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“Yes.”
“Was it Mr Burton?”
“Yes.” Amanda couldn’t help but smile, remembering how it had felt to be young and caught up in the spell of first love. And then, noticing the way Tracey appeared to be hanging on her every word, she had an idea. “Is there someone?”
“Well… yes- no, no, I shouldn’t be telling you- I- I have to go!” Cheeks tinged pink with embarrassment, Tracey wheeled, but Amanda seized her arm before she could make it off the bed.
“Hey! Wait a second. Come on, you can tell me...”
“No, it’s embarrassing.”
“Is he good-looking?”
“Yes.”
“Is he a boy at Strode?”
“No.”
“Oh…Do I know him? Does he live nearby?”
“Y-yes.”
“Close?”
“Very.” Tracey was looking at the floor and seemed to be studying the plain, simple carpet with all the scrutiny of a master architect as her cheeks burned crimson and she twisted the bedspread with white knuckles.
Was she afraid? What did Tracey have to be afraid of? She’d gushed over boys with her before. One of the perks of being a cool parent was that your daughter’s friends came to you for advice. Tracey had been Camila’s best friend since they started secondary school, so she already knew the types of boys she was attracted to-
Then the penny dropped. “Ah. I see.”
Tracey stiffened, and she had to force herself to meet Amanda’s eyes. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights. “I’m so sorry, I never meant-”
“It’s fine sweetie. I understand.” She had caught Tracey sneaking peeks before, but she had always dismissed it. With his tall, broad build, thick waves of sandy blonde hair, cobalt eyes, and a biostructure that would make a stone mason weep with envy, it came as no surprise to Amanda that her husband caught considerable amounts of attention from the women around him. Why should this hormone-wracked teen be any different? He was a very good-looking man. What red-blooded woman wouldn’t enjoy the odd bit of voyeur pleasure? It was half the reason Amanda, though not prone to jealousy, enjoyed taking every opportunity to flaunt herself on his arm whenever they went out. Marking her territory, as he would put it. She forced a reassuring smile. “And you don’t have to worry about a thing…”
“What do you mean?”
Amanda put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Tell me honey, have you ever heard of The Lifestyle?”
“Y-you mean swinging?”
She nodded an affirmative. “That’s one word for it, yes.”
Tracey nervously licked her lips, the pink of her tongue darting out across her soft peach-coloured mouth as she tried to find the words. “So…you’re? I mean, you and Mr Burton are...have?”
“Swung?” Amanda offered, bringing an adorable tinge of pink to the girl's otherwise flawless, milky, pale skin. “Yes, well, we’ve never been, what you’d call practising, but some old friends of ours in Hereford were. They’ve always been very open about it, but were careful to make sure it never became an issue. They understood not everyone agreed with their lifestyle choice. Well, over drinks one night we got to talking. A little too much wine, the odd touch here, a flirtatious remark there. One thing just sort of lead to another. It never became a regular thing, but we’d go around now and again. They introduced us to other practising couples they thought would be a good fit for us. Some worked. Others, not so much. These days, though, we only really partake in the occasional long weekend retreats.”
“But what about Camila?” Tracey cut in. “She’s okay with you two doing this? I can’t believe it. I’m her best friend and she never said anything about you two being into any of this to me.”
“Because she doesn’t know. No one around here does. It’s none of their business.”
“But you want me to-”
“Sweetie, I don’t want you to do anything. I understand this is a lot to take in and if talking about it makes you uncomfortable, then forget it. We’re not talking about joining a cult. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, and if you want to stop, you only have to say. It won’t make any difference to how we feel about you.”
“But if I-” Tracey cut in, her voice panicked as if she was suddenly afraid the offer might be withdrawn at any minute. “I am. If I’m okay with… with everything, you’d be willing to, to let me, to let me and Mr Burton…”
“Why not? It’s nothing we haven’t done before.” Amanda gave the girl’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze and leaned down to press a soft kiss to her lips. “And besides, a girl’s first time should be special, with someone who knows what he’s doing. And Mark is very, very good.”
