The look of mild exasperation felt oddly more comfortable andfamiliar than the tender one a moment ago. “Could you relax and let me dosomething nice for you?”
Much like Cal’s comment about having fun, the question hit her.When had she become so rigid? “Sorry. Thank you for offering. I appreciate it.”
Mel grinned. “That’s better.”
They headed to the visitor lot. She made a show of opening thepassenger door and Amanda slid in, letting herself melt into the leather seat.Mel rounded the hood and got in. She started the car and drove in the directionof Amanda’s house. How long had it been since they’d been in a car together,just the two of them?
Surreal or not, Amanda willed herself to relax. They weren’tsleeping together or fighting. They were back to what they’d managed to settleinto over the years: comfortable.
“How are things at home?” She realized how little she’d askedabout the state of Mel’s marriage and had a pang of guilt.
Mel shook her head. “I’ve moved out.”
She didn’t know why, but she’d expected Mel and Bella toreconcile. “Oh, no. Is it that bad?”
Mel shrugged. “I’m in one of those short-term apartments. We’vetold each other it’s temporary, but I don’t know.”
“I’m sorry.” She was, truly.
“Thanks.”
“Was it her idea or yours?” That part was probably none of herbusiness, but she wanted to know.
“Mine. If we have any chance at all, we need to get some space,evaluate our priorities.”
Amanda had said essentially the same thing when their marriagetanked. Did Mel remember that? “I hope you can make it work.”
Mel glanced at her and lifted a shoulder. “I feel like it’s goingto work out the way it’s supposed to.”
She let the cryptic reply sit. It was none of her business if andhow things worked out, and she certainly didn’t want to give Mel the impressionit was. Especially with how things were going with Quinn.
Quinn. She still felt bad about how she’d left things with her.Even if the brief text exchange made it seem like Quinn wasn’t upset, it didn’tmake her behavior okay. She’d flung her own guilt and other emotional nonsenseon her and all but said she regretted going away together. Which was uncalledfor but also untrue.
Quinn had gotten her—invited, nudged, and inspired her—to unplugfrom her life and responsibilities and just think about herself. Yes, thetiming of Cal’s second ever time being hospitalized sucked. But Quinn had noway of knowing that and neither did she. Yes, she wished she could have been there.But her kids were neither helpless nor dependent on her for their well-being.She’d gone out of her way to raise them to be anything but those things.
She owed Quinn an apology. Not a few words over text, either.Because she needed to do a lot more than apologize. She needed Quinn tounderstand not only how much fun she’d had—and she’d had plenty—she neededQuinn to understand what the weekend meant to her.
“I’m dying to know what you’re thinking right now.”
The sound of Mel’s voice startled her. She’d almost forgotten Melwas sitting right there next to her. “Just zoning, I think.”
“You must be exhausted, between today and all the outdoor rusticstuff.” Mel curled her lip, her disdain evident.
“Yeah, must be that.” No need for Mel to know the exact nature ofher outdoorsy activities, or her indoor ones for that matter. Given the stateof Mel’s marriage, it would be rubbing salt in the wound. The analogy gave hera flashback of Mel and Bella’s wedding. Funny how the tables could turn.
Mel pulled into the driveway and, even though there was no need,cut the engine. She started to say she had her keys, but Mel was already out ofthe car and coming around to open her door. On another day, she might havepoked fun at the gallantry. Today, she was too tired.
“Thank you again for the ride.”
“Happy to. It was nice to have a few minutes alone.” For asecond, she thought Mel was going to attempt to walk her to her door. But shestuck her hands in her pockets and rocked back on her heels. Then she looked upat the stars.
“You okay?” It wasn’t like Mel to get overly reflective.
“I’m working on it. Ask me again in a few weeks.” She accompaniedthe second statement with a wink.
Amanda resisted the urge to read too much into it or ask forclarification. Like she’d said, to herself at least: it was none of herbusiness. “Good luck sorting it all out.”
Mel gave her a knowing look, paired with a knowing smile. “Fromyou, I’ll take it.”
The conversation was getting weirder by the second, but shecouldn’t tell if it was Mel or her own exhaustion. “I can probably handledischarge tomorrow if you have other things you need to do.”
Her expression turned serious. “No, I’ll be there. I want to bethere.”
“Okay. I’ll plan to see you then.” She fished her keys out of herpurse and started up the walk.
“Hey, Amanda?”
She turned. “Yes?”
Mel offered her a playful nod. “Those hiking shorts look good onyou. You’ve still got the best legs of any woman I know.”
Amanda blinked, at a loss for words. Mel didn’t wait for her tocome up with any. She smiled and got back in her car and was gone. Amanda stoodthere for a long moment, staring at the driveway where Mel had been. What thehell was that?
It didn’t matter. Mel was no longer hers to figure out orexplain, to navigate or fight or anything else with. Which was a good thing,because she didn’t have the wherewithal or the inclination to try. Instead, sheshook her head and let herself into the house.
She climbed the stairs, peeling off clothes as she went. In theshower, she closed her eyes. It wasn’t difficult to push aside all thoughts ofMel as the hot water ran over her tired muscles. Even Cal and the panic thatgripped her when she learned he was in the hospital faded to the background.
She lathered her body and gave her mind over to Quinn, to thememories of showering together and every other magical moment
