Page 64 of The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean

“Thanks,” Lilia said. “You would not believe the number of times I was confused for custodial staff.” She rolled her eyes.

“Don’t you wear, like, suits and stuff?” Mandy hadn’t been to court herself, but from the movies and TV shows she’d seen, lawyers were always in suits.

Lilia raised her brows and just nodded before she broke off a piece of bacon and speared it with a bite of her waffle.

“No!” Mandy almost fell into her pancakes.

“Girl. Sexism is everywhere.”

Mandy had just met Lilia but already loved her.

“You said you go to USC?” Lilia asked, and Mandy nodded. “What are you studying? Not prelaw, I hope.”

Mandy shook her head. “No. Although I’m sure my dad would’ve loved that.” She laughed. “I’m doing graphic design andstuff.” She was still drunk and didn’t want to get into it all too deeply.

“That’s awesome. I can’t draw to save my life. My stick figures are completely unrecognizable.”

“Everyone has some artistic ability.”

Lilia tipped her head to the side. “I guess I do like to write.”

“You’re painting with words,” Mandy said. “That’s what my friend would call it.” How did everything make her think about Isa?

“I’d never really thought about it that way. I like it.”

“What kind of stuff do you write?”

Lilia took a moment to eat another bite, as if she was debating how much to say. “I’m a lawyer, right? So I kind of like to write thrillers where people get away with crimes. I like to play out scenarios, see what would be possible and how someone could do it without getting prosecuted. It’s cooler than it sounds, I swear.”

“It sounds supercool, actually. I’d read it.” Mandy wasn’t a huge reader, but when Isa recommended something, Mandy felt obligated to give it a try. Isa would definitely want to read Lilia’s stories.

Lilia took another bite of her waffle, her fork cutting through the crispy outside and right through the soft middle. Ever since the food was delivered, Mandy has had some serious order envy. Not that her pancakes weren’t delicious, but she loved waffles just a little bit more.

“You want some?” Lilia asked.

Mandy shouldn’t. “Just a little.”

Lilia smiled and cut a section of her waffle off. “I’ll trade you for some of your pancakes.”

“Done.” Mandy sliced off a good portion of her short stack,and then they both exchanged. As soon as the waffle hit her plate, Mandy took a bite. Oh god. Yep, Denny’s knew how to make a mean waffle.

Lilia commented on the pancakes. “These are really good.”

And then they both were quiet for a bit while they ate. The buzz of other patrons and the heavy scent of bacon and coffee hung in the air. A couple of girls a few tables over drank water with lemon and shared a plate of fries. They didn’t look old enough to be in a Denny’s so late, but it was totally something Isa and Mandy would’ve done back in high school, so she wasn’t about to judge. The server passed with a tray so full of food she had to balance it on her shoulder.

“I’m sorry Evan did that to you,” Lilia said, breaking the silence.

It took a moment for Mandy to realize what Lilia was talking about. “You donotneed to apologize to me.” Mandy wiped her mouth with her napkin, the cloudiness in her head slowly fading. “I’m sorry he did that toyou. What a total douche move.”

“ ‘Douche’ is an excellent word to describe Evan. But I’m not any better for putting up with it.”

“That wasn’t the first time?”

“More like the third. The second was with my old roommate, and they dated three months before I figured it out.”

“Ouch.” Mandy cringed. “That’s the worst. I don’t understand why people do that.”

“Cheat, you mean?”

---