Free Bring Me Home by Candi Wall Page A

phone when a loud squeal of delight sounded close by. “Miya? Miya Jackson, is that really you?”
    Miya looked up as Penelope Ashland strolled over. Susan’s younger sister by five years, Penelope was everything that Susan no longer was. Her tall, slim body moved with the grace of a dancer as she crossed the floor and enveloped Miya in a huge hug. “Hi, Penelope.”
    â€œHi, Penelope? That’s it?” She stamped her stiletto heel and flipped her hair over one shoulder. “My God, I missed you! How have you been? Susan said you came home for Casey’s wedding. I couldn’t make it because I was in Paris for a photo shoot, but Casey received my gift, I hope.”
    There had always been such a relaxed aura about Penelope that Miya found it difficult to process this new, diva-ish side of her younger cousin. “Penelope, you look amazing. And yes, Casey loved the crystal champagne glasses. They toasted with them, you know.”
    â€œThey did?” Penelope’s smile grew wider. “Oh, that’s wonderful.”
    â€œHow was Paris?” Penelope had grown from a gangly tomboy into one of the most sought-after models in the fashion world. Her pictures plastered billboards and magazines, and there had been an article about a whirlwind romance Penelope had brought to an abrupt halt when she found her man in bed with another woman. Miya had followed her life through the tabloids, but seeing her again was like the old days. “Any French hunks to dish about?”
    â€œOh, you have no idea.” She sat down on the bench and patted the seat next to her. “There was this one guy. If I could have stuffed him in my suitcase and brought him home I would have. Unfortunately, my publicity managers never would have stood for it. He was a new photographer.”
    She flipped her hand as if that explained it all. Miya laughed. When she would have asked more, Chloe’s voice interrupted, “There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you. We’ve got to get going.”
    Miya cringed and introduced the two ridiculously beautiful women. The last thing she needed was instinctive competition between the two knockouts. Chloe’s eyes narrowed when Miya explained that Penelope was Susan’s younger sister.
    Penelope just smiled at Chloe. “I can tell by the way you’re looking at me that you’ve met my sister.”
    Chloe crossed her arms over her chest. “And what a pleasure it was.”
    â€œNo bullshit. Well, I like you already.” Penelope laughed. “Susan is Susan, and that’s all she’ll ever be. Right, Miya? Chloe, I’m sorry you had to meet her. Did she hit on your husband or boyfriend?” She gave Chloe a quick once-over. “You’re gorgeous, so any guy you had with you must have been gorgeous as well.”
    Miya looked at the ceiling. This could be disastrous. The meeting of two equally beautiful women had cat-fight potential written all over it.
    â€œNope. Didn’t bring anyone.” Chloe set her hands on her hips. “Lucky for your sister too. If she’d hit on my man, she would have had a hard time seeing where to put all the dicks she’s had inside of her after I was done.”
    Choking back a groan, Miya stepped between them and looped her arms through each of theirs. “Ladies, I could use a coffee.”
    â€œTell me something, Penelope.” Chloe shifted to look over Miya’s head at Penelope. “Do you know what really happened the night Susan and Shawn supposedly screwed?”
    Miya stopped dead in her tracks. “Chloe!”
    â€œWhat?” Chloe shrugged. “You obviously weren’t going to ask.”
    Penelope tightened her grip on Miya’s arm, her expression pinched with discomfort. “I do. If you want to know. My sister confessed everything to me one night a couple of years ago.”
    The moment Penelope offered, reality washed away the