Amanda had said as much, but given the sleeping together, she’dassumed it was an exaggeration for her benefit. “Wow.”
“Yeah. So, when M started acting kind of crushy, it was so weird.And then she told me about the affair and asked for my help to win Mom back.”
“Oh.” She let the word hang, but it failed to capture the extentof her feelings.
Daniella rolled her eyes. “Exactly.”
Half an hour later, everything made sense. Well, as much sense assuch a convoluted situation could make. And it changed, not everything, but alot. For the first time in weeks—or if she was being honest, maybe ever—shedidn’t worry that being with Amanda would be a source of friction with herfamily. Mel had overplayed her hand, at the encouragement of her daughter whonow seemed to genuinely regret her role in the whole thing. She’d thoughtthings were complicated. And now that word felt almost painfully inadequate.
But even with all the explaining, one question loomed large inher mind. “So, what are you hoping happens?”
Daniella sighed. “I guess I hope you two do the happily everafter thing.”
It was a big statement, much bigger than she needed to make ifher goal was simply to make peace. “That’s a tall order.”
“I mean, if that’s what you want. It’s up to you.” She liftedboth hands. “I’m officially done with interfering.”
The assertion made Quinn think of her sisters, her friends, andall the well-meaning meddlers in her life. “If that’s a lesson you can learn atyour age, you’re ahead of the curve.”
“Does that mean you’re going to take her back?”
She smiled at the choice of phrase. “I think it’s a little morecomplicated than that.”
Daniella grinned. “It won’t be by the time I’m done with her.”
If part of her wanted to point out the contradiction in thatlogic, it was eclipsed by her very real longing to win Amanda back. Or take herback. Whatever. The prospect of having another chance made her giddy. Shereined it in. She and Amanda still needed to have a very long talk if they hadany hope of making things work. Still, it felt like maybe they were going toget the chance to have that talk. “Thank you.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m just trying to fix what I broke in thefirst place.”
Daniella’s machinations had certainly made things more difficult,but they hadn’t been the sole reason for the current state of affairs. She’dallowed her own insecurities about being interesting enough, exciting enough,get in the way. Even Amanda played a part, omitting details that had thepotential to rock the boat. She shook her head. “You didn’t break anything.”
Daniella gave her an incredulous look, once again looking so verymuch like Amanda.
Quinn raised a hand. “I’m not saying you didn’t make themmessier. But it wasn’t all your doing.”
“Thanks for saying that. I feel better.”
She reached across the table and gave Daniella’s hand a squeeze.“Thanks for being such an adult and owning you made a mistake.”
Daniella took a deep breath, rolling her shoulders and thenletting them drop. “Do you want a tour of campus while you’re here? There aresome really cool buildings.”
Almost more than the apology, the invitation made her think therewas hope for them after all. “That would be fantastic. And then I’d be happy todo a Wegmans or a Target run or whatever if you need anything.”
Daniella lifted her chin. “You’re getting good at this.”
Quinn didn’t know if she meant spending time with collegestudents or something else, but she didn’t care. The prospect of spending timetogether, just the two of them, made her happy. “I try.”
By the time she was alone in her car and driving south, she andDaniella had wandered campus and gone to dinner together. The only thing givingher pause was the fact that Amanda had no idea what was going on. But Daniellapromised to call her immediately and fill her in. Quinn wanted to ask for areport, but it felt like maybe too much to ask. Well, that and a bit insecure.Since the whole point was not to let herself be ruled by that, she refrained.She’d talk with Amanda soon enough and, hopefully, clear the air once and forall. But first, groceries.
You shouldcall Mom. Or go over. :)
The text from Cal came just as she got in line with her basket ofcoffee, cream, and a frozen pizza. Iseverything okay?
Yes. Dwanted to text you but didn’t have your number.
Oh. That meant Daniella had spoken with Amanda. She tamped downthe jolt of nerves. If Cal and Daniella wanted her to go to Amanda’s, it had tobe good, right? Before she could logic her way through that, her phone rang.Amanda’s smiling face appeared on the screen. She stepped out of line, notwanting to be that person, and answered. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Despite the uncertainty in Amanda’s voice, the sound sent awarm tingle through her. Only a week had gone by without hearing it, but theeffect was like a drink of water after days in the desert. “I hear you spentthe day with Daniella.”
“I did. She’s quite a remarkable young woman.”
“That’s generous of you, all things considered.”
“I might not love what she did, but I understand why she did it.”She paused, wondering if Amanda was going to ask her over, but decided not towait. “Are you free now? I think we should probably talk.”
She could hear Amanda take a deep breath on the other end of theline. “I’d like that. Do you want to come here? Or I can come to you?”
“I’m already out and about. I’ll come to you.” She looked down ather basket. “I’m at the store, actually. Do you need anything?”
“Just you.”
Short of I love you, she couldn’t think of words she’d ratherhear. “I’ll be there in half an hour.”
Chapter Thirty-one
Amanda drummed her fingers on the kitchen island, then gavein to the urge to pace. Again. After a couple of minutes, she sat. Again. Howlong could thirty minutes take?
This was ridiculous. She was ridiculous. Or, at the very least,dramatic. Quinn was coming over to talk, not have a knock-down, drag-out fight.If anything, this might be their chance
