Bachelor Number Five (The Bachelor Series, Volume 1) by Kenneth Rosenberg Page A

Amanda hopped up to turn off the stove.  She poured water into each of the mugs in turn.  When she’d put the kettle back, the two women sat facing each other, dipping their teabags up and down.  Amanda scooped a bit of sugar into her mug and then waited while Lauren used the cream.  “How long ago did all of this stuff happen between you and Peter, anyway?” Amanda asked.
    “Not that long.”
    “So it’s still pretty fresh, huh?  How long have you been together with Darren?”
    “We hooked up a week later.”
    “Sooo… kind of a rebound thing?”
    “Maybe.  He was after me for a long time before that.  I guess after what happened with Peter it was nice to be appreciated, you know?”
    “Yeah.”
    “It’s not like I don’t love Darren.  I do, and I understand that it’s disrespectful to still be upset by what happened with Peter.  I just…  I’m not completely over it yet, what can I say?”
    “How are things between the two of them?”
    “They don’t have any problems with each other at all.  I kind of wish they did sometimes.  I think it would make me feel better.”
    “You seem to want everybody else to hate Peter as much as you do.”
    “Is that wrong?”
    Amanda stirred her tea and took a sip.  “Can I make a comment that you might not want to hear?”
    “Are you sure that’s such a good idea?”
    “Not really.”
    Lauren picked up her own tea and blew across the top without answering.
    “The only reason you’re still mad at Peter is because you still have feelings for him,” said Amanda.  “You need to let it go.”
    Lauren clenched her jaw tight.
    “Focus on what you have, not on what you don’t,” Amanda continued.
    “That’s not so easy when I see these other girls coming out of there.  And then you start getting all chummy with him.  If I saw you coming out of there one morning I think I’d just about die.”
    “You’re not going to see me coming out of there.”
    “Promise?”
    “Yes!  I promise!”
    Lauren lifted her tea mug in the air and the two of them tapped their rims together.  “I’ll drink to that.”
    Amanda took another sip of her tea and then sighed.  Now she’d have to really be careful.  She hoped this was a promise that she’d be able to keep.  Then again, maybe she’d rather not.

Chapter Fourteen
     
    As she settled in to watch the latest episode of The Bride , Amanda was increasingly anxious about the way the show was playing out.  If number five survived the cut tonight, he might actually end up marrying this woman in just a few more weeks.  It was coming down to the wire.  He seemed the obvious choice, though of course Piper had a difference of opinion.  Markus, too.  If Grant did end up marrying the bride on live television, Amanda wasn’t sure she could watch.  It was hard enough seeing the two of them as she did now, cavorting together in a hot tub.  Amanda consoled herself by catching glimpses of his muscular biceps and his smooth, firm pecs.  What she wouldn’t give to make those pecs her own…  Maybe someday it would happen.  She wasn’t about to let go of the dream just yet, far-fetched as it might be.
    When the final scene came on, Amanda was riled by inner turmoil.  Four bachelors in black tuxedos stood in a row as the bride appeared at the top of the stairs, invitations in hand.  Before the first invitation even went out, Amanda’s phone chimed.  She picked it up and saw a message from Piper.  Is it over yet?
    Amanda quickly typed back.  No!  Don’t say anything!   Only the final episode was to be broadcast live.  With the difference in time zones, Piper already knew the outcome of this one, but Amanda didn’t want her to ruin the suspense.  She put her phone back down just as bachelor number seven was chosen to remain.  Next came number four.  In the end it came down to numbers five and nine.  Either Amanda or Piper was going to be disappointed.  Amanda drew in her breath and held it.  The