There was nothing about spring in Austin that Amanda didn't like, especially this year. She'd seen Derek at least once each month since New Year's Eve, the bluebonnets that covered the state were stunning, and Jenna was back from LA.
"I know I keep saying it," Amanda said to Jenna as they sat at a table by the window in The Fix, "but I'm just so ridiculously happy you're back. Even if the reason does suck."
Jenna had moved to LA a while back to take a job with a marketing company. That whole situation had been a massive fail, and now she was back. A fact that made Amanda positively giddy.
"It did suck," Jenna admitted, taking a sip of her Loaded Corona, a specialty at The Fix and one of Jenna's favorites. "I ended up broke and coming home with my tail between my legs."
"You came home," Amanda said, leaning over to put her hand on Jenna's. "That's the important part. Besides, look at you now. A partner in The Fix and doing the exact job you wanted to do. Marketing and Event Planning. I think you must have some pretty good karma clinging to you, my friend."
At that, Jenna smiled. "It is pretty cool. And completely unexpected. I still can't believe it."
"Can't believe what? That Reece and Brent would pull you in? The three of you are like the planets, the sun, and the space between. A unit, you know? Of course they wanted you in. Especially when they need you to do the marketing. That's not their thing--Reece is all about management and Brent's deal is security--and it's sure not Tyree's."
Tyree Johnson was the original owner of The Fix on Sixth. And Amanda felt like a complete idiot for not realizing that the place was in financial trouble. But apparently it was--and continued to be--because even though Tyree had taken on three partners in Jenna, Brent, and Reece, he'd still publicly announced that unless The Fix was firmly in the black come New Year's Eve, then he'd sell the place. And Amanda knew the market well enough to know that the most likely buyer was Bodacious, a corporate chain bar that not only had an infantile business model, but also served truly crappy food and watered down drinks.
Brent and Reece had bought into the partnership, providing working capital for the rest of the year. And Jenna had come in on her skills alone. But she'd already proved her worth as far as Amanda was concerned. "The Man of the Month contest really is brilliant," she told Jenna. "And it was all your idea. Although I think I provided some wisp of inspiration."
The competition centered around hot men vying for a slot in a calendar. Which mean that soon there would be shirtless men on stage. Which meant more women in the bar. And that meant more drinks sold.
Ergo, the brilliance.
Jenna laughed. "I just hope I can pull it off."
The contest was still in the planning stages, with the first competition a few weeks away. "It'll be a huge success. You'll see."
She leaned back in her seat, then took a sip of her Jalapeno Margarita. "And the rest?"
Jenna's eyes widened. "What rest?"
"You and Reece. You're really going to tell me nothing's going on?"
Jenna rolled her eyes. "Yes. I'm really going to tell you that. He's my best friend. Since childhood. End of story."
"Uh-huh."
"Please drop it."
"Fine." Amanda had pulled that thread before, and she'd undoubtedly pull it again. She could let it go for now.
"How about you?" Jenna countered. "You're dating someone, aren't you?"
"Oh, please. No." Amanda fought the urge to cross her fingers under the table. "You know me better than that."
"Yup, I do. And you haven't been talking about your conquests nearly as much since I got back. So, what? Do you have a guy tucked away in your attic somewhere?"
"Actually, yes. I take him out and dust him off about once a month."
"I'm serious," Jenna said.
Amanda blinked at her friend, the picture of innocence. "And you think I'm not?"
"Fine. Whatever." She finished her drink. "Another?"
"Sure," Amanda said. For a second, she thought about telling Jenna the real truth. About the man whose presence she craved. Who made her feel special and even loved.
But she didn't. The feelings were true, but they were scary. And acting on them meant change. And right now, between her and Derek, she didn't want anything to change at all.
* * *