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“I can’t believe you just said that.”
“I’m not superstitious.” Mention how slow it was and it was bound to get busy.
“I’m not either,” Holly said, “but the correlation between those words and our workload can be downright freaky.”
She wasn’t wrong. “Okay, I take it back.”
“Too late.” Holly hesitated and Raina frowned at her.
“What is it?”
Holly smirked. “Just waiting for the alarm to sound.”
“Oh stop, what’s going on?”
“That’s my question for you. Discounting what happened last night, I mean. Penny told me about it and also assured me you were okay.”
“I am.” At least for now.
“So?”
Raina quirked an eyebrow at her friend. “So what?”
“You and Vince? In the kitchen the other night for a long time? Then when you came out, you were both frowning, and while he couldn’t take his eyes off of you, you wouldn’t look at him? What’s the scoop?”
Raina gaped. “Seriously? Are you looking to join Grace at the Bureau as a behavioral analyst?”
“No. Those were actually Grace’s observations. I was just trying them out on you.”
Raina didn’t know whether to laugh or walk away. She chose to roll her eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“She said you’d avoid talking about it.”
“Ugh!” Raina barely refrained from stomping her foot. “You two are the worst. Talking about me behind my back.” Holly simply watched her and Raina sighed. “Okay, I know you weren’t being mean about it and that you’re concerned. Rest assured, I also know I’ve been acting weird.” She shrugged. “But I’m not ready to talk about it yet. At least not until I have more to go on.”
“More to go on?”
Raina bit her lip and Holly nodded. “Okay, no talking about it. But Vince knows?”
“He knows ... some.”
“Then as long as someone’s got your back, that’s all that matters.” A flash of hurt flickered in Holly’s gaze before she turned away. Raina dropped her chin to her chest. Why was she doing this to one of her best friends? Someone she could trust with anything? She’d known Vince for only a little over a year and she’d spilled most of her life story to him in the span of a thirty-minute conversation. Well ... noteverything, but more than she would have ever thought possible. “Holly, wait. Stop.” She’d promised to talk to her friends about this even if she hadn’t talked to Vince.
Holly turned.
“I have a past that I’m not really proud of,” Raina said, her voice low.
Holly wrinkled her nose. “Most of us do.”
“I know, but for some reason it’s easier to listen to others share than it is to be the one sharing.”
“Raina, we know your past. You were in juvie with Penny, Grace, and Julianna. We also know how you, like them, overcame so much to be the wonderful, amazing person you are today. What is it you’re so ashamed of?”
Raina opened her mouth to respond, then snapped it shut, holding back her knee-jerk response.
Time to come clean.
“Raina?”
