t you more worried about this? About Alec?”
Lyria let out a long sigh, no longer smiling. “Because, in the end, everything that’s meant to be will happen and things that aren’t meant to be won’t.” I knew she was no longer talking about Alec, but about herself, her history, why she’d originally moved, her ex-boyfriend, and the heartache she’d left behind. “Plus, Syd, I know you’re not giving up until you find out the truth.”
I exhaled a heavy breath. “I’m not.” That much I knew for sure.
* * *
I was in my office early the next morning when my phone rang. “Hey.”
It was Ryanne. “I can’t go today. I’m meeting with our web designer in an hour. He just switched the meeting on me, and I swear this guy is hard to get ahold of.”
I leaned back, resting my neck against the lip of my office chair. “Ugh, Ry …”
“Seriously, you can’t stop though. If there is nothing dire going on at the agency, you need to go and catch her in the act.”
Ryanne was mostly convinced that Brandy was guilty even though I hadn’t told anyone about the locket. First, I’d have to admit that I’d actually stolen the damn thing, which I wasn’t about to do. If by chance Brandy was innocent, then I’d return it even if I had to slip into her window ninja-style to do it.
I doubted she knew it was missing anyway. She was so busy with the wedding that she didn’t have time to think of anything else.
“Fine. I’ll go.”
Lyria walked into our office, holding a brown paper bag of something greasy. Knowing my sister, it was probably gyros, and bless her soul because it was lunchtime.
“What do you have there? I’m sure it isn’t a salad.” Brooke wrinkled her nose over her computer.
Only Brooke would be hoping that a grease-filled bag had a salad hiding inside.
“Nope. You know me better than to think I’d waste my time on a salad,” Lyria said, unapologetic.
She was about to sit down, but I stood. “We’ll have to eat it in the car. We have to go somewhere.”
Lyria frowned. “Now?”
I linked my arm through hers. “Now. This is life or death.”
Brooke raised an eyebrow, suspicious, but I ignored her stare.
