Being Amber by Sylvia Ryan Page A

felt good hearing the sound of her mom’s voice, but it was also a harsh reminder of what she’d lost and of what other people think about her now. She was still the same person, but somehow the Amber label changed her in other people’s eyes.
    She and Jordan talked about life and the curves it threw until Xander got home and then Jordan took off, stating she had her own plans for the evening.
    Xander had invited Rock and Emily over for a series marathon. Gradually, more and more old programming became available to watch through the video feeds. Some of the shows were so old it was like watching history. She looked forward to hanging out and watching the shows together, marathon style. She’d done it with friends in Sapphire and it was always a blast laughing about the language and clothes and drooling over the food people enjoyed back then. Plus, spending time with Emily always seemed to make her feel better, lighter inside, and that feeling was one she’d craved since she arrived in Amber.
    When Emily and Rock arrived carrying food and drink, a storm of activity arrived with them. Emily sported a devilish smile, as always, and Rock oozed intimidation with his size, tattoos and rough, throaty voice. It took a lot to overshadow Rock’s presence, but Emily did it easily.
    They settled in quickly with all four of them sprawled on the bed, and started watching Sex in the City . The series was about the opulent, narcissistic lifestyle of women of the early twenty-first century.
    When they paused the marathon so the men could get some food together for all of them to munch on, Jaci tried to gauge whether she and Emily were still within earshot. The men were in the kitchen making snacks, drinking beer and totally engrossed in their conversation.
    Jaci had enough of a buzz to ask Emily the questions she’d been holding on to. They’d moved to the small round table on the other side of the bar, dangerously close to where the men were. But curiosity won out and Jaci went for it.
    “I need to pick your brain,” she said, leaning in toward Emily.
    “Shoot,” she said loudly. Jaci’s subtlety was lost on her.
    “When Jordan took me around the building today, there were some apartments that had groups of people having sex and some with other people watching them have sex like it’s no big deal. This is totally new to me. You need to fill me in. Jordan said it was normal. No big deal?”
    “It’s not a big deal, not in Circle City anyway. I don’t think it’s that common with the married couples in Amber outside of Circle City. Most couples quit the group thing, if they were even into it in the first place, especially after they’re married.”
    “Do you and Rock?”
    “Once in a while we’ll do something different than only the two of us. Actually, it’s the only thing holding me back from saying yes to Rock’s marriage proposals. I’m not sure I’m going to be satisfied with one person sexually right now, or for the rest of my life.
    “Oh, my wounded heart,” Rock cut in.
    Emily looked up with a smirk and a fiery twinkle in her eye as she locked her gaze on her boyfriend.
    “I’m going to get you to say yes this year, Em, so get your last flings in while you can.” Rock’s voice softened. “Plus, baby, you know I got more than enough in my repertoire to keep you going for the rest of our lives together.”
    Emily rolled her eyes and ignored him. “Where were we?”
    “Group sex,” Xander prompted in a gravelly voice.
    Jaci’s cheeks burned with a rising blush. “Okay, so I just walk in…and join them? Even if I don’t know them?”
    “Yeah.” Emily shrugged.
    Jaci was silent for a few moments, trying to fully process the information. “And it’s totally no big deal?”
    “No.”
    “What part are you hung up on?” Xander asked.
    “Every part. The whole perspective on sex here is completely contradictory from the way I was raised in Sapphire. You guys are so, ‘It’s a biological need.