Page 5 of Dark Promise

I watch as a tiny frown forms between her brows and her brown eyes shoot to mine.

“What’s the catch?” she asks.

“Catch?” I repeat.

“I’m sensing something from you. An…ulterior motive?”

I shift in my seat, a bit uncomfortably now. “Can’t a girl give her best friend a little arm candy to celebrate the festive season?”

“Yes, of course. And thank you again. So much. But…again, that sense…” Nadia taps her right temple. “You know I’m psychic.”

Well. I know Nadiathinksshe’s psychic, which is absolutely adorable. The girl watches far too manyLong Island Mediumreruns for her own good.

“Read the card,” I suggest. “Which is what most people do before they unwrap a gift, but I’m fine with you mixing it up.”

“Oh, the card. Sorry.” She reaches for the tiny envelope and pulls the crisp white card from inside.

Merry Christmas, to the best accessorized maid-of-honor in history!

Nadia blinks.

“Maid of honor,” she says out loud, her tone flat and wary.

I nod. “Well?”

“Well…?”

“Damn, you’re making me work for this, Nadia. I’m asking you to be my maid of honor.” I wait, and then clear my throat. “For my wedding.”

“Your wedding to Roberto.”

“That is my fiancé’s name, yes.” Why am I feeling so nervous about this? “I was expecting a bit more enthusiasm, to be honest. A little jumping up and down. A little shouting with glee. An immediate and jovial hooray?”

Actually, I wasn’t. I knew Nadia would be a hard sell. She and Roberto have taken to each other like two feral cats circling, claws half-sheathed, just waiting for the other to strike.

Nadia bites her lip and slides the card back in the envelope. “I’m sorry, Sabina. Yes. Yes, of course I’ll be your maid of honor. I’d be…uh, honored. Seriously. You know I’d do anything in the world for you…”

I feel the same about her. Nadia and I have known each other since we were ten years old in the fifth grade. We started off as enemies, but after several adventures deserving to feature in a middle grade novel with millions of fans, we became best friends and that hasn’t changed in…wow, thirteen years now? Has it really been that long?

Nadia doesn’t continue.

“But…?” I prompt. “I feel abutcoming on there.”

“No buts. Well, no big buts.” She snorts. “Big butts.” She sobers quickly. “This feels really awkward now, but I did want to talk to you. I’ve been drinking extra wine to get the courage to say what’s on my mind.”

“What do you need courage for?” I ask even though I know. She’s going to tell me to call things off. Or at least, postpone.

Again, she bites her lip. “It’s…about Roberto.”

“What about him?”

“How well do you really know him?”

Immediately, I bristle. It seems to be my kneejerk reaction to anyone questioning my relationship with Roberto lately. My brothers did, especially Leo and Damian. And even my soon-to-be sister-in-law, Alina has asked some gentle questions. My other soon-to-be sister-in-law, Nicole just told me she’s there for me if I want to discuss anything…anything at all.

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to find my calm.

“Obviously I know him well enough to want to marry him,” I reply slowly. “He’s perfect.”

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