Page 39 of Best Friends
Obviously.
Amanda brightens immediately and she smiles up at me. “Yeah, that’s right.” Her fingers grip my arm. “I’m going out with Carrick tonight.”
Harlan’s eyes darken but he just laughs. “Don’t know what you see in him, but okay, sweetheart. Maybe some other time.” He elbows Jeremy. “Let’s bounce. I need to take a shower.”
They walk off and Cheyenne glares after them.
“God, those two are a menace.” She rolls her eyes. “They truly think they’re God’s gift to all females.”
“They really are dicks,” I mutter.
“Good thing I have plans with you, Carrick. That guy didn’t want to take no for an answer.” Amanda laughs. Her fingers are warm on my arm and her sweet perfume fills my nose. She doesn’t seem to mind or even notice how sweaty I am, or that I could definitely use a shower.
“Careful,” I joke because I’m uncomfortable about her touching me. “You shouldn’t get too close. I smell like a camel.”
She smiles. “Oh, I like a manly smelling man.”
My face warms and I laugh. “Then you’re in luck because I reek.”
“So,” she says softly. “Where should we go tonight?” She flutters her lashes. “I’m game for anything.”
“Tonight?” I repeat, trying to think of how the hell to get out of this mess I’ve created. All I want is to spend the evening with Malcolm. But now I’ve got myself in a bind just because I felt protective of Amanda.
As our eyes meet, her happy expression falters. “Unless—” She pulls her hand away. “Did I misunderstand? Are we not going out tonight?”
I’m sure I look like a deer in the headlights as she stares at me. I have no desire to go on a date with Amanda. All I want to do is go home and spend the remainder of my day off with Malcolm. But when I look closer at Amanda, I see a shimmer of vulnerability in her eyes. I know instantly that she expects me to reject her. Seeing that makes me feel horrible. I stupidly got her hopes up. I can’t just bail on heragain.
“No, we can go to dinner,” I say, forcing a smile. It’s my fault I’m in this mess, not hers. I completely led her on. It doesn’t matter that my intentions were good, I’m playing with heremotions. I need to figure out a way to let her down gently. I’ll keep the dinnerverycasual and then I’ll make up some excuse about being hung up on my ex. That excuse works pretty well usually. It’s not as personal as an outright rejection.
Amanda’s smile returns. “Whew, you scared me there for a minute. I’ll give you my number.” She rattles off her phone number and I do my best to memorize it.
My face feels stiff as I say, “How about I meet you at the Wagon Wheel Bar and Grill around 7:00 p.m.? They have great food and drinks.”
“Perfect.” Amanda giggles. “I’ll see you then.”
I watch her walk away, my stomach churning.
When I turn back to Cheyenne, she’s scowling. “Okay, why’d you lie to me? If you weren’t out late, why say you were?”
My face warms. “I really did go out with Malcolm and those girls. I just ended up going home early because I felt sick. That’s all.”
“So, why not just say that?”
Because I spent the night having sex with Malcolm, and I’m a wreck who doesn’t know how to be normal anymore.
“I’m sorry I lied.”
“Why did you need to lie to me?” she demands.
I hold her gaze, feeling like an asshole. “I… just…”
When I don’t continue, she shakes her head, looking disappointed. “You need to get your shit together, Carrick. I don’t even feel like I know you right now. You’re hiding shit and lying about things you don’t need to lie about.”
I let out a shaky breath. “I’m going through something, Chey. I’m sorry I lied. I… I promise I’ll tell you everything when I have it figured out. You’re right. I’m not myself right now, and I feel awful that I lied to you.”
“Good. You should feel awful about that.” She scowls.
I stare at her silently, torn between the desire to confide in her and the fear of being judged. Not that Cheyenne is a judgmental person, but I’m not sure how she’ll react to the idea of me and Malcolm as a couple.
