Midnight Diamonds (17 page)

“Silver, was it love at first sight?”

“True love doesn’t work that way. It would take more than cowboy good looks to make me love him.”

“Where do you want to be married?”

“I haven’t given it much thought. I’m sure when I marry, it will be in exactly the right place.”

While Silver answered, Becky leaned toward Justin to whisper in his ear. “Something’s wrong. She’s too robotic.”

He nodded his agreement.

“Justin, what about the rumors that you’ll sign with a major talent agency in Nashville soon?”

“Hey, that’s the best news I’ve had all day! Thanks for telling me.” Laughter rippled through the crowd of reporters.

One reporter motioned toward Slade. “Isn’t that the infamous Slade Rivers?”

Slade waved from where he sat. “This isn’t my day, folks. Stay focused on my grandson and the amazing woman standing beside him.”

Silver glanced back quickly toward the old man who smiled at her. Another reporter shouted for her attention.

“Silver, will you travel with Justin?”

“My job doesn’t allow me to be gone that much.”

“How do you think your students feel about seeing those pictures of their teacher?”

Becky stepped forward to redirect, but Silver held up a hand to stop her. “I’ll answer that, because it’s a fair question.” She paused for a moment. “I love what I do. My students mean the world to me and I care about them very much. I can’t change what’s happened, so I can only hope that when they see me at the front of my classroom, they see a teacher.”

“Silver, how does your family feel about you marrying into the Rivers family?”

Without hesitation, Silver replied, “They’re very much in favor of having the Rivers family at my side.”

The same reporter shouted loudly with a second question. “And how do they feel about you being engaged to a married man?”

Total silence followed the question. Everyone waited until Silver frowned and asked, “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“Justin Rivers has been married to Danielle Bailey for the past year. Seems they tied the knot in a Las Vegas chapel. Care to comment on that one?”

Chapter Eleven

Silver couldn’t respond. Stunned into silence, she stared at the waiting reporters, vaguely aware of pictures being taken.

Married?

She turned to him, her hands fisted. “Is this true?”

Holding up both hands, Justin whispered, “I can explain.”

Silver turned back to the reporters. “He can explain.” Pivoting, she walked back to the house. Justin grabbed her arm.

“Silver, wait.”

She slapped his face so hard, his head snapped back and the sound ricocheted across the lawn. Taking off his mother’s ring, Silver held it out to him. “You got what you wanted. No more fiancée.” To his family, she whispered, “I’m sorry.”

She heard Becky say, “I quit!” and she took Silver’s arm, leading her through the front door. Questions and flashes from cameras exploded from the reporters, but Silver didn’t look back.

“I’m sorry, Sil. I can’t believe he’s such a jerk.”

Silver pulled away without responding. She climbed the stairs to the bedroom and started packing. Becky followed her into the room, mumbling under her breath the entire time.

“I’ll get the car and meet you by the garage.”

“Good. I need to get home.” She gave Becky a cool smile and resumed packing. “I should be done in five minutes.”

“See you downstairs.” Becky left the room.

Silver flexed her right hand. It throbbed with a good kind of pain. She’d never physically retaliated against someone who hurt her, but Justin Rivers’ face had taken the full brunt of her anger. Zipping her bag, she swallowed. He deserved much worse in her opinion.

Justin Rivers had been married to Danielle Bailey for the past year.

When she glanced around the room to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything, she saw one of Justin’s CDs on the nightstand. Tilting her head, she read the words he’d written:

Silver,

Thanks for playing along.

Justin

Swallowing against a tidal wave of self-loathing, she shook with the effort it took to control the rising anger. She picked up the CD and the hard plastic bit into her fingers where she gripped it hard enough to crack the outer case, but it was a welcome distraction from the gnawing in her stomach.

A soft knock at the door made her stiffen as she shoved the CD into the outer pocket of her purse. The last person she wanted to see right now was Justin, so she breathed a little easier when she opened the door and saw Connie.

