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leaped from her seat at the dining table. “The what! Wedding? You’re still going to marry that asshole? I don’t care how much money he has, I wouldn’t marry him.”
    Okay, Seven. Don’t get overly sensitive. I’m sure Zena isn’t jealous.
    Maverick wasn’t an asshole. Up until now, our lives and love for one another had been perfect. Maybe the economy had impacted his investments. Maybe he was going through a tough merger or selling his interest in one of his teams and didn’t want to discuss it. Men were like that, believing they could resolve every challenge on their own. Guess I wasn’t much better, not telling my best friend I might be pregnant.
    â€œHe’s entitled to his opinion. I don’t want to make any irrational decisions I’ll regret. He might be sorry later, but for now I’m good,” I said, trying to reassure myself we’d be fine.
    Zena studied my face as though she could decode what I’d said. Sitting across from me, she said, “Aw, hell no. The old Seven said that crap. You’re up to something, good girlfriend. I can smell it. I’m going with you.”
    Slowly, I shook my head, concealing my smile on the inside.
    Zena gulped the last of her water. “I couldn’t take that much time off from running my business if I wanted to, anyway. Things would fall apart. Can’t trust my employees to do the right thing for more than a few days at a time.”
    â€œThat’s because you’re married to your business,” I reminded her.
    â€œThat’s because my best friend isn’t allowed to hang out with me after”—Zena glanced at her watch, then continued—“six o’clock, or whenever the streetlights come on.”
    I had to laugh. “That’s changing. If Maverick and I get married, he’ll be cooking for himself, and I’ll be going out whenever I want to. When I get back, we can hang out as much as you’d like. Give me a minute,” I said, leaving the dining room.
    Entering the library, I circled my finger on the mouse, clicked on the DELETE COOKIES button, powered off, then grabbed my laptop. I placed Maverick’s credit card in the side pocket of my laptop bag. By the time his accountant received the next statement, I might have charged another thirty grand to stay six more weeks at Punany Paradise. Heading to the bedroom, I picked up my cell phone, stuffed my yellow Lycra panties in my purse, then double-checked to make certain I had my passport.
    I approached Zena with open arms, giving her a big hug. “Thanks for being my true friend.”
    Zena whispered in my ear, “You’d better text me every day. Morning, noon, and night, to let me know you’re okay. Got that?”
    â€œI hear you,” I said. “As a matter of fact, let’s go hang out all day and all night. I can sleep on the plane tomorrow.”
    Holding the laptop bag on one shoulder, my purse on the other, I left the suitcase and his bed. My baby and I didn’t have to take clothes where we were going, and we wouldn’t need them when I returned. We’d start fresh. Closing the front doors behind Zena, I left my candy-apple red Lexus convertible with a white leather interior in the garage.
    Cruising out the long driveway in her own candy-apple red Lexus convertible, Zena said, “I wouldn’t walk down the aisle with him if I were you. If a man loves you, he loves you from the inside out, honey. Trust me, I know. Dump Maverick, and find yourself another man. I’ll help you.”
    â€œYou don’t have time to find a man of your own,” I said, fastening my seat belt.
    The matching cars were our graduation presents to one another. I loved Zena like the sister I’d never had. I clung to her for friendship and female companionship. Didn’t know what I’d do without her. That was, until Maverick came along. Then I depended on him for