Page 63 of The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean

“So, you said you do art or something?” Evan asked Mandy when it seemed as though the conversation between Nikki and Justin became that—between just the two of them.

“ ‘Art or something’ sounds about right.” Mandy laughed. “This semester it hasn’t been as hands-on. It’s been mostlycomputer stuff, which I get that’s important and all, and I could probably find a job or something with it, but I miss getting my hands dirty, you know? Like these classes I took in Europe were incredible, and I think I lived under a layer of paint while I was there.” Mandy laughed again and took another sip. Yep, these drinks were amazing, and obviously made her really chatty.

“You’ve been to Europe. Me too. Italy was my favorite. What about you? Let me guess. Paris.”

Mandy had been to Paris briefly, and the one museum she got to see was inspiring, but because of the party, it was not her favorite memory. “I actually really just loved London. I had all these plans of traveling, but when I got there, they didn’t really happen.” She didn’t get into why, and how the person she had planned to travel with didn’t go. Evan didn’t need all her baggage.

“I pegged you as an Eiffel Tower girl.”

“Well, you would be wrong.”

“You’re one intriguing girl, Mandy.” And the way he smiled at her made her knees go soft.

Mandy had to admit the rest of the night was actually fun. Evan had turned out to be an interesting guy, and the two of them hit it off much better than Mandy expected—especially seeing how it all started out. Or maybe it was the four Creamy Unicorns Mandy had drunk—two above her usual limit. Either way, last call was announced, and Nikki had left ages before with Justin—which wasn’t an unusual thing for her, leaving with someone—and it was time for Mandy to call it a night.

Evan held the door to the club open for her as they both stumbled outside. The air was surprisingly warm for a February evening. They walked down the street a quarter of a block awayfrom the club’s entrance so Mandy could get in line for a cab, which—since they came out quickly—luckily wasn’t too long. “This can’t be where our night ends.” He sure was cute, but Mandy knew better than to bring home a guy she’d just met. And even though she was drunk, she also knew better than to go home with him. Mandy had learned her lesson with Theo, and she wasn’t a one-night-stand kind of girl.

“We could meet up some other time,” Mandy suggested as a compromise. She wouldn’t mind seeing him again.

“Come on.” He tugged her close and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Let me buy you some pancakes.” He nuzzled his nose into Mandy’s neck, sending gooseflesh rippling along her skin.

“How’d I know?” someone said, and Evan released Mandy faster than a hot mug just out of the microwave. A gorgeous girl with straight black hair, light brown skin, jeans and a Harvard Law hoodie, and the bestoh-you’ve-been-caughtlook on her face stood on the sidewalk next to a parked car.

“Lilia, I can explain,” Evan said.

Mandy may have had one too many, but it didn’t take a sober person to figure out what was going on. Evan was a dirty, lying cheater. And to make it all worse, he made Mandy an accomplice. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

“He didn’t tell you, did he?” Lilia asked Mandy.

“No. God. No. I’m so sorry.” Mandy was going to throw up, and not from the liquor.

“You have nothing to apologize to me about.” Lilia sounded a lot calmer than Mandy expected someone in her position to be. But then again, she had been there once herself—more thanonce, actually. “He, however, has some serious explaining to do.” Lilia perched one perfectly manicured hand on her hip.

“Babe. You were just—”

“You know what? I don’t even want to hear it. I just want you out of my apartment and out of my life.” She clicked a button on her keys, and the trunk on the car next to her popped open. Lilia then proceeded to throw a bunch of clothes, a couple of books, a lamp, and several other items out onto the sidewalk.

As he tried to gather up all his crap, Evan started with the whole “I’m so sorry. You don’t understand. I made a mistake.” Blah, blah, blah.

A large group of people who likely were pushed out of the club for closing stood around to watch what was going on. Mandy really needed a cab ASAP. And pancakes. She really still needed some pancakes.

“I don’t know what I ever saw in you,” Lilia was yelling. Except Mandy knew. Evan, as terrible as he was, had a way of making a person feel special. Hell, he was able to do it to Mandy in just a couple of hours. That didn’t make it right, but she totally felt for Lilia. It sucked putting yourself into someone who didn’t appreciate you. And even though Evan was good-looking, Mandy was sure it was Lilia who could have anyone she wanted.

The trunk slammed, and Lilia turned to Mandy. “You good? Or do you need a ride?”

The line for a cab was exceedingly long now that the club was officially closed for the night. And for whatever reason, she felt a kind of kinship with Lilia she couldn’t explain.

“Do you like pancakes?” Mandy asked.

“I fucking love them,” Lilia responded.

So Mandy hopped into the front seat of Lilia’s car, and they left Evan on the sidewalk with all of his possessions.

The Denny’s was busy—but notso much that Lilia and Mandy had to wait for a table. There was the typical late-night crowd, bartenders and shift workers winding down, and people like Mandy who needed to soak up some of the alcohol they’d consumed.

As soon as they sat down, Mandy ordered a short stack and coffee. Lilia opted for a Belgian waffle with a side of bacon and hash browns.

“So, Harvard Law,” Mandy said as she shoved a huge bite of pancakes dripping in maple syrup into her mouth. “That’s badass.”

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