Mark of a Good Man by Ana E. Ross Page B

right there.”
    “You look nice, Amber.”
    Amber turned around and smiled at Monica who was wearing a white cotton dress with a wide black belt around her waist. “Thanks, Mon. You look nice, too. Are you coming with us?”
    Monica rolled her eyes. “Me, limin’ with old people? No way. Me and my friends are goin’ down to Moonshine for some Mahi Mahi and curried rice while we watch the sunset. They have a bonfire tonight too, so maybe we’ll dance a little, even catch a Star or two, who knows?”
    Amber grinned. The ‘Stars’ Monica was referring to were the numerous American celebrities known to hang out at Moonshine’s, a local bar on Pinney’s Beach, situated just a stone’s throw from the magnificent Four Seasons Hotel. You name a celebrity, he or she has been to Moonshine, and Mr. Moonshine had the pictures to prove it. He also sold the best local…
    Amber narrowed her eyes and wagged a finger at Monica. “Stay away from the Killer Bee,” she warned against the infamous local rum punch that was highly effective.
    Just then a car horn blasted out front, and somebody yelled, “What holding you, Mon? Gotta put on you girdle?” A roar of laughter followed.
    “Gotta go.” Monica dashed off.
    Smiling with memories of her own mischievous teenage years, Amber walked through the living room and out on to the veranda to wait for Josie. A few minutes later, they headed north, toward Euolie Beach.
    “Are we meeting Colby at the restaurant, or are we stopping at his place first?” Amber asked, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth at the anticipation of feasting on exotic local food and fruit cocktails. She was going to have to double up on her trips to the gym when she returned to New York.
    “We’re meeting them… him—”
    Alarm bells sounded in Amber’s head. “Did you just say, them ? Who is them ?”
    Josie cleared her throat, but kept her eyes on the narrow road. “Well, Colby has a friend from Barbados who’s on island for the night. He—.”
    “Male or female?”
    “Male,” Josie said in a squeaky voice.
    The blood pounded in Amber’s head. “You lied to me, Josie.”
    “Not really. I just didn’t give you all the facts.”
    “Don’t play the clever attorney with me. I asked if you were setting me up, and you said, no.”
    “And I’m not, I swear.” She placed her right hand across her heart. “I didn’t want to tell you about him because I knew you wouldn’t come out with us.
    “Darn right I wouldn’t. You know what happened the last time you set me up on a blind date.”
    “I’m not setting you up, Amber. But perhaps you should leave your mind and heart opened to the possibilities and just let things happen naturally. You’re not always gonna look that good, you know. You will put on weight. Your bountiful head of hair will thin and turn grey, and your taut, impeccable skin will start to sag and collect age and liver spots at some point. Play, while the sun is hot, girl. Night will come, and so will the crow’s ugly feet to stamp all over your lovely face.”
    Amber giggled. It was hard to stay mad at Josie, especially when she rendered her silly metaphors and analogies. They had been best friends since meeting in a Marketing course at NYU over eight years ago, and they had never been able to get seriously mad at each other, or have a real fight. Amber wondered if the day would ever come.
    “So, do you know anything about this friend of Colby?” she asked, grudgingly.
    “I met him when I came home at Easter. He was spending a few days with Colby. Besides the fact that he’s a real hunk on the outside, he’s really a terrific guy on the inside.”
    “How do you know he’s terrific? You’ve only spent a few days with him. You can’t know anybody in such a short time.”
    “Well, you like Colby, right? They are very much alike.” She tossed Amber a sidelong glance.
    Knots formed in Amber’s stomach. “How much alike?”
    Josie mumbled something under her