“What do you mean what’s the play? There’s no play. I just didn’t want you to wonder why I was hiding behind an ice sculpture all weekend.”
“Oh God. I didn’t even ask. Was it bad?”
Amanda sighed. “No, it was amazing, BUT! That doesn’t mean there’s a play. It happened. It’s over.”
“Do you want it to be over? I mean Sam is pretty private too, but I think he and I are close enough for me to give him a little wink wink nudge nudge in your direction.”
“And then what?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve used up all my goodwill and PTO with Dru this fiscal quarter.”
“I’m not going to say it, but you know what I want to say.”
“I know.”
She loved Helene, but Helene really didn’t understand Amanda’s life. Helene understood how hard of a town Hollywood could be, being a young dark-skinned Black woman herself, but Helene came from money and that money had subsidized her lifestyle until her acting career took off. Amanda’s parents were amazing, but they weren’t “pay her grown-ass bills” rich. She had some savings, but living in Los Angeles wasn’t cheap and she couldn’t afford to be unemployed. She didn’t want to delve into the complex feelings that came with leaving Dru alone to deal with her mother, while also worrying if Dru would sabotage her job prospects if and when she announced she was moving on. She knew it wasn’t healthy or good, their bizarre codependency, but right now wasn’t the time to quit. However, that wasn’t the issue at the moment.
“Dating just isn’t on the schedule right now. Hell, flirting isn’t. We had a nice time. Let’s just leave it at that. I don’t want you spending your wedding trying to play matchmaker for someone else. Okay?”
Helene’s bottom lip jutted out just a bit. “Fine.”
“I’m so annoyed he knows my name,” Amanda said through a playful scowl.
“What kind of anonymous kinky shit were you two up to?” Robyn asked.
“Yeah, I know you said leave it, but I want details,” Helene added.
Amanda felt her cheeks heat. “Nothing. I just—I didn’t think he was serious when he started chatting me up and when he made it clear he was, I wanted him to work for it. Also I wasn’t out looking to smush. I just wanted a night off.”
“Okay, so he didn’t even know your name until an hour ago,” Helene said. Amanda could practically see the gears in her head turning. She should have kept her mouth shut. “But you don’t want to make anything of it.”
“No. I just want to see my beautiful friend wed to her true love.”
“Fine.” Helene stood and made a show of smoothing the seat of her maxi dress. “I’ll focus on my stupid wedding. But when I get back from my honeymoon I’m getting all up in your business.”
“Why?” Amanda laughed.
“’Cause the whole time I’ve known you I’ve been careful not to bug you about your love life. I wanted to respect it, but now—”
“Now she knows there’s a freak in you,” Robyn went on, rolling her eyes.
“If there’s anything I love more than my man and my art it’s inserting myself into people’s love lives. I’m gonna try to get the Big Pleasant’s phone number for my baby sister before the weekend is out.”
“Oh, hell no,” Robyn said, her eyes wide with sudden horror.
“Why not?” Helene replied. “He’s fine as hell. All three of them are.”
“Yeah, but he’s so big and he doesn’t smile. I’m down for a challenge, but I don’t want to crack that giant grumpy egg.”
“They’re like the Three Bears. One big, one medium, one mediumer. All pretty hot,” Helene said. She wasn’t wrong. While Sam was the shortest of his brothers, he was far from little. And unlike Baby Bear, everything about him was just right, Amanda thought before she immediately made herself swear she would never utter those words out loud to anyone.
“We can all agree that Sam and his brothers are very attractive,” Amanda said. “Now let us never speak of them again.”
“Fine,” Helene laughed. “Let’s talk about me instead!”
“Let’s!” Amanda agreed. “I don’t have anything to toast with at the moment, but here’s to you, our darling Helene. I am so happy to celebrate your happily ever after.”
“Amen!” Robyn said, her palms turned upward.
Helene smiled even wider, tears glinting in her eyes. “To me and my man.”
True, Amanda didn’t have time for anything other than keeping up with Dru, but in her heart, deep down, she hoped that one day she would find something close to what Helene and Ignacio had found together. Love, respect, and friendship.
Her phone buzzed with another text from Dru. She sighed.
One day, maybe. But clearly not now. And not with Sam Pleasant.
* * *
As soon as more of the wedding party and members of Helene’s family started to arrive, Amanda did what she did best: She faded into the background. Normally she’d volunteer her services as a friend of the bride, but she understood how these things worked, the hierarchy at play when it came to bridesmaids and friendships. Plus the planner and her assistants were also at the ready. Amanda would step up if needed but for now, it was time for family and close friends to bond with the bride and groom.
She followed the wedding party over to where the ceremony was being held. Rows and rows of chairs were lined up in what seemed to be an open field. Close by was a barn and there were a few horses grazing in a pasture. The whole setup was downright cinematic. Amanda had set her phone to vibrate—in case Dru had an emergency—and gave herself permission to just take it all in.
She grabbed a seat in the last row and watched as the minister and the wedding planner herded everyone into their proper place. Something brushing her leg caught her attention. She looked over as this large black Lab had made its way over to her.
“Well hello,” she cooed, scratching the
