Page 57 of Party Favors
“I would like to go with you to the airport, but I can’t figure out how to juggle your rental car,” Wren said. “Maybe I could Uber back here after we drop your car off?”
“That’s a lot of effort.”
Wren’s eyes went dim. “Yeah.”
Amanda wished she could smack her hand over her mouth and stuff the words back in. “If you don’t mind doing that, I would love to say goodbye at the airport too.”
“Yeah?” Wren repeated, this time with hope in her voice.
“Yes. I’ve always wanted a big romantic aeronautic goodbye.”
“Well, then by God, I’ll give you one.” Wren smiled and kissed her again.
That, at least, seemed to break the ice. They spent the rest of the morning trading kisses and lingering touches. Wren disappeared for a few minutes to chat with William about something that was evidently pressing. When she returned, her eyes were slightly red, but her smile was easy and open, so Amanda ignored it.
She was ignoring lots of things. As they drove to the airport, she started to add them up in her head like a list of resolutions.
Wren’s red eyes
Wren’s insecurity last night
All the talk of being wild and fun as if it were a bad thing
That bothersome hitch in her brain still felt just out of reach by the time they returned the rental car. Wren walked with Amanda along a covered causeway from the rental car place to the airport proper. They held hands.
Once Amanda got her ticket and there was nothing to do but say goodbye, tears pricked the back of her eyes, heat spreading down her face. She was a hot cryer. Her whole face would turn ruby, and she would feel like she had a fever. It wasn’t pretty, and it was about to happen.
Wren didn’t seem to be in better shape. Her perfect, pointy chin was trembling.
“We’ll talk as soon as you land,” Wren said.
“About us?” Amanda asked.
Wren’s lips tightened. “Sure.”
That wasn’t exactly an enthusiastic agreement, and Amanda had the disorienting realization that she might need to cut her losses here. It was clear that Wren didn’t trust Amanda to know her own heart, and she wasn’t sure what to do or what magic word to say to make this right.
“It was a fun time,” she said.
A tear trickled down Wren’s cheek as she nodded. “Incredibly … fun. Okay, kiss me here before I start bawling. Shit.”
Amanda smiled and swept Wren into her arms. So many times during the last few days, Wren had been in control. Wren had been the one to take the lead, but she seemed incredibly fragile right then, so Amanda stepped up. That felt like how a relationship should be.
They kissed, and it was a messy affair, both of them sniffling and holding on too tight, but it was a balm to Amanda’s heart. This New Year’s had changed her life. It had changed her perspective. She would never be the same.
She pulled away, and Wren let her go, taking a swift step back.
“Talk soon?” Wren said.
“Very.”
They stared at each other for an extra-long beat before Amanda turned on her heels and headed toward the lines for TSA screening.
She didn’t look behind her as she walked away, knowing it would be too hard. While in the slow-moving line, a numbness settled over her body.
Moments from their days together flashed through her brain like a slideshow. She lingered on the ones that made her feel silly or bad because that was what brains did.
What was it that Wren had said?I’ve always been written off for being out of control and wild.Amanda knew Wren had had trouble in relationships because people didn’t take her seriously. They didn’t think she took life seriously, even though she practically had a lingerie empire, which didn’t happen without a bunch of dedication and hard work.
