Page 50 of The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean

Mandy shook her head and smiled.

“What? I’m going to need to eat like five more to make any kind of decision about them.” She popped the rest of the egg roll into her mouth.

“They’re weird, right?”

“So weird,” Isa said around a mouthful.

The bartender made their way back with Isa’s margarita and another basket of chips.

Mandy picked up her glass. “Fuck the Fourth of July.”

“Fuck it.” Isa clicked her glass against Mandy’s.

Thank god Isa was there. She had come home for an impromptu visit before starting her residency back on the EastCoast. If she ended up getting a job out there, Mandy didn’t know what she would do. It had taken time, but Isa was back in her life, a part of her world, and she never wanted to be estranged from her best friend again—one out of ten, would not recommend. It was hard enough with her being so far away and their hangouts done over the phone. From time to time, they would both put on their sweats and baseball hats and go out running errands on the phone together—they would call it an “ugly day,” and if anyone tried to talk to either of them, the trick was to pretend they didn’t know them. But when Isa was in town, things were so much easier. And their “ugly days” could be spent on the couch, or tucked into the corner of some café, or out together—while they ignored everyone else.

Mandy’s phone chimed. She already knew who it was but checked it anyway.

Edmund:I’m sorry. I was a dick. Let me make it up to you.

It was better than the ones he sent before, but Mandy was still upset, so she switched the phone off and shoved it into her purse.

“You want to talk about it, or you want to drink?” Isa asked, nibbling on her second egg roll.

“Drink now, talk later.”

And that’s what they did. The conversation stayed light and casual as they each sipped their oversized margaritas and ended up sharing an order of fajitas. It was the kind of meal that wasn’t anything special, and yet that was what made it perfect.

“All I’m saying is that Sophie would disagree with you.”Mandy popped the last part of her egg roll into her mouth. They had really grown on her, especially after the second margarita.

“What’s there to disagree with? I wear them on my legs. They are the definition of pants.” Isa held up her leg, showing off her leggings. “Plus, they’re more comfortable than jeans, and bonus, if I fall asleep in them, that’s okay too.”

It was nice that Mandy could bring up Sophie without having it be a thing. Without worrying that it reminded Isa of why they broke up. Plus, Isa would really like Sophie. One day they should all hang out together.

“Feel them.” Isa grabbed Mandy’s hand and put it on her thigh.

“Oh, that is soft.”

“Exactly.”

“But…if you can sleep in them, doesn’t that make them pajamas?”

“I sleep in T-shirts, and that doesn’t mean I can’t wear them out in public.” Isa had a point, and Mandy could admit the pants looked really cute on Isa. (Or was that the margarita talking?) Mandy needed to stop thinking about Isa’s body right now—with the alcohol, her mind was slipping into dangerous places.

“You win. Leggings are pants. Next subject.” Mandy grabbed her ice water and took a long swig.

Isa narrowed her eyes at Mandy, but then her look morphed into satisfaction. “Organic tampons. Are you using them?”

Mandy almost spit out her water—not at the absurdity but just at how funny the question caught her off guard. “Do you always think about vaginas?”

“Every day.” Isa was specializing in obstetrics.

“I just grab whatever’s on sale.” Mandy shrugged.

“Amanda!”

“Marisa!”

“Have I taught you nothing?”

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