Hard to Get by Emma Carlson Berne Read Free Book Online Page A

already!”
    Becca flipped open the lid of the box. I gasped. There, glittering on a bed of velvet were the most gorgeous earrings and necklace I had ever seen. The earrings were diamond studs, from which dangled huge double hoops completely covered in pavé diamonds. Tear-drop diamonds hung from each center. The necklace was a thick silver chain with a massive tear-drop diamond pendant, surrounded by pavé diamonds. To my inexperienced eyes, it looked as if it were the size of a golf ball. Becca lifted the earrings out first. Each one had two interlocking hoops. When she held them up to the light, the hoops separated and rotated around each other, shooting off little glitters of blue, orange, and red. She laid the earrings on the comforter, where they shone incongruously on their background of faded red cotton, and placed the necklace carefully next to them.
    â€œThose are not real …, ” I said slowly. Becca nodded.
    â€œThey’re totally real. Dad just opened up the safe-deposit box yesterday and gave them to me. Apparently they’ve been in there for years and he forgot about them.” She got to her feet and placed her hands on her hips. “I propose that the person who wins the bet gets to wear this stuff on prom night. If it’s you and me who win, Val, one of us will get the necklace and the other the earrings.”
    â€œWell, you’ll have to wear them both,” I said. “I’m not going to prom.”
    â€œWhat!” they both said in unison. Becca stared at me as if I’d just said I was going to change my name to Michelangelo and repaint the Sistine Chapel. “How can you not go to prom?”
    I shrugged, trying to look as if I didn’t care. “I don’t see how I can. The GNBP isn’t over until after prom. Remember? Prom’s in less than a month.”
    â€œOh, right.” They fell silent.
    â€œI know! You could go stag and meet us there,” Becca suggested after a minute.
    â€œI wouldn’t be able to dance,” I argued.
    â€œNo, you could dance with us. Just noslow dances. It’s the guys that are off-limits, not the dancing.”
    â€œThat’s true …, ” I said slowly. “I don’t know, though …”
    Becca silently held up the earrings in one hand. The necklace dripped from her other. The diamonds glittered.
    â€œOkay, I’ll go,” I said.
    â€œYeah!” Kelly cried. She threw her arms around me, then picked up the earrings and, moving over to the mirror in the corner, slipped them into her ears. She gazed at her reflection for a long moment, turning her head one way, and then another, then looked at us. “What do you think?”
    â€œWow,” I said. “You look like Blake Lively at the Emmys.”
    She grinned and looked back at herself. “Okay,” she said, taking the earrings out and laying them back on the bed. “It’s a deal. Whoever wins gets to wear the bling to prom. But I think we’re being a little too nicey-nice here, ladies. What about something for the person who loses ?”
    We considered this. “Okay, fine,” I said. “What are you thinking?”
    A wicked little grin spread across Kelly’slips. Without answering, she crossed the room to her walk-in closet and flicked on the light. She went in, and Becca and I listened in silence to the rustling of fabric. Then she emerged with something large and purple in her arms.
    â€œWhat the heck is that?” Becca asked. Kelly threw the bundle on the bed.
    â€œTake a look,” she said, pointing. I got to my feet and shook the bundle out. “It’s a dress,” I said, holding it up. “A—”
    â€œReally, really ugly dress,” Becca finished for me. We both stared at the thing like we were gazing at a nasty car accident. It was blindingly bright purple, with a long taffeta skirt that was held out stiffly by black tulle petticoats underneath. The