Page 29 of The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean

“Then your taste buds are broken.” Mandy wiped her tongue on a napkin to try to get the taste out of her mouth.

“Oh, they are, are they?” Edmund set his glass down too. “I think you’re broken.” He launched himself at her and blew raspberries on her neck. He was funny like that sometimes—and sweet. Sweet enough to make Mandy a new smoothiewithoutthe kale.

Thetink-tink-tinkof the curling iron brought Mandy back to the moment at hand.

“…It basically took over everything. I have so much of the stuff I don’t know what to do with it all. Damn it. I should’ve brought some with me. Why didn’t I think of that?” Ashley said.

“I think kale is the first anniversary gift.” Mandy laughed.

“Shut up.” Ashley nudged Mandy’s back. “Just for that I’m going to bring you extra next time I see you.”

Mandy raised her margarita into the air. “I’d like to cancel my next appointment.”

Ashley laughed. “Nope. Sorry. No cancellations or transfers, you’re getting extra kale.” They both laughed together.

Mandy took a sip of her cocktail, allowing the tart flavor to flood over her tongue. “Whoever looked at kale and thought, ‘Yeah, that looks like something I want to put in my mouth’?”

“That’s what he said?” And they both laughed again.

Mandy took another drink of her margarita and relaxed deeper into her chair. Maybe this meant things would be all right. Maybe there wouldn’t be any catastrophes.

As soon as she thought it, she wanted to take it back, but it was too late.

The lights in the hotel room flashed and the smoke alarm sounded.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Mandy said.

“I’m sure it’s a false alarm.” Ashley put her curling iron down. “I’ll call the front desk.”

She wouldn’t get through. Everyone in the hotel was likely doing the exact same thing. Worst-case scenario, the hotel would burn down—and if they didn’t get out, they would burn down with it.

Mandy retrieved her phone and purse from the other room.

When she returned, Ashley was holding her dress. “The line was busy,” she said. “But think of all the fabulous stories you’ll get to tell about your wedding day.” Was that pity in Ashley’s eyes?

Mandy didn’t want to tell any stories. She would’ve been fine if her wedding day was boring. She let out a long breath. “Let’s just go.”

The hall was packed full of people carrying as much as they could—some even with suitcases. Mandy could go back into her room and grab all her stuff too, but then she’d be another person clogging the hallway when a fire could be raging nearby.

“I don’t smell any smoke. So that’s good,” Ashley said.

Mandy was glad Ashley could see a bright side, because Mandy had officially lost all hope.

Chapter Sixteen

June 2005

The day had blownby in such a blur, captured by Mom’s camera as soon as Mandy opened her eyes that morning. Hair styled. Cap and gown. Friends. Family. Speeches. Walking across the stage. Diploma. People screaming. Tears…so many tears.

As the sun faded, filling the sky with watercolors that ranged from rose to tangerine to periwinkle, Mandy and her fellow graduates loaded buses to head back to campus for Grad Nite, an evening arranged by the parents of all the seniors that year. It was a tradition at their school, and each year tried to outdo the last. Mandy’s mom had been on the fundraising committee that started the summer before Mandy’s senior year. Mom had been extra secretive about the whole affair—which for her was quite the feat. Keeping secrets was not her strong suit and why Mandy always knew what she was getting for Christmas well before the day arrived. A rush of excitement flooded Mandy’s veins. Which felt a little silly since she now stood outside the school gymnasium.

How many times had Mandy been inside there for spirit rallies or gym class? The memory of Steve Gillespie throwing up after a robust game of chubby bunny, and the time she got floor burn sliding to save a rough ball during volleyball week in PE rushed through her head.

“This looks so cool,” Ashanta de la Cruz turned and said to Mandy.

“So cool,” Mandy repeated.

A tall set of stairs stood in front of them, and there was a slide feeding through one of the high windows of the gym.

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