“I was planning on calling you soon, but last I heard, you were still in New York,” Sage said, hoping she looked apologetic enough to appease her friend.
“I moved home a couple of months ago,” Grace told her, her shoulders slumping as she entered the room and plopped down on the mattress, just as she’d always done when they were girls.
“What? Why? I thought you loved it there. Whenever we talked, you said New York was a place people came to and never left, and that’s where you were determined to stay.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought, too, but you know, life just happens, whether we want it to or not,” Grace said with a sadness in her eyes that Sage couldn’t recall seeing before.
“It looks like we should have talked a long time ago.” Sage reached out and took her hand—Grace seemed to be the one who really needed comfort.
“Yes, we should have—not because my life went to hell, but because we’re best friends and we should never forget it. I love you, Sage, more than any other person in the world, and I’ve missed you so much.” Grace pushed her long, dark hair behind her ear.
“I’ve really missed you, too. Does this mean that we’re actually living in the same place again for the first time in eight years? We’re going to get to see each other for longer than three days?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what it means. I know this is probably the last place in the United States that you wanted to do your residency, but I’m so glad you’re here,” Grace said, then pushed Sage farther over to make space for herself on the bed.
Sage hardly noticed the aching in her body. It was just so nice to be with her best friend again. What idiots they’d been to let so much time pass!
“I didn’t want to come back, but now that I know you’re here, Grace, I’m feeling a lot better about the decision. Okay, enough moaning and groaning. Tell me everything you’ve been up to. If I recall, the last time we talked, you were dating some hot Italian guy, and you already had your future children’s names picked out.”
“Ah yes, Vincenzo,” she said a little dreamily. “That boy was incredible, and I mean with a capital I,” she added with a giggle.
“Why do I hear a but coming in?”
“But . . .” Grace said with a wicked smile. “He was only incredible in one area, if you catch my drift.” She gasped to see Sage’s cheeks turn scarlet. “Oh my gosh, Sage. Are you seriously still a virgin?”
Was it written on her forehead? She didn’t want to admit it to her gorgeous, successful, charming best friend. Guys fell all over themselves simply to be in Grace’s presence. It wasn’t like that with her. They’d run into her, literally, before they even knew she was standing there. It was mortifying.
“That’s it! I’m taking you to Vegas, dressing you in my shortest, tightest outfit, and we’re going clubbing. You’ll star in a regular orgy before the night is over!”
Was she kidding? Frighteningly enough, Sage wasn’t sure.
“Yes, I’m kidding, Sage. You can put away the deer-in-headlights eyes now. Seriously, have you looked in a mirror lately? You’re an utter knockout with those green eyes, flaming red hair, and curves that could cause a pileup. Why don’t you exploit your natural assets a little more? Some of us have to work a lot harder to look as beautiful as you.”
“You have got to be kidding me, Grace. You’ve always been the most stunning woman in the room. How in the world can you say that? Now I really have to know what in the heck went on in New York.”
Her own insecurity was forgotten as she looked at Grace with new eyes. Who was this woman? What had happened to her best friend? And more important, would Sage have to hunt down the Italian lover and spike his cocktail with arsenic? Wait! She was a doctor. She could dig up methods less easily traceable, and make it look like a natural death.
“I promise at some point to tell you all about New York . . . I do—I swear,” Grace added when Sage looked at her doubtfully. “But right now, only happy thoughts are allowed. Please tell me you aren’t still guarding the V card.”
Yep, that was the Grace she knew, not pulling any punches, coming right to the point. “There hasn’t been anyone worth giving it to, Grace.”
“Oh, honey, at some point, you just have to get it over with. If you have these high expectations, and I know you do, you could be lonely forever. Sometimes it’s okay to have a little fun. As long as you don’t act like Heidi Benson and give it to the whole world.”
“You know how busy medical school can be.”
“Those are just excuses, doll. We can all make excuses until the cows come home, but you do realize that it’s perfectly okay to let loose and enjoy yourself once in a while, don’t you?”
“I know it’s okay to have fun. I just happen to think that learning medicine is a lot of fun.” When Grace looked like she’d just swallowed and chewed an entire lemon, Sage repeated herself more emphatically. “It is fun.”
“Yeah, for smart kids like you. Even high school was a struggle for me. Add to that the fact that my best friend is freaking Albert Einstein’s reincarnation, and it was never fun. I wouldn’t have made it if I hadn’t cheated off you so much.”
“That’s not true, Grace. You did just fine in college without me. I think you just can’t stand sitting down for six hours straight. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“That’s true. I hated having to sit there while the teachers went on and on and on. Who cares who the twentieth president was?” She stopped to send a vicious glare Sage’s way. “I swear, if you utter his name, I will smack you right here and now.”