Read Online What the Heart Wants by Kelli McCracken - Free Book Online

Faith, but the brains in your family gene pool went to Heaven. Who graduated summa cum laude? Not you. You barely graduated high school.”
    “Is it my fault that my social life keeps me busy? Who had time for studying when the captain of the football team wanted undivided attention?” Faith’s eyes cut to Heaven. “Heaven may have gotten the brains, but I got the good looks.”
    “Really?” Hope jumped in. She folded her arms. And her brows. “Then why do people always comment about how much you and Heaven look alike?”
    Faith opened her mouth with what Heaven knew would be some smart-ass comment, but before she could come up with the perfect sarcastic retort, Chelsea shoved a tiny pink box in her hands.
    “Enjoy.”
    Chelsea gave Hope and Brooke exact replicas of the box before stopping beside Heaven. “Here you go. I hope you like it.”
    “What is this for?” Heaven asked as she untied the white satin ribbon and shimmed the top of the box.
    “It’s your bridesmaid’s gift. Well, in your case, it’s your maid of honor gift.” Chelsea’s voice trailed off when Heaven gazed into her eyes.
    “Mmm—Maid of honor?” Heaven said, tripping over the word. “You want me to be your maid-of-honor?”
    “Of course, I do. Will you?”
    A smile as sweet as summer sunshine melted Heaven’s heart. How could she refuse?
    She couldn’t.
    Even if the thought of standing up before a church full of guests that she didn’t know made her squirm.
    “You know I will.”
    Heaven smiled when Chelsea squealed and crushed her against her chest.
    “Thank you! You just made my day,” Chelsea said as she leaned back. “So…do you like it?”
    Heaven forgot about the gift box in her hand. She finished pulling off the top, gasping when she saw its contents. A beautiful pearl bracelet. Silver links separated each creamy orb. A round silver charm dangled near the clasp with an “H” engraved on it.
    “It’s gorgeous, Chels. I love it. Thank you.” Heaven fought back the moisture collecting in her eyes.
    Her sisters offered similar sentiments as they took turns looking at each other’s bracelets.
    Chelsea focused her attention back on Heaven for a split second and then reached her hand back in the bag.
    “I have something else for you,” she whispered.
    Heaven’s eyes fell to the bag, watching Chelsea with the curiosity of a child on Christmas. Chelsea pulled out a book. The outer cover, made of crushed black velvet, struck a familiar chord in Heaven’s heart.
    “My God. Is that…” She waited as her best friend nodded and handed her the book.
    “Yes, it is.”
    “But, how? How did you end up with it?” Heaven asked as she stroked the velvety cover with her fingers. “I thought I’d lost it.”
    Many private entries filled the pages inside this book. The hobby she had started when she was younger eventually turned into more. The journal became her confidant.
    “I found it when we moved. It was between my mattress and box springs. I can’t believe you don’t remember putting it there?” Chelsea said as her eyes fell to the book. “This journal meant so much to you. Even I got jealous of it.”
    Heaven tried to remember why she took it to her best friend’s house to begin with. The journal contained so many secrets; she rarely took it out in front of anyone, especially Faith.
    Then it hit her.
    “Faith. She snuck in my room and took it. She was trying to embarrass me by reading the pages to everyone at school.”
    “Yep. Thank God, Hope caught her with it before she could do any damage.”
    “That’s the night I stayed with you, and we went to the Homecoming game.”
    The smile on Chelsea’s lips waned. “Yes, and it’s also the night you scared the crap out of me.”
    “How?”
    Wide eyes completed the oh-my-God response from Chelsea’s lips. “You seriously don’t remember waking me in the middle of the night, crying like a—”
    Heaven gasped. “I was crying?”
    Chelsea glanced behind them