Page 91 of Lush

“The footage isn’t clear,” she said. “I did get a glimpse of somebody, but they weren’t there long.”

I’d gone through the engagement party’s guest list a hundred times. Every name was crossed off except for a few that I couldn’t track down. Too many unknowns. Too many gaps. My chest tightened with frustration.

“I saw a silver bracelet. Maybe Cartier?”

Finally, we knew something. A bracelet. My mind raced, sorting through every person in town with Cartier. That didn’t narrow it down by much. It wasn’t much to go on, but it was more than we’d had before.

Someone had been watching, waiting, and now they were steps ahead.

“You’re sure it wasn’t Jennie?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.

Noelle tilted her head, considering. “Why would she do that? Jennie would’ve gotten caught with her pregnant belly. And what motive does she have? This was careful.”

Careful. My stomach twisted. She always had jewelry on but I could be biased.

Blair.

“Blair fits,” I muttered.

“Blair fitstoowell,” Noelle countered gently. She adjusted her towel. “She’s an obvious suspect, but don’t you think that makes it…convenient? Men can wear Cartier too.”

“Convenient or not, she has motive,” I shot back. “She told Reese about me kissing Conrad. She’s already tried to sabotage me once. Why not keep going?”

“ShetoldReese?” Noelle’s eyes widened.

I snorted bitterly, my anger bubbling just beneath the surface. “How did she even find out? I thought she left earlier. Unless someone else saw us and told her. Which means someone else in this town hates me. It seems like we can’t get the suspect list down at all.”

Noelle’s mouth parted slightly, and she sighed. “I have to tell you something.”

I looked at her expectantly, and she looked down at the ground.

“Blair found out because I told her.”

“You did what?” My voice was sharp, disbelief curling around each word.

Noelle winced. “I was drunk. I was blabbing. I didn’t mean to.” Her hands twisted together in front of her. “I wish I could take it back. IswearI do.”

She met my eyes then, her own wide, pleading.

“Laurene, I’m so, so sorry.”

My stomach twisted. A hot, nauseating rush of emotions churned inside me—betrayal, anger, embarrassment. Noelle? Of all people?

I swallowed. “I can’t believe you would do this.”

I let out a long breath, hoping to get rid of the betrayal. But it clung to me. She was supposed to be my friend. My safe place. The one person I thought I could trust.

“You’re my best friend.”

“I know. And I hate that I hurt you.” Her voice was thick, pleading. “But I wasn’t trying to be malicious, Laur. I was drunk, and I wasn’t thinking, and before I knew it, it just—” She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “I wish I could take it back. I would in a second. I didn’t say anything but I was afraid, but it was stupid of me.”

I pressed my lips together, my fingers digging into my arms. I wanted to hold on to my anger, but hadn’t I done that by not telling Reese I kissed Conrad?

Noelle was my best friend. And despite everything, I believed her.

“We don’t have time for this.” My voice was quieter now, controlled. “Let’s just… Let’s move on. It’s okay.”

Noelle blinked, thrown by the shift, but she nodded quickly. It was awkward for a few moments, then she spoke.

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