“You handled those questions perfectly,” the woman said softly.

Silver hated the guilty look on her face. “I don’t blame you, Connie.”

The woman eased into the room. “Not going to stand on ceremony, are you? Then I’ll get to the heart of it. I didn’t know about whatever her name is, but that’s no excuse. My son has shown he is not the man I raised, and I’m truly sorry, Silver.”

“A wise woman told me recently to stop apologizing when it isn’t my fault. This has nothing to do with you. But I hope you’ll understand why I can’t be around this family anymore.”

“Aw, honey,” Connie said. “I’m going to tan that boy’s backside until it bleeds. Want the first swat?”

“I think I already did that. Thank you for your hospitality. Please tell Hunter and Kade good-bye for me.” Silver picked up her bag, walking with her chin high and her back ramrod straight.

* * *

Justin had to talk to Silver before she left, and he knew she’d go out through the garage. A few reporters still hung around in front of the house, but most had gone to file their stories after he’d answered a few more of their questions about his Vegas exploits. No doubt the whole thing would be on every media outlet available to mankind.

“Film at eleven,” he muttered as he ran toward the garage through the kitchen.

He heard the garage door going up and ran faster. As he burst through the door, Silver set her bag in the trunk of the car and closed the lid.

“Silver! Wait!”

“We have nothing to discuss, Mr. Rivers.” She opened the passenger door without looking at him.

“Won’t you let me explain? It’s not what you think,” he panted, out of breath from running and the building emotions inside of him.

She turned with a polite expression on her face. “Am I supposed to believe anything you say?”

“You can’t leave before I have the chance to tell you what happened. This news will destroy my reputation with country music and I’m going to need your help to get out of it.”

She sighed deeply as if tolerating his presence. “What I see in front of me is a pathetic excuse for a man, like my mother said. Now, if you don’t mind, I have better things to do than stand here listening to a desperate and selfish cowboy.”

“Did you find the CD I left for you?”

She reached into an outside pocket on her purse and pulled out the CD. When she dropped it on the garage floor and stomped it with her heel, the loud crack echoed like a gun shot in the room.

“Send me a bill for the damages,” she said with a lift of her chin.

“Well, don’t do me any favors, darlin’.” She stepped into the car and started to close the door, but he grabbed it with one hand. “Aren’t you going to tell me to not call you that?”

With complete dismissal, she replied in an even tone, “I don’t care what you call me.”

Becky leaned across Silver. “Let go of the door, Justin, unless you plan to be dragged across town. On second thought, hold on.” She revved the engine to make her point.

When he stepped away, Silver closed the door. Becky backed up the car and quickly drove out the driveway. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Hunter standing there with a grim face.

“Time to face the music,” he said. “Mom, Grandma, and Grandpa are waiting.”

* * *

Silver stared out the car window the entire way home, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Becky tried to get her to talk, but there was nothing more to say. All that mattered right now was maintaining control.

When they pulled into the driveway, Silver swallowed hard at the sight of reporters and cameramen on her front lawn. She opened the passenger door as soon as the car stopped and got out. Becky popped the trunk. Silver pulled out her bag and walked to her front door, refusing to answer the questions being shouted at her. Then she went inside and shut the door behind her. She heard Becky telling the press to leave.

Silver stared at the sofa where Justin had slept. It seemed like years ago.

Becky opened the door and walked into the house. “Silver Madison, I am not moving from here until you talk to me.”

“Have a seat,” she said in a hushed tone without turning around.

“I don’t want a seat. I want to know where my friend went,” Becky declared.

“That’s exactly what I’m wondering.”

Becky frowned at her. “I’m right here.”

Silver sat down in a chair and crossed her legs at the ankles, prim and proper. Just like Amelia. “I prefer to not strain my neck when I’m talking to you.”

“Oh. My. God.” Becky stomped over and plopped onto the sofa. “Would you cut the Amelia crap? This is me you’re talking to. Your best friend of too many years to count.”

“You’re right. You were a good friend.”

