Frayed (Torn #2)(28)

The Greek actor looked like a devil-may-care kind of guy, but something about him told me that Lindsey might find her usual strategic games challenged by him. “I am. I play Emma’s husband in the movie,” Dimitris murmured before he helped himself to a glass of red wine.

Damn. Emma’s job was to make out with and be in the arms of two very fine, exceptionally good-looking men? Talk about super unfair!

Emma reach out and touched my arm. “Tris, do you mind helping me make some more drinks?” she asked on the side, getting my sole attention, while Taylor and Bass, Lindsey and Dimitris were all engaged in their own conversations.

Grinning, I reminded her of my bomb skills. “Sure, but you know how deadly I make mine.” I knew Emma couldn’t handle hardcore concoctions, but that didn’t stop me from trying to get her to drink them anyway.

We both stood up at the same time. She laughed, shaking her head, remembering fun memories of us plastered. “Yeah, don’t remind me. Your drinks gave me the worst hangovers.” Emma slightly ruffled my hair, before slinging her arm loosely around my shoulder as we walked back inside the cottage. When her arm kept pushing us past the bar, I knew then that she was up to something.

“He sent an email heading ‘ Did Trista give you something from me ’ ? Did he really send something?” Emma whispered, worried.

Of course, unanswered emails wouldn’t faze tough-as-nails-sexiness-was-named-after-me Carter Mason. What Carter wants, Carter gets. If it gets tough, Carter aims harder. He wasn’t the kind of man who would give up. Back in middle school, when our school banned those old school Nokia phones from being used at breaks and lunches, Carter made a damn petition and nearly got the entire school to sign it. He then took it to the local radio stations and made sure that the entire city was made aware of the school ban. The school principal, of course, lifted the “no cellphones allowed” policy the following day. The principal even gave Carter an apology. Yeah, Carter was a lot of things, but giving up wasn’t part of his DNA.

“My room, let’s go.” I ordered her to follow behind me. I hastily opened the door to the room and waited for her to get inside. Once she did, I gently closed the door behind her. “I’ll go grab it. It’s hidden in the closet.” It didn’t take long for me to locate the item. I handed it to her.

We were both sitting on the bed, anxious. Our eyes dauntingly stared at the white package. “Did he say what was in it?” Emma asked, obviously apprehensive.

Like Carter would tell me.

I shook my head. “No, he didn’t.” I should excuse myself and leave her to open the present from Carter, but I was way too curious to have the decency to do that. I wanted to see what Carter Mason had up his sleeve to try and win her back. The man was bound to do something monumental.

“Phew, okay. This is stupid. I don’t know why I’m even nervous. Let’s just get this out of the way, shall we?” Emma sounded like she was trying to ease her mind, but it was obvious that she was a little shaken.

Her fine, dainty fingers swiftly opened the bag and poured all the contents on the bed. My eyes took in the four by four picture frame of them kissing during Halloween last year (they looked utterly crazy about each other in this one), his current jersey, a DVD of The Pirates of the Caribbean and a card. What really caught my attention was the final item, a black velvet ring box.

I nervously glanced at Emma. Her blue eyes stared at it like it was dangerous. It was her Pandora’s Box. When her hand reached out to get the small square item, they were trembling. My heart was in my throat when I saw what that ring box contained. “OH MY GOD,” I whispered in awe and shock.

Holy f*uking COW, it was epic. Epically crazy, epically ludicrous, epically original—but most of all, it was Carterepic.

“His great-great-grandmother’s engagement ring!” Emma screeched with shock and bewilderment. The antique, oval-cut ring was truly magnificent, with a huge sapphire surrounded by flawless diamonds. What made this ring significant was that Carter’s great-great grandfather bought this for his new betrothed from a European royal who needed more money to continue supplementing his expensive lifestyle. The ring was a medieval piece of art that carried centuries of history. It was Emma’s birthstone to boot. For Carter to offer his grandmother’s ring to Emma, proved his intentions were beyond boyfriend/girlfriend. The ring had been passed down through the family to his grandmother who died when he was about eight, I think, and had been set aside for him, intended for the woman he would someday marry. The fact that he sent it to Emma was a statement that he had just made LOUD and CLEAR.

I remembered Lindsey mentioning seeing her grandmother’s ring before, but I hadn’t expected Carter to send it through me. I hid a ring that cost millions in a f*uking closet! It was in my luggage and went through international customs! What the hell. That was messed up. What if someone had stolen it? Thinking about those possibilities almost gave me a panic attack. So not cool.

When my eyes returned back to my friend, I started to worry. “Emma?” she looked pale, ghostly.

Emma bit her bottom lip before she took hold of the letter and opened it, without parting with the ring.



My Emma,

The past two months without seeing your beautiful face have been the greatest challenge of my life. Your mind must be going nuts about my grandmother’s’s ring. Do you remember when I was telling you about it this past Christmas? I hope you do. It was the first time in years that I didn’t dread the occasion.