It hurt that she was so easy to get over. That their relationship had meant so little to him but so much to her. Maybe if she hadn’t been in this limbo with the baby, they could still be together. Maybe even be happy. The limbo had made the relationship impossible. Or was the limbo just her excuse? Maybe she was the one with the problem. Why couldn’t she be happy?
“You look like shit, Mandy.” Mia stood in front of her.
“You scared me to death.” Amanda’s hand flew to her heart at the sight of her cousin. How had she gotten past the bell on the door without Amanda hearing? How long had she been standing there?
“I didn’t sneak in here. You were lost in your own little world.” Mia pulled a chair from the waiting area to the desk.
“Just daydreaming, I guess,” Amanda mumbled.
“I figured you were bored in here. So, I brought this?” Pulling out a bottle of whiskey, Mia grinned. Mia’s favorite alcohol was whiskey. Her cousin felt it was the answer to all life’s woes. And also, all of life’s celebrations.
Rolling her eyes at her cousin and her bottle, she said, “I am working.”
Mia laughed at her answer as she looked around the completely empty reception area. “Do you have cups?”
Amanda retrieved Styrofoam cups from by the coffee machine and returned to the desk with them. Mia filled them and set one in front of each of them. Amanda looked at hers. There was more alcohol in it then there was usually coffee. “I can’t drink while working.”
Looking at the clock, Mia said, “It will wait twenty-five minutes. Then you can drink it.”
Picking it up and pushing it further away from her, so she didn’t spill it, Amanda asked, “How are you, Mia?”
“Let’s put it this way, I am drinking at my doctor’s office. My life had so much going for it, and now I am stuck in this town. I was supposed to be getting out before the new year.” She drank half of her cup as she complained.
“I am not a doctor. And you have until tomorrow,” Amanda pointed out. Mia had always said she’d leave by the new year. That was tomorrow.
“I’ve given up. This town has me, and I can’t escape it. It has its hooks in me.” Mia used her fingers to mimic hooks.
“You are a Landstad Tiger, Mia, through and through. You won’t be happy anywhere else.” Now that they were adults, a Tiger was no longer just the school mascot, but now meant that you still lived in Landstad. Depending on if you stayed or left determined if it was a positive or negative term. As someone who came home, Amanda embraced it now.
“I want to go places, see the world.” Mia leaned back in her chair. “Instead, I’m a waitress.”
“You’re a business owner. You have been for five years now. That is more than just a waitress. But if you want to travel, do it. Take a week off and go somewhere. Better yet, take two off and see many places. Just because you live here doesn’t mean you can’t leave. Just come back.” Amanda hated to see her cousin depressed with her life. Mia had worked at the cafe for years before buying it. She had the perfect personality for what she did. Everyone loved going in to see her.
“Alone?” Mia raised an eyebrow.
“Mia, you’re never alone. A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet. It’s your personality,” Amanda pointed out.
“I am always alone. And lonely.” Mia finished her glass and poured another one.
“I know what you’re going through,” Amanda admitted.
“We should move in together, then we wouldn’t be alone. Get some cats.” Mia grinned at her.
“You’re allergic to cats, and you’re not really my type.” Amanda laughed at the image of them living together.
“What? Because I’m a girl or because I’m your cousin?” Mia laughed as she said it.
“Both.” Amanda shook her head at her.
“I love you too. I think you’re my favorite. It used to be Julia because she’s my age, but now it’s you because you’re the funny one.”
“Thanks, always the funny one.” Amanda picked up the glass of alcohol and smelled it, then set it back down.
“Mandy, you’re more than funny; you are smart and pretty for a girl I am related to, and so not my type,” Mia said with a laugh.
“Thanks. I know what I am. I let Kit and Julia be the pretty ones.” Amanda moved the glass again, this time toward Mia in case she accidentally drank it. In her mood, she just might.
“Well, don’t. They’re nothing special. So, they are tall and have all that long blonde hair in perfect waves. We are sexy with our stupid mom hips even though we’re not moms.” Mia slapped hers. She had inherited the same hips Amanda had since their moms were sisters.