Page 32 of Mending Fences
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Candace scooped the last of the mint ice cream into a bowl. “Best breakfast ever. I still can’t believe you kissed him.”
Mandy’s face burned anew. She’d spent all night agonizing over the kiss. Why her? Stupidly she’d searched for photos of Daniel with his old flames and analyzed the kisses. And the women. The girl at the store last night was right—a ponytailed-vintage-clothes-wearing high school teacher was slumming it. Mandy would never be as thin or as fashionable as any of those women. “I should have never bought the ice cream. Your advice has been less than helpful.”I want to know I am not a number.
“I thought my idea was quite original. Starting a ‘Have you kissed DC?’ website is brilliant. Think of the ad revenue.”
“No way am I becoming another fangirl. I already feel like a number. Why would I want to know which one?” Mandy eyed her phone. She would not check for a text. The phone vibrated, causing her to jump. She reached for it to the sound of Candace’s laughter.
“Careful, or you’ll choke on that ice cream.” Mandy warned, opening her phone.
Morning. Sleep well?
Sleep? Not exactly.Well enough. How was your drive?No way did she want to know how he’d slept.
Long. May I call?
Sure.
Mandy took her phone with the intention of hiding in her room. Slowed by her crutches, she was closer to the library when the phone rang, she sunk into one of the chairs.
“I wanted to let you know how sorry I am.”
“Sorry?” Candace’s speculations still on her mind, Mandy knew he would end up apologizing for the kiss. She wasn’t the type of girl he frequently dated.
“For taking you out in public. I shouldn’t have asked—”
As she’d expected, she wasn’t thin enough, pretty enough, or rich enough. Hurt coursed through her veins. “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.”
“That isn’t what I—”
Mandy used the calm voice she reserved for her third-hour students, all the doubts of her sleepless night tumbled out. “I think you’ve made it clear. Congratulations on adding another name to your list of conquests. Did you need the ‘girl next door’ to complete your bingo card? In New York, with any luck you can add an A-lister and an heiress.”
“Please, listen. That’s not—”
Tears filled her eyes, blurring the screen as she pressed End.
The phone rang again.
Mandy hit Ignore and tossed it into the other chair. The stairway to the loft beckoned her. Boot or no boot, it was a good place to hide.
No, Daniel didn’t want to leave a message on voicemail. He checked the time. The car service would be here any minute. He growled in frustration.
Amanda—that came out wrong. Please call me back.
He dialed Bonnie.
“This better be good to bother my Sunday, and if this is about your social life, I am out.”
“Just making sure you have what you need before I leave for two weeks.”
“Liar. You were calling to get me to send flowers to that poor girl. She is no Vandemark, and those vipers will tear her apart. Did you know her photo is plastered all over one of those fan sites, and she is dubbed the newest woman to hate? No, you clean this one up yourself. She deserves more than flowers from a secretary. And don’t forget your toothbrush.”
The line went dead. For a moment he considered calling Colin, but Colin would probably be even less inclined to help.
Amanda’s phone went to voicemail again. He tried a longer text.I wanted to be out with you. I was talking about the publicity because I took you to a place wherepeople took your photo. I feel like I threw you to the sharks. Please call. Things might get nasty. My friend Colin is a whiz with computers, and he can do some things to help electronically hide you. I didn’t mean for this to happen.
Daniel checked his shaving bag for a toothbrush, even though he hadn’t forgotten one in years.
