Page 6 of Party Favors
“Positive. It’ll feel like a sleepover. We can talk about boys.”
“And girls.”
Amanda flushed and let loose a shy smile, which Wren wanted to eat right off her face. “Yes. Anyway …” Amanda dragged her bag into the bathroom with her. “Bye. See you soon.”
Wren laughed and trudged upstairs with Amanda’s garment bag. This was going well.Not. They needed to find their footing again. Figure out how to translate their chatty, secret-spilling online life to face-to-face communication.
Wren found one of the fluffy resort robes that seemed to be everywhere and threw it on over her swimsuit. She would shower off the chlorine when Amanda was done. The bed in the loft was a queen with a modern wooden headboard and lots of pillows.
Wren pulled up the DMs between her and Amanda from a little over a week ago. In one, Amanda had said that she’d never had a fun New Year’s Eve.
That moment had solidified it for Wren. She had decided to be an obnoxious, pushy pain in the hide until Amanda agreed to meet her here at Father Time Farm and Resort. Amanda deserved the best New Year’s Eve, and Wren would give it to her.
Plus, Wren hadn’t exactly been looking forward to watching Benji and William or her friends, Rosie and Leo, who were coming for the New Year’s Eve party, suck face at midnight. With Amanda here, they would both be kissless, so it wouldn’t feel so lonely.
But before Wren could give Amanda a rocking New Year’s Eve, she had to figure out a way to get them over this awkwardness hump. She thumbed out a message to Amanda, even though she was only a few rooms away and in the shower.
Wren:New plan.
Wren:Old year’s resolutions (get it?). A bit of fun to end this orbit around the sun.
A few minutes later, the shower shut off, and Wren’s phone lit up with a new message.
Amanda:Tell me more.
Wren smiled. She enjoyed talking to Amanda like this. It was familiar.
Wren:We have 2 days left of this year. Let’s make simple, fun resolutions that we can fulfill before midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Wren:We’ll finish the year out with some successes.
Amanda:You’re going to have to give me an example.
Wren closed her eyes and let herself sink deeper into the pillows. It would be easy to write something like “meet someone interesting at the bar tonight.” But Wren hadn’t clawed her way to the top of the lingerie game by taking the easy road.
Wren:Okay. Here’s one. My first old year’s resolution: Figure out how to ease the way with you in person so we don’t feel like strangers. I’m greedy. I want both—online and in-person friendship.
Wren listened as the bathroom door opened downstairs and footsteps fell on the staircase. Amanda slipped into the bedroom. She was wearing high-dollar skinny jeans and a retro patterned blouse with a tie at the neck. Her hair was wet, and her face was free of makeup. She lay down next to Wren, but rather than speaking, she typed a message into her phone.
Amanda:I wanted to impress you, but then I fell into a pool. I’m scared you’ll see the truth, which is that I’m not nearly as interesting when I can’t proofread and labor over every word I say.
Wren’s heart lodged in her throat. Amanda had no idea how spectacular she was.
Wren:I am impressed. No one has ever looked so good falling into a pool.
Amanda laughed softly. It was oddly intimate to be carrying on a conversation without speaking out loud. To watch the play of emotions on Amanda’s face as she read Wren’s words. Wren imagined that this was how Amanda looked when they were texting, and regardless of what happened this New Year’s Eve, Wren was going to cherish that image forever.
Wren started typing again, and Amanda seemed content to wait while she did.
Wren:I know you’re interesting.
Wren:You’re one of the coolest people I’ve ever met.
Wren:You’re creative. You’re warm. You’re clever. I already knew those things. Because I know you.
Amanda:Why is it easier to talk this way?
Wren hooked their pinkies together on the bed between them. Amanda let out a shaky breath.