“Did you say
were
?”

Silver sighed. “I wonder if you reviewed that little announcement before you made it this morning, because it certainly had very little to do with me. ‘Justin Rivers announces his engagement… Mr. Rivers will be talking with counsel… His options… When Justin can clear his schedule.’” She paused, picking non-existent lint from the sleeve of her blouse. “It was all about him, wasn’t it? To save
his
reputation and further
his
career.” With a barely discernible shrug, she said, “No mention of my feelings, or my counsel, or my schedule. I realize you work for him, but I found that very odd coming from my friend.”

Becky crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re kidding, right? Correct me if I’m wrong, but you signed onto that insanity express of your own free will, and now you want to blame me?”

“No, I’m not going to blame anyone,” Silver said calmly. “But I don’t need your kind of friendship anymore either. Where was the friend who said she’d have my back? The one who would be there to make sure things were done right? What happened to that person whose opinion I used to value more than my own?”

“I’m sorry if you didn’t like the way I worded the press release, but it’s a moot point. You’re not engaged to him anymore, and I think you made a solid impact with America when you slapped him hard enough to be heard in Texas. By the way, I quit my job because of that bombshell the cowboy dropped.”

“Yes, and speaking of which,” Silver said. “I think it’s interesting, how you were able to find out which photographer broke into my house and took those pictures, but had no idea that Justin was married.”

“What does that mean?” Becky demanded. “Do you think I would keep something like that from you? I’m your friend, Silver. Here for you.”

Lifting her chin, Silver said very quietly. “I know you’re here. I can’t imagine why anyone would stay where they’re not welcome.”

Becky’s mouth dropped open. “You did not just say that to me.”

Silver stood with her hands clasped in front of her. “I’d like you to leave, please. Don’t quit your job on my account. Like you said, I’m a moot point now.” She stood, waiting quietly.

“Wow. You’re willing to throw away our friendship because you screwed up.”

“Excuse me, I screwed up? Did I ask to get pulled into this sleaziness? Did I ask for the pictures to be taken and released? Did I ask for Justin to set wheels in motion that we were engaged? And did I ask to find out in front of God and everyone that he’s already married?” Her voice became a bit louder on the last word.

“Well, maybe you should have stood up for yourself.”

Silver went limp as the anger away. “I did stand up for myself. And I am. Now please leave.”

Becky started to argue but Silver ignored her, staring straight ahead. Finally the other woman let out a ragged sigh.

“Bye, Sil. I still love you like my sister.”

Silver waited until she heard the door close, then she listened to the sounds in the tiny house. The clock ticking on the living room wall. The refrigerator running. The quiet hum of the heating unit. All familiar sounds that should give her comfort. Instead they were pinpricks jumping across her skin.

Unbuttoning her blouse, she turned and walked into her bedroom. She took off her jewelry and carefully set it on the dresser. It had been an exhausting two days, and she wanted sleep more than anything else.

Her phone rang and when she saw the name displayed, she answered. “Hi, Jackie.”

“Silver. I caught the early edition news, and I am shocked about Justin but proud of you. The board is already preparing a statement for the press. Do you need another day off?”

“No, I’m fine. I’ll be there tomorrow, if that’s all right with you.”

“Are you sure? I can have the sub…”

“I’m perfect. I have another call, so I’ll see you in the morning.” When she read the caller ID, her fingers gripped the phone.

Justin.

A crashing wave of fresh pain threatened to break free of the sternly cast walls around her heart, but she mentally forced it back. Letting the call go to voicemail, she checked to see if there were any other messages. Three from her mother. Two from her father. She’d call them back…sometime.

Clicking off her phone, she tossed it onto the dresser then sat down wearily on the bed. Her mind kept going over the past two days like she had one finger on the replay button of a YouTube video.

Why had she believed Justin’s lies? She had been used, like the worst type of fool. Rubbing her temples, she heard Becky’s voice again: “You’re willing to throw away our friendship because you screwed up…”