One to Leave (One to Hold 5)

“Well...” she hesitated, and I was completely confused. If this wasn’t about Lane, I couldn’t imagine. “Just say it, goose. It can’t be that bad.”

She laughed in my ear, a soft little noise. “It’s silly is all. I have this friend. My best friend, actually. Mariska.” She hesitated again.

“Okay?”

“She wants to go with you to Montana.”

My brow lined. Kenny’s best friend wanted to go with me to Montana? “Okay. You know we’re friends now, right? So I’m just going to say it: What the hell?”

“I know!” she laughed. “But you don’t know her. I mean, you’ll like her a lot, but she’s like... well, she’s kind of umm... I don’t know the right word.” Her voice dropped, and I could tell t

his next bit embarrassed her. “She needs to go with you.”

“Oh!” I, by contrast, brightened at that. “Does she know Stuart?”

“Sort of.”

“Well, that’s good. He needs all the friends he can get from the way it sounds.” I especially liked the idea of having another person to take the focus off Patrick and me.

Kenny’s voice was skeptical. “Have you ever met Stuart?”

Stuffing the last of my things into my suitcase, I grunted as I dragged it off the bed. “Nope. This is going to be my first encounter with Captain Asshat.”

Peals of laughter met my ear. “Oh. My god. What did you just call him?”

“That’s what Patrick calls him.”

“Have I told you I love your fiancé?” She was still laughing, but I squinted one eye.

“Now I’m completely suspicious.”

She caught her breath and suppressed another laugh. “Just hold that thought until we talk again. In the meantime, would you be okay if Mare tags along?”

“Actually, I’ll kind of like it.” Making my way quickly through my condo, I stopped outside the door. “I didn’t want to be the only female at our first meeting, and if she’s friends with Stuart, me and Patrick can have more alone-time.”

“Of course!” Kenny laughed. “Always the most important thing.”

“Always. Can she meet me at the airport?”

She hesitated a moment. “I think she’s going to meet you in Great Falls. When are you getting in?”

Pulling out my phone, I scrolled through my flight details. “Eight-fifteen.”

“I’ll let her know.” I could tell she was making notes. “And seriously. I can’t wait to hear what you think after you’ve met him.”

My curiosity was at an all-time high.

* * *

Getting off the plane in Great Falls, I realized I’d forgotten to ask Kenny anything about her friends’ appearance. I had no idea what I was looking for. Just then my phone dinged with a text.

Thought you might need this. Kenny had texted a picture of the two of them to my phone while I was in flight.

Mariska was actually really pretty. She had long, light-brown hair and a slightly olive complexion. In the photo Kenny had sent, the two of them were hugged cheek to cheek, and as usual, Kenny’s crystal blue eyes stood out against her fair skin and dark hair. Mariska was more sultry—hazel eyes that hinted at all sorts of layers of mischief against a caramel background. She looked fun, and I liked her right away.

“Elaine?” Looking up from my phone, I spotted the girl in question headed towards me. Her voice was slightly higher than I’d expected, and she wore black leggings and a black bodysuit with a sheer floral tunic on top and black booties. A long, sparkling-green scarf was around her neck, and her light-brown hair hung in loose waves down her back. “Kenny’s shown me pictures of you with Lane! It’s so great to meet you!”

She stepped right into a hug, and I didn’t resist. I hugged her back. “Of course! So you’re here for Stuart?”