At the sound of approaching footsteps, I jerked my head toward them.Please be Erisha with the food.
But it was Amanda.
I smiled at the friendly face I hadn’t seen since the party. “Hey. I haven’t seen you all day. I thought you were off or something.”
Amanda’s eyes barely flickered toward me. “No, I’m here.” She bowed her head, tucking her hair behind her ear, and handed the DVDs in her hands to the DP. “Do you need anything else?”
He shook his head. “Thanks.”
It’d been flying eye daggers all around set today, but I didn’t expect that attitude from my own friend.Et tu, Brute?I stood. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”
Amanda pointed at the editing room, her feet fast on the way out. “Not now, Maggie. It’s already late, and I still have a good hour in there.”
I cut in her path, holding her arm. “I’m sure you can spare five minutes.”
Amanda’s eyes were smoky, and I was shocked by the hostility in them. The DP smiled uneasily and edged away.
“What the fuck is going on?” I asked.
Amanda shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Really? Then why are you avoiding me? And why are you giving me this fucking look?”
“Look, Maggie…we’ve been friends for almost a year. You’re one of the most talented people I’ve ever seen, and I’m very thankful to you for getting me this gig. But…”
“But what?”
Amanda’s gaze became harsh. “What you did at the party…was just low,” she whispered.
I looked around to see if someone was listening, but the room was ours. “What exactly did I do? I was ambushed with a marriage proposal I wasn’t ready for. I couldn’t have just said yes to please people.”
“It’s not just that. You… You ran away with another man,” Amanda said, her voice hushed. “Like it wasn’t enough that you broke Kyle’s heart, but you had to rub it in his face in front of everyone.”
My arm dropped. “I didn’t run away withanother man. I just ran away. Mike was the only one who wasn’t looking at me like I had shit on my face. You should’ve seen the way you looked at me when you didn’t find a ring on my finger. Even my father looked at me like I’d just killed someone.”
“I was shocked. We were all shocked.”
“Why? Because I was so happy with Kyle you didn’t see it coming?” I scoffed. “Or because someone like me can never find a better husband and I was insane to say no?”
“Maggie—”
“I thought you were my friend. I thought you were gonna be on my side.” I started away before I’d cry, but Amanda touched my arm, stopping me.
“I am your friend, and I’m sorry I’ve been a shitty one. I should’ve been there for you. And for the record, I don’t believe what they say about you hooking up with Mike for the movies. I mean, I’ve been there every step of the way. It’s just—”
“You like Kyle too much,” I interrupted again.
Amanda blushed, her lashes fluttering. “I… I… Um…”
“It’s okay.” I smiled, my shoulder lifting with a shrug. “He’s single now.”
“I would never do that,” Amanda said quickly.
“It’s better you than anyone else. You and I both know someone like him won’t stay single for long.”
He might have failed to make me feel loved or happy, but he was, at heart, a good man. He just didn’t know that love meant acceptance. And he didn’t have what it took to understand that life wasn’t made of sunshine and rainbows. Not my life anyway.
Now that I had Mike, that I, for the first time, felt like I was home, I wanted everyone I cared about to feel the same way.
