She put her phone down at the side of the wash basin and smiled at the attendant before Amanda smiled at her as she washed her hands.
“Are you hiding from Maddie?” she asked.
Tasha shook her head. “Not really, but I can’t see Jim being thrilled by her appearance tonight so I thought it may be best to avoid prolonged contact and he had already text me three times, so I needed to reply.” Her phone alert sounded again making them both laugh.
“Have you told him?”
“No, but I will when I get home, so if he asks you it won’t put you in an awkward position,” smiled Tasha.
“Thank you. I like you Tasha, but if I had to choose I would choose Mr Maybury and my job.”
Tasha nodded. There really was no reason for Amanda to have any loyalty to her. They might be forging a relationship, a friendship of sorts but they weren’t there yet and they didn’t have a history, unlike her and Jim. “Hopefully you won’t have to choose.” She smiled. “Do you still love Jim?”
Amanda looked rather taken aback by the unexpected question, but reluctantly attempted to answer as the bathroom attendant looked nowhere near them, but must have heard.
“I am not in love with Jim. He is my boss first and foremost and always was, but when I married him I thought it was forever and part of me wishes I could have made him love me more, like he loves you, but I couldn’t.” She sounded sad and Tasha really hoped that wasn’t because of any unresolved emotions she might be harbouring for Jim or they would never forge forward with their friendship. “I always thought I had enough love for both of us, but I didn’t. I do, however, still love him, buthimas in the Jim I married, not your Jim, the Jim he is now, because I don’t know that person like you do.” She grinned. “I am totally in love with Dom though.”
Tasha smiled back at her, relieved, and made a mental note to arrange lunch or coffee. Something for just the two of them, soon. Her phone alert sounded again and even that sounded impatient making her smile.
“You should reply,” said Amanda before the phone rang making them both laugh.
“James,” she answered.
“Oh baby, you are definitely up to no good,” he replied light-heartedly.
“I don’t know what you mean,” she protested.
“We’ll see. Answer my message, Miss Winters, and then I will see you later,” he ordered.
“Yes sir,” she shouted and instinctively saluted.
“That was a very sarcastic yes sir, honey, so we may have to work on that later, and I think you saluted sarcastically too.”
She laughed loudly. “Have you had a secret camera fitted to me?” She was amazed that he knew exactly what she was doing even when it hadn’t been planned and he was nowhere near.
“Ooh, that’s a good idea. Why didn’t I think of that?” Then quickly he said, “Reply to your message and then I will see you later. I love you, baby.”
“I love you too.” She hung up while Amanda stared at her.
She quickly replied to his latest message.
“Come on Amanda before he has time to phone back.” Tasha held the door open for her.
They had just returned to their table and as Tasha took her seat she noticed Sara and Abby exchange a smile.
“We thought you’d run out on us,” joked Abby.
“No,” was Tasha’s only response.
“Then it must have been Jim stalking you,” suggested Sara seriously.
“It was Jim, but he isn’t stalking me.” Tasha grinned.
“Have you told him about you know who?” asked Abby wide-eyed.
