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.Namely, the fact that it was time for Amanda to move on from her booty call with Scott.“It’s exciting, and all that, but now it’s starting to look a little…well, pathetic,” Jackie said, with her usual no-punches-pulled grace.Tina shrugged.“He was no dancer.You got him into that party because he wanted to get in,” Tina said, sounding irritated—not at Amanda, but at Scott.“He’s got all the advantages, and you’re the one who jumps when he whistles.”“Good grief.” Amanda rubbed her eyes.Flings were supposed to be fun, right? When did they institute a rule book? “We have sex.Great sex.”“You,” Jackie said, pointing a finger at her, “have cooked him dinner.”Tina gasped, shooting Amanda a shocked, accusatory look.Amanda let out a huff of indignation.“I just cooked you dinner, you twerps.”Jackie ignored that point.Tina grinned sheepishly, taking another bite from her brie-and-caramelized-onion on homemade sourdough bread.“You are a great cook,” she said, smiling happily.“You cook for a man, you might as well wear a T-shirt that says ‘Hi, I’m Interviewing for the Position of Wife.’ Honestly,” Jackie scoffed, “I ought to write a book.”“You should,” Amanda said eagerly, hoping to change the subject.“She’s right, though, hon,” Tina said, wiping her hands daintily on her napkin.“Cooking for a man is a husband-trapping exercise.We know it, and they know it.Granted, your cooking could probably land somebody, but it’s probably going to just make him take advantage of you.”“Why marry the girl when you can get the grilled cheese for free?” Jackie muttered darkly, before finishing her own sandwich.“At least I haven’t done his laundry,” Amanda piped up.“You guys act like I’m invertebrate, I swear to God.I’m not angling to be his wife.”“You want to be his girlfriend, though.” Tina got up, clearing away the dishes.Jackie nodded in agreement.“Okay.” She wasn’t going to get that one past these two anyway.“Yeah, maybe.It’d be nice.But I’ve been married, and I don’t need to repeat that right away.”“I don’t have any problem with you marrying,” Jackie amended, her voice growing much more gentle.“Just trying to marry the wrong guy, that’s all.If he doesn’t want to admit you’re his girlfriend, then he’s wasting your time.”“Unless I’m just trying to have some sex,” Amanda said, then threw her hands in the air.“Why do I keep having this conversation? I love you, Jacks, but you really need to save some of it for your advice columns, you know?”She got up, disgusted with the whole topic, and headed for her kitchen.She’d splurged and made chocolate petits fours, glazed with ganache and filled with raspberry jam and fresh whipped cream.“Have some dessert.”Tina considered her waistline, but indulged in one anyway, making very pleased yummy noises.Jackie considered her tiny, artistic cake carefully.Then she tilted her head.Amanda braced herself for the assault.“You miss the shop, don’t you?”Amanda blinked.She hadn’t thought about the shop in—well, a long time.“Sometimes.”“Not just the shop.Being around food.Being in business.”Amanda shrugged.“Sometimes,” she repeated.Now that it had been brought to her attention, she realized that what used to be stress had been replaced with a numb sort of ache.She wasn’t sure if that was better.Jackie turned to Tina.“Maybe it’s not the guy, after all,” she mused, as if Amanda weren’t even there.“Maybe it’s the job.”“Oh?” Tina said, pouring a cup of coffee for all of them.“She’s never not owned a business.She’s always run the show,” Jackie said slowly, frowning with thought.“Now she’s trying to get a handle on this Scott thing, but I think it’s more distraction.”“Feel free to open a forum on my life,” Amanda said caustically, unable to even enjoy her dessert.She grabbed a mug of coffee, its warm richness soothing.“You’re the one that told me not to open a business, remember?”“You are all or nothing.I should’ve seen it,” Jackie said ruefully.“You’re not the type to get a hobby.I guess it was silly to even suggest it.”“All right, that’s enough!” Amanda barked, slamming her mug down.Tina stared at her, wide-eyed, and Jackie finally gave Amanda her full attention.“Maybe I’m getting too involved with Scott.But that’s my problem, my business, and as much as I love you, I’m getting tired of being treated like your letter of the week at the advice column.”Jackie looked genuinely wounded.“I was just…”“Trying to help.I know.” Amanda forced her voice to lower.“I know I’m still not happy.And that scares me [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]