Page 65 of Five Stolen Rings

“No,” I say. “I kind of want to see if he’ll tell me himself.” I don’t explain further than that, and India must be able to sense I don’t want to, because she doesn’t ask.

I don’t know what I would say, anyway. I just know that if Jack tells me himself that he made that phone call, it will mean something.

“What are you going to do, then?” India asks instead. “With Jack, I mean.”

“I’m going to be the best friend he’s ever had,” I say, a little smile curling over my lips. “I will be perfectly friendly. He can see if he’s happy with that, or if he wants more.” I take a deep breath and then let it rush out of me in a gust. “And in the meantime, I guess I’ll start applying for jobs.”

“Here?” India says quickly, jerking her head so suddenly toward me that her hat slouches down over her forehead. She pushes it up, looking impatient. “Because you could totally move in with us if you need somewhere else to stay. Jules and I share a room, but I bet?—”

“I’m not living with you and your sisters,” I cut her off, laughing. “But…” I shrug, looking around their backyard—at the little clump of trees, the snowy lawn, the flakes still falling from the sky. “I have to admit, I do like Lucky. And I think I would like it a lot more if I had a job somewhere other than my parents’ market.”

“You would,” India says with a nod, her voice matter-of-fact again. “It would be very different, and if you got your own place, you would like it even more.” Then she flashes me her most winsome smile. “Pleasestay here. I want to live in the same town as my best friend.”

I smile back at her as something like affection blooms warm and bright in my chest. “I’ll see what I can do.”

STELLA

Even though Jack and I said we wouldn’t talk every day, I answer his call when my phone rings later that evening.

“Yes?”

“So…I need to tell you something.” His voice is grim, so different from what I’m expecting that my heart drops. I sit up straighter, propping up my pillow behind me and setting my book on the bedspread.

“Okay,” I say as my pulse picks up speed. “But you’re making me nervous.”

“Yeah, well,” he says. “In light of our new, official friendship”—he puts faint stress on the word—“it feels dishonest to keep this to myself.”

My eyes narrow as I’m struck by a sudden suspicion. “Did you take the rings?”

He clears his throat. “Maybe.”

“Jack!” I throw the covers off, trying to untangle my legs. “I’m reading in bed; I will be?—”

“Ah,” he cuts me off, and I canhearthe grin tugging at his lips in that one syllable. “I’m flattered, Princess, but don’t you think it’s a little soon for us to be chatting from our beds?”

“Friends, Jack,” I grit out even as heat tries to creep into my cheeks. “Don’t flirt.” I kick the rest of the covers off andhurry out of bed.

“Sorry,” he says after a beat of silence, sounding disconcerted. “Won’t happen again.”

Sad.

“I’m coming to you. I want to see the rings, and then we are going to put them back. I will watch you place themexactlywhere you found them. Understood?”

“See, it’s not that I don’t understand,” he says evasively. “I just think we could come up with a better plan?—”

“Ten. Minutes,” I say as I hurry around my little basement unit, grabbing my keys and my wallet and shoving my feet into the nearest shoes on my shoe rack. “Maude is coming backtomorrow, Jack. We’re taking the rings backnow.”

And nine minutes later, I’m thumping my hand on his door with more force than necessary.

It opens after the a few seconds, swinging wide to reveal a not-at-all-penitent Jack; he doesn’t even have the decency to look ashamed of himself. His gaze just skates up and down my body before his face twists into an expression of disapproval.

“What are you wearing?” he says, stepping back and gesturing for me to enter. “Good grief, Princess. At least put on a coat.”

“I sort of just hurried out as fast as possible,” I admit with a shiver as I close the door behind me and then toe my flip-flops off.

Jack shakes his head, looking irritable. “Come here,” he says—and the next thing I know, his hands are on my shoulders, tugging me close.

His arms band around me as my body collides with his, firm and muscular and warm. He rubs hishands up and down my bare arms, his breath hot against my ear as he speaks.

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