It wasn’t particularly romantic. It was the same kind of hand squeeze I’d had from a bunch of the guys at work, when I’d given them some Mummy Mandie common sense advice about their love lives.
But it made me feel better just the same. If I could makehimfeel better when he was down, even if it was just in a weird maternal sort of way, then I might be worth keeping around.
Wifey.
I could be with this man. I could see it. Only dimly, only vaguely, sure, but it was not outside the realms of possibility that I could be with this man.
‘All right,’ Murray finally said, what felt like an hour of awkward silence later. ‘We’re ready.’
‘And rolling,’ the director said. ‘In three, two…’
‘Are you all right?’ I asked. ‘You look so serious. You’re usually so happy and smiley whenever I see you.’
‘I’m all right,’ Romeo-Dylan said. ‘It’s just that being the Romeo is harder than I thought it’d be, you know?’
‘I see how you got confused,’ I said solemnly. ‘It soundssupereasy to have eleven girlfriends at the same time. An absolute piece of cake.’
He laughed. ‘I missed you these last few days, Amanda,’ he said.
‘Really?’ I asked.
‘Really,’ he confirmed.
I believed him. His eyes were honest as well as kind.
Wifey.
Me and him. Him and me.
Definitely… maybe?
‘Well, you’d better keep me around then,’ I said, smiling my brightest smile again and hoping like hell I’d done enough.
I had. This time, anyway.
‘Amanda, I want to know if your heart is the other half of mine,’ Romeo-Dylan said, holding my hands and looking into my eyes. ‘Will you take this necklace and commit to finding out with me?’
‘Of course I will,’ I said. ‘Thank you.’
There was a knowing smirk on Lily’s face as I walked back to the bleachers.Told you that you were a wifey.
I fingered the half-heart pendant. I’d got the second necklace of the ceremony. Another early necklace – a classic sign that the Romeo was really into you.
God, it felt good to be liked.
You rely too much on validation from other people,Jac whispered in my mind.
Well, I have to,I wished I’d said to Jac.I never get it from you.
At the end of the ceremony, only Marija and Jess K wereleft standing, waiting for the final necklace. I was a little surprised that Marija was one of the last two, given Lily had said she was a wifey too, but not very. Romeo-Dylan had looked so serious after they talked. They’d probably had some momentous conversation that would end up being a big part of the episode. Murray or Suzette or someone had probably made him leave her until last. It was ~drama~, yet again.
‘Juliets, this is the last necklace for this evening,’ Z said. ‘If you don’t receive it, then I’m sorry, but your journey ends here.’
Romeo-Dylan picked the necklace up. He took a deep breath.
‘Jess K,’ he said.
I blinked in surprise.
