Page 20 of Party Favors
Finally, Wren met Amanda’s eyes. There was lust and something more intense there. Something fragile. Wren blinked, and that fragile thread between them seemed to break. Amanda sat down on the sofa, spreading the dressing gown out around her.
Wren handed Amanda her plate of fruit. “Here. Watching you eat strawberries in that is going to fry my brain, but please do it.”
Amanda laughed. “Seeing you in a swimsuit fried my brain yesterday. At least there aren’t any pools for you to walk into.”
Wren dropped the muffin she’d been bringing to her mouth. “What?”
“Yeah. You were in that simple black two-piece. It surprised me. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”
“Oh, Amanda, flattery will get you everything. Be careful, or I’ll turn this breakfast into sex.”
“I’m not opposed to that.” Amanda tried to shrug, feigning nonchalance, but sex with Wren was the last thing she was nonchalant about. She wanted it really bad.
“Not yet. Let’s talk. And eat.”
“Okay …” Amanda took a sip of champagne. “Last night you asked what I wanted most in the new year, romance-wise.”
“Uh-huh.”
“What do you want most?”
Wren bit her lip, some of that shyness sneaking back into her expression. “To be taken seriously. I’m tired of being given up for lost because I’m wild or because I like to dance or because—”
“You’re fun.”
“Yeah.” Wren smiled. “I don’t want a run-of-the-mill life. I like going to barbecues that turn into orgies. I like getting rowdy with the roller derby team after practice. I like playing spin the bottle and going on last-minute vacations. I like smoking pot, and skinny dipping, and experiencing what life has to offer, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be the best fucking wife in the world.”
“You deserve someone who appreciates all of that about you.”
“Yes. Please point me in the direction of this mythical creature or creatures.”
“They are out there.” A tiny seed of longing tried to bloom in Amanda. She was tempted to offer herself on a platter. To say,Call me a unicorn because I can be that mythical creature. Those traits Wren had been made to feel bad about were the exact reasons Amanda was here. She admired Wren’s ability to have fun and let loose andlive. Amanda wanted that in her life. Those traits were the exact reasons Amanda would be in trouble if she let her heart run free where Wren Rebello was concerned.
Luckily, they had agreed this was going to be uncomplicated and friendly vacation sex. A way to blow off steam at the end of the year. Amanda wasn’t going to ruin that by getting mushy.
“I want to have a good time,” Wren said, totally unaware of Amanda’s mini crisis. “I don’t want to be seen as a good time. You feel me?”
There was a surprising amount of pain in Wren’s voice, even though she was smiling.
“I do.” Amanda grabbed Wren’s hand and tugged her closer. Wren came willingly, and that thrilled Amanda. “One day, you’re going to find a partner, or partners, who sees what I see. What all your friends who love you see.”
“What’s that?” Wren asked, her voice catching.
A sudden trilling chime made them jump apart. Amanda glanced around dazedly, trying to locate the noise. Wren spotted it first—Amanda’s ringing phone.
Wren picked it up and handed it to Amanda, but her thumb slipped over the screen, accidentally answering the call, which happened to be a FaceTime call.
Amanda’s mother’s face filled the screen, which was the shittiest luck. She was impeccably coiffed and wearing a fashionable but not showy blush blazer.
“Amanda, when should I send the dress by your apartment for tomorrow night’s charity ball?” her mother asked without saying hello. “I’m sure you’d prefer to wear one of those silly vintage things you love, but this dress is much more appropriate than anything you would pick out.”
“Mom.”
“I’ve also selected heels for you. They match perfectly. Thatcher will love them.”
“Thatcher?” Wren mouthed, and Amanda rolled her eyes.
“Mom,” Amanda said again. “I texted you about this. I’m not—”
