No Strings Attached(49)

Josh and Charlotte were the one couple they’d known since college that was still together. They hadn’t been Micky and Darren’s best friends as such, but there was a lingering sympathy and concern, and on and off, they had spent a lot of time together over the years.

“I’m sorry. I can’t next Saturday,” Micky said. “I’m throwing my own dinner party.”

“Oh.” Darren sounded a little deflated.

“Who’s coming, Mom?” Olivia asked.

“Your auntie Amber. Kristin, my boss at The Pink Bean, and her wife Sheryl.” Micky conveniently left out Martha. There was no point in telling them about her when they didn’t know who she was.

He didn’t say it out loud, but after what Amber had told her about Darren and the inquiry he had made about Micky, it was as though she could hear him think: an all-ladies affair, huh?

“How’s Amber?” Darren asked instead.

“She’s still single as well,” Olivia said. Micky couldn’t help but wonder what her daughter meant by that.

“Amber is doing just fine. She hopes to open her own yoga studio soon. She’s going on a month-long retreat to India first, to deepen her practice as she puts it,” Micky said.

“She’s a yoga teacher?” Lisa asked.

Micky was surprised Olivia didn’t treat her to a very ironic Duh at that obvious question. “Yes.”

“Expert, more like,” Darren said. “Amber doesn’t do things halfheartedly. She’s probably the best teacher in Sydney by now.”

“I would love to try out one of her classes some time. My favorite teacher at my current studio left, and it just hasn’t been the same since,” Lisa said.

Lisa could want to do yoga all she wanted. She could even take Amber’s classes, but Micky would make damn sure she didn’t end up on the mat next to her tiny, probably ridiculously flexible body. She looked as though she could bend her legs all the way around her neck without exerting any effort.

“Darren has all the information,” she said.

“Amber and I should talk. I’ve been looking for some alternative investment opportunities,” Darren said.

He must have it really bad if Lisa got him to consider investing in a yoga studio. What was next? Doing yoga himself? Either way, Amber would never take Darren’s money.

Micky just quirked up her eyebrows and gave him a quizzical look.

Then Lisa looked at her watch. “We’d best get going, babe,” she said. “My parents are expecting us.”

Upon hearing that Darren was already meeting Lisa’s family, Micky concluded that, once you’ve reached a certain age, matters progressed much more swiftly—and she was lagging behind.





CHAPTER TWENTY





Amber had come over early to help Micky prepare for the dinner party. At least, that was what she called it. In Micky’s eyes, it felt more like making sure enough vegetables and vegan-friendly dishes were served, even though Amber was the only vegan.

However, Amber’s help was responsible for Micky being able to spend a little longer in the bathroom sprucing herself up before the other guests arrived. Working at The Pink Bean five days a week, and being on her feet for a couple of hours every day, had instigated a minor but not insignificant bout of weight loss, and Micky fit back into a dress she hadn’t worn in ages but that had made the transfer from Mosman to Darlinghurst, because you just never knew. She was so pleased that her prediction about fitting into the dress again one day had been proven, that she descended the stairs with confidence, and when the bell rang and all three of the guests arrived at the same time, she let herself be pecked on the cheek and complimented about her looks unselfconsciously.

After introducing Martha to Amber and pouring everyone drinks, and reminding them that her cooking skills were more homely than culinary, Micky relaxed and raised her glass, content to be having this dinner at her new home. It was the first dinner party she had thrown since moving there, since leaving her old life behind. It was, though perhaps small in the grand scheme of things, a big event for her. A step in the right direction.

“Thank you all for coming,” she said. She didn’t add that it felt like a fresh start for her to have a bunch of lesbians in her home, of which one was a potential love interest.

Martha was dressed casually in a linen blouse and jeans, which didn’t stop her from looking good. She was probably one of those women who could throw on a rug and still look fabulous.

“To being here with you and not at my ex-husband and his new girlfriend’s dinner party,” she added, when they clinked the rims of their glasses together.