Page 10 of Waste Some Time
“I didn’t say anything about it. And I kind of gave her a pleading look, and she played along as if we’d never met.”
“Cripes, Syd!” Amelia leaned toward Sydney. Then, in a hushed tone, said, “How’d you get away with that?”
“I don’t know. I just… did. I greeted her as if she were a stranger. Because, really, I barely remembered her name. I just kept thinking how beautiful she was, and how nothing was going to come out of it, so I didn’t connect her name with Stephen’s friend. Katie is such a common name.”
“Right. But how’d you get her to play along?”
“I told you. I gave her a look,” Sydney said. “She seemed uncomfortable, but she rolled with it. Stephen had no reason to suspect we were hiding anything.”
“I can imagine she must have been right unhappy about it,” Amelia said. “I’d be more than unhappy with someone pretending we had no history whatsoever.”
“She had as much reason to hide our encounter as I did. She hadn’t told Stephen about being with me.”
Amelia shook her head. “Stephen would have been tickled by the real story. And you definitely had more at stake than her. Weren’t you supposed to not be in town or something? Like, isn’t that why you spent Christmas Eve at my house?”
“I know, I know,” Sydney said. “That’s why I can’t tell him.Thatwould be the thing that would piss him off.”
“I’d be pissed too,” Amelia frowned as she plopped herself against the back cushion of the couch. “This whole thing is absolutely unhinged, Syd. You know that, right?”
“I know, I know. But It’s done, and I won’t be here long enough to see her again.”
She had to force those last words out. Because she hadn’t even told Amelia her thoughts about possibly moving back home. Just like with her brother, she didn’t want Amelia influencing her decision. She needed to settle into howshefelt about it first. Then she’d tell them. Both of them.
“Can we talk about something else?” Sydney said. “Because this is all making me a bit anxious.”
Amelia’s lips curled into a soft smile that reached all the way up to her eyes. “Of course, love. Want to hear the latest band drama?”
“Yes,” Sydney said with a breath of relief. “Please. Give me all of it.”
They picked up with more of what they’d talked about on Christmas Eve. More of the goings on with Amelia’s band and with Sydney’s life in San Diego.
After several minutes, the sound of a key in the front door lock captured both of their attention, and Sydney turned to see her brother enter the room.
When Stephen entered and saw them both on the couch, his expression lit up with delight. He had always had a crush on Amelia, but it was a line neither of them had ever crossed.
Sydney could completely understand. She’d always been attracted to Amelia, too, but younger Sydney thought everyone felt that way about their best friends.
Amelia had once secretly confessed once that she found Stephen attractive. But she said it was too cliche to date her best friend’s brother, and they both knew how much she loathed cliches and couldn’t stand the thought of being one.
“Two of my favorite people in one place,” he said. “For the second time in a week. How lucky is that?”
“You’re always lucky to see me,” Amelia said with a playful wink. “But, alas, you’ll have to wait until our next chance encounter. I have some errands to run today, so I’ll leave you two to your day.”
“You don’t have to go on my account.”
She stood and exchanged air kisses with Stephen. “I’m sure I’ll run into you again. Good to see you.”
And Sydney could tell she truly meant it.
Sydney stood to give her friend one last hug and shut the door behind her. Then she gave Stephen her full attention.
“What are you doing here so early? I didn’t expect you over until dinner with Simon and Savannah.”
“I thought I’d take you out for lunch. Assuming you don’t have other plans.”
“I don’t,” Sydney said. “But my stomach isn’t going to like me very much if you’re taking me to eat every day.”
“San Diego has ruined your palate.”
