Page 55 of The One I Love
I watch as Amelia goes over and gives Simon a kiss on the cheek. Again. Normal. But I swear to God if that man does one inappropriate thing, or makes one joke, I will end him.
“You’re too sweet, Amelia,” he says. “What do you think about being my best friend?”
She politely laughs. “I’ll take it into consideration.”
She waves goodbye, and I don’t know if I’m imagining it or not, but I swear her gaze lingers a little longer on me.
“So? What’d I miss?”
We all look at Simon and shake our heads. “You know you could have stayed gone.”
He looks at me and just shrugs. “I know. But I didn’t have anywhere else to go. Plus, you know I get FOMO.”
“You are the best kind of ridiculous, you know that, right?”
Simon smiles over to Betsy. “I do. And remember, I’m here and waiting if that guy fucks up again.”
Wes pulls Betsy into him. “Don’t you fucking dare.”
“Drinks!” Oliver yells in his way to defuse the situation that really isn’t a situation. “Who wants another drink?”
“I do!” Betsy yells, popping up from the couch.
The two of them head into the kitchen as Wes and Simon continue to stare each other down. I like to sit back and watch when the two of them do this, because at this point it’s not about one being angry at the other. No, this is about who can keep this face up the longest without laughing.
Usually Wes wins.
As soon as I get comfortable, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket.
Amelia: I think we did it! No one suspected.
Shane: We were very stealth. Sitting apart was key.
Amelia: Why?
Shane: Because if I would have been next to you, I don’t think I would have been able to keep my hands to myself.
Amelia: Shane…
Shane: What? I tell the truth. Did you have to wear a T-shirt so tight?
Amelia: It wasn’t that tight.
Shane: Agree to disagree. Also, you looked beautiful tonight. I didn’t get to tell you that.
Amelia: Thank you.
Shane: Was that new lipstick? I’ve never seen you wear that shade before.
She doesn’t respond right away, which is weird. Amelia is an immediate responder. In her words, if she doesn’t then, she’llforget. So I start to get worried when it goes on more than a few minutes before she texts me back.
“Is that Mary?”
I look up to Simon, who’s giving me a knowing smirk. “Huh?”
“Mary? Are you texting your girlfriend Mary?”
“Excuse me!” Wes yells. “Who is Mary, and when did you get a girlfriend?”
