Read Online A Love Worth Saving (Forever Yours Book 2) by Anna James - Free Book Online
Authors: Anna James
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separate ways.
Once inside the restaurant, she searched the crowded area for Nicole and Kate, spotting them seated at a table in the rear. She waved and walked toward them.
Kate smiled. “Hey, Ash.”
Ashley hugged each sister, then took the vacant chair across from Nicole. “Sorry I’m a little late.” Damned headache and upset stomach.
“You’re not late. Kate and I got here early.”
A loud chime sounded. Each sister picked up their cell phone resting on the table. They looked at each other and laughed.
“It’s mine.” Ashley opened the text. Her face fell.
“Everything okay, Ash?” Kate asked.
She sighed. “The University of Chicago denied my request to start classes in the fall.” Yet another kick in the teeth.
Nicole’s eyes widened. “I didn’t realize you’d been accepted.”
Ashley nodded. “I found out a couple of weeks ago, but deferred my admission for a year because of—” Her heart twisted and she wondered if the sadness inside would ever go away.
“The baby. Oh, Ashley.” Nicole gripped her hand and squeezed.
Tears pricked at the corners of each eye. She sucked in a deep breath and held up a hand to stop whatever Nicole might add. She didn’t want to talk about this. Couldn’t talk about this, even with the two people who were closest to her.
Silence fell between them. When it grew uncomfortable, Ashley asked, “Are you guys ready to shop till we drop?” She didn’t want the limited time they had together to be filled with heartache and melancholy.
Kate laughed. “Damned straight.”
Ashley gave a determined smile. “So what’s the plan? Strategic strike with target stores or are we just going to wander through the mall?”
“A little of both,” Kate said. “I thought we could go to the shops at North Bridge.”
Nicole grinned. “We’ll start there.”
Ashley nodded. “Sounds good. Did you two order yet?” She picked up the menu lying in front of her and checked out what they offered.
“Just drinks.” Kate wiggled her brows. “The fruity alcoholic kind with tiny umbrellas since it’s girls’ day out.”
“We wanted to wait until you arrived before we ordered any food. In the meantime”—Nicole pulled a mini tablet from her purse and waved it in the air—“I have pictures from the party last night. Who wants to see them?”
“I do,” Kate said.
“Me, too,” Ashley added. “But let’s order first.” Maybe a little food would help settle her stomach? She flagged a waiter passing by. He stopped and offered a congenial smile. “We’d like to place our order.”
“What can I get you?” the waiter asked.
“I’ll have a bowl of the chicken and rice soup and half a turkey sandwich on white with lettuce and tomato, no mayo.”
“Bacon cheeseburger for me,” Nicole added. “Medium rare, and sweet potato fries.”
The waiter eyed Kate. “How about you, miss?”
Kate snorted. “I’d love to have what she’s having”—she pointed to Nicole—“but, I’m going to opt for a salad with grilled chicken breast instead, champagne vinaigrette dressing on the side. I’ve had way too much pasta since I’ve been in Italy.”
The waiter nodded and left them alone.
“Speaking of Italy”—Ashley shot her an inquiring glance—“I want to hear about Raffaello D’Onofrio.”
Color flooded Kate’s cheeks. “Um, what about him?”
“Who is he?” Nicole asked.
“He’s Rosanna D’Onofrio’s older brother. The D’Onofrios are hosting me while I’m staying in Italy this semester.”
“And,” Ashley prompted.
Kate shook her head. “And nothing. We’re just friends.”
Yeah right, and pigs fly. “I figured you were more than ‘just friends’ from the way you talk about him when you call.”
Kate’s eyes widened. “No. He, I . . . Let’s see those pictures from your engagement party, Nicole.”
Ashley laughed. “Yes, let’s see the pictures, but you’re not getting off that easy, Kate. I think there’s something
Once inside the restaurant, she searched the crowded area for Nicole and Kate, spotting them seated at a table in the rear. She waved and walked toward them.
Kate smiled. “Hey, Ash.”
Ashley hugged each sister, then took the vacant chair across from Nicole. “Sorry I’m a little late.” Damned headache and upset stomach.
“You’re not late. Kate and I got here early.”
A loud chime sounded. Each sister picked up their cell phone resting on the table. They looked at each other and laughed.
“It’s mine.” Ashley opened the text. Her face fell.
“Everything okay, Ash?” Kate asked.
She sighed. “The University of Chicago denied my request to start classes in the fall.” Yet another kick in the teeth.
Nicole’s eyes widened. “I didn’t realize you’d been accepted.”
Ashley nodded. “I found out a couple of weeks ago, but deferred my admission for a year because of—” Her heart twisted and she wondered if the sadness inside would ever go away.
“The baby. Oh, Ashley.” Nicole gripped her hand and squeezed.
Tears pricked at the corners of each eye. She sucked in a deep breath and held up a hand to stop whatever Nicole might add. She didn’t want to talk about this. Couldn’t talk about this, even with the two people who were closest to her.
Silence fell between them. When it grew uncomfortable, Ashley asked, “Are you guys ready to shop till we drop?” She didn’t want the limited time they had together to be filled with heartache and melancholy.
Kate laughed. “Damned straight.”
Ashley gave a determined smile. “So what’s the plan? Strategic strike with target stores or are we just going to wander through the mall?”
“A little of both,” Kate said. “I thought we could go to the shops at North Bridge.”
Nicole grinned. “We’ll start there.”
Ashley nodded. “Sounds good. Did you two order yet?” She picked up the menu lying in front of her and checked out what they offered.
“Just drinks.” Kate wiggled her brows. “The fruity alcoholic kind with tiny umbrellas since it’s girls’ day out.”
“We wanted to wait until you arrived before we ordered any food. In the meantime”—Nicole pulled a mini tablet from her purse and waved it in the air—“I have pictures from the party last night. Who wants to see them?”
“I do,” Kate said.
“Me, too,” Ashley added. “But let’s order first.” Maybe a little food would help settle her stomach? She flagged a waiter passing by. He stopped and offered a congenial smile. “We’d like to place our order.”
“What can I get you?” the waiter asked.
“I’ll have a bowl of the chicken and rice soup and half a turkey sandwich on white with lettuce and tomato, no mayo.”
“Bacon cheeseburger for me,” Nicole added. “Medium rare, and sweet potato fries.”
The waiter eyed Kate. “How about you, miss?”
Kate snorted. “I’d love to have what she’s having”—she pointed to Nicole—“but, I’m going to opt for a salad with grilled chicken breast instead, champagne vinaigrette dressing on the side. I’ve had way too much pasta since I’ve been in Italy.”
The waiter nodded and left them alone.
“Speaking of Italy”—Ashley shot her an inquiring glance—“I want to hear about Raffaello D’Onofrio.”
Color flooded Kate’s cheeks. “Um, what about him?”
“Who is he?” Nicole asked.
“He’s Rosanna D’Onofrio’s older brother. The D’Onofrios are hosting me while I’m staying in Italy this semester.”
“And,” Ashley prompted.
Kate shook her head. “And nothing. We’re just friends.”
Yeah right, and pigs fly. “I figured you were more than ‘just friends’ from the way you talk about him when you call.”
Kate’s eyes widened. “No. He, I . . . Let’s see those pictures from your engagement party, Nicole.”
Ashley laughed. “Yes, let’s see the pictures, but you’re not getting off that easy, Kate. I think there’s something
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