Diamonds Are a Teen's Best Friend Read Online Free Page A

her.’
    Holly practically falls out of her chair, she laughs so hard. ‘You’re a scream, you know that?’
    I’m not sure what to say, so I polish off my mocktail. ‘Want a cherry while you’re waiting?’ I offer Holly my glass.
    She smiles at me as she reaches over to pluck one out. ‘Only if you think you can spare one.’
    My heart has stopped beating.
    I think I am going to die of happiness.

    Holly and I lounge for a good few hours, shooting the breeze and another mocktail (for me; Long Island iced tea for her) or two. Of course, we keep ordering extra maraschino cherries (eventually the drinks waiter just brings us a bowl of the things). And Holly must need someone to confide in desperately, because I hear it all. Her perfectly lined and filled red lips fill me in on her sad and sorry love life, right from guy A to guy Z. And now, she says, finishing off her life story with a flourish of one hand, here she is on what would have been her honeymoon cruise, with her nephew, of all people, to keep her company.
    Speak of the devil. Just as the word ‘nephew’ exits Holly’s mouth, up he stalks.
    ‘I was wondering where you’d got to,’ he says, standing over Holly’s chair.
    Holly grins up at him (I think the pina colada and Long Island iced tea might be working their magic on her now). ‘I love you too, Marc, sweetheart.’
    I can’t help but giggle at this. Whoops. Marc turns and shoots daggers at me.
    ‘And you are?’
    ‘Oh, Marc. Lighten up. This is Nessa. My new best friend. We’ve been having a lovely girlie chat.’
    ‘So I see.’ Marc eyes the glasses lined up on the table beside us.
    Pray, scat, I think to myself, as I throw him what I hope is a haughty look. That’s what Marilyn would have done (except she would’ve had the guts to say the ‘Pray, scat’ thing out loud). As for ‘new best friend’, I can’t even think about that now. My brain will explode.
    Marc turns his shoulder then, effectively blocking me out of the conversation. ‘There’s a call for you,’ he says to Holly. ‘There have been several calls for you.’
    Hmmm, interesting, I think as I look up at his broad back (also pretty yummy). He has the same kind of accent as me, sort of mid-Atlantic. (You’d have one too if your parents never stayed in the one country for more than five minutes.)
    Holly sighs now and leans forward to look at me beyond Marc’s legs. ‘That’s my cue. Better be off before I get in trouble.’
    ‘Sure,’ I say. ‘Thanks for the second mocktail, Holly. It was fun.’
    ‘No, thank you for letting me vent. And it’s not just everyone who’d give you one of their maraschino cherries, you know.’
    ‘No worries!’
    ‘I’ll see you around.’ She gives me a quick wave as Marc drags her away by one arm.
    Party pooper.
    As Holly leaves, I watch her curves and high heels and swing coat go with a shake of my head. I can’t believe I feel sorry for her. Holly Isles. I never would have imagined someone like her would be so desperate to talk to somebody that she’d talk to me. She obviously needs some help, stat, as they say on ER . And she needs to amputate that dour (but still, I have to admit it, awfully cute) nephew as well. Preferably before he turns gangrenous. (Green, black and purple, especially when seen on the extremities whilst cruising, is so out this season …)

 
    From: ‘NJM’
To: ‘Alexa Milton’
Subject: I am such an idiot
    Alexa! Where are you when I need you? (Don’t answer that, I already know …) Now, sorry to butt in on your misery, but you’ll never believe who I just met – Holly Isles!!!!! (Scream here.) Yes. Holly Isles!!!!!!!!!! (Scream again here.) And you’ll never believe who I never properly introduced myself to – Holly Isles!!!!! (Hit me here.) Yes. Holly Isles!!!!!!!!!! (Hit me again here.)
    Ugh. I am such an idiot. I let Holly Isles sit beside me for ages (will fill you in later as have