"You're incapable of being a horrible person. I'm capable of lusting after my brother-in-law for seven years."
"Ex brother-in-law."
"And then at the first opportunity, I screwed him until I couldn't move."
A bright red drink was set before Leah and an enormous plate of nachos topped with fragrant, steaming chicken placed in the center of the table.
"Who did you screw?" their regular server, Tomás, asked.
"None of your business," Amanda said.
"Her sister's ex-husband," Leah said at the same time.
The woman's infallible openness could be a liability at times.
"Ooh," Tomás said. "Sounds scandalous. Does your sister know you're screwing her ex?"
Amanda shook her head with marked exaggeration. "Noooo. She'd flip."
"Only because she's a mean, selfish whore," Leah said.
Tomás jerked back and blinked at Leah. The sweet, shy Asian woman-with her narrow frame, pink sweater set, and smart black-rimmed glasses-didn't seem the type to call others names.
"Who could make my life miserable," Amanda added.
Leah leaned closer and laid a hand on her shoulder. "If he's not worth it, then you should back out now."
Tomás nodded his agreement, as if he had suddenly earned a degree in relationship counseling.
"But he is worth it. He's so worth it." Amanda dropped her head back down into her crossed arms. "Argh! I'm so conflicted," she said to the floor.
Her cellphone, which was sitting on the table, dinged as a text message arrived.
"Not for long," Leah said and giggled.
Amanda lifted her head to find Leah eying her cellphone screen and part of the message that was openly displayed for a few seconds before the screen went dark.
"Snoop," Amanda accused before lifting her phone and typing in her password so that she could read the message Leah had already seen.
"Is it from the guy?" Tomás asked, standing on tiptoe to try to read over her shoulder.
"Don't you have work to do?" Amanda asked, tilting her phone so he wouldn't be able to see the screen, and elbowing him in the chest to get him to back off.
"Probably," Tomás said, "but it will wait."
As Amanda read her message from Jacob, a smile spread across her face and her heart fluttered in her chest.
I hope I find you waiting in my bed when I get home. Nothing would make me happier than holding the most beautiful woman in the world while I sleep.
She couldn't resist teasing him in her reply. Are you sure your bed is big enough for you, me, AND Pamela Anderson?
It was a running joke between them. When she'd surprised him backstage in San Antonio, he'd pretended to think it was Pamela Anderson who'd come up behind him and put her hands over his eyes.
Probably. He texted back. But I want you. Only you.
Leah was right-as usual. Amanda was no longer conflicted in the slightest. If Tina couldn't handle the thought of her big sister making the moves on her ex-husband, well, tough titty,kitty. And what Tina didn't know couldn't hurt her.
"So you're going, right?" Leah said.
"Could you say no to him?" The man was even more gorgeous than he was a master of smooth talking.
Leah chuckled. "It wouldn't even cross my mind."
"Living dangerously," Tomás said before he left them to eat their nachos in peace.
Are you sure you want to see me tonight? I figured you'd be tired. She sent that text to give him an out if he wanted one.
An instant later her phone buzzed. Can't you take a hint?
She chuckled. Another running joke between them. Hint taken. I'll see you when you get home. Though sleeping is not my favorite thing to do in your bed. ;-)
He replied, Hint taken.
She set her phone aside and glanced at Leah, who was slurping her strawberry margarita through a straw.
"How's summer school going?" Amanda asked as she scooped cheese and chicken onto a chip.
Leah searched their plate of shared nachos for a chip with minimal cheese. "You know those kids that you privately celebrate when they're absent?"
All teachers had them. Whether the student in question was a troublemaker, a mouthy brat, or the teacher just had a plain old personality clash with a kid, every teacher had a few students on her roster that drove her absolutely nuts. One mark of a good teacher was never letting the student know you'd like to strangle them.
"Yep," Amanda said.
"That's my entire class this summer."
"You always find a diamond in the rough and make a personal connection. Change a life forever," Amanda said. She knew that was what excited Leah about teaching.
"At this point, it isn't looking promising. Maybe it's time I took summers off. It's only two weeks into summer term and I'm already drained."