AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It was good. I mean, I don’t intend to do this forever, but I really think I’m going to enjoy it for the rest of the summer. I’m hoping to make some friends, since I’m going to be a permanent resident.”
Sophie drove like a grandma. She looked both ways like four times before pulling out of the parking lot. She was only in Camden for two more days then she was returning to Cambridge. I was going to miss her company. My parents had returned to Boston and I knew I was going to be lonely. I’m social by nature. That’s why I had figured retail or waitressing would be a good fit for me. I need people around.
“I can’t believe you got Bradley to cough up a house for you. You have mad skills, Bel.”
Except in bed. I wrinkled my nose. I had spent the last week fixating on sex with Christian and wondering if it had been an anomaly, my emotions so high I was able to fully let go, or if I would be able to move forward and have quality sexual relationships. Maybe it was just Christian and me. Maybe it was just a moment in time. Either of those would be horrible frankly, because then I was doomed to a life of lame sex.
“That wasn’t mad skills,” I told her, holding my purse in my lap and scouring the parking lot for Christian’s car. He still had two more hours on his shift, which is why his offering me a ride made no sense. I couldn’t figure him out. I shouldn’t even care. He was a liar and a cheat. “I dangled Bradley’s future political career in front of him.”
“That’s ridiculous. How many men in politics have sexual scandals in their past or their present? Dozens.”
I shrugged. “So what? The threat worked. By the way, why didn’t you tell me Cain and Ali dated?”
Now it was her turn to shrug as she drove. “I don’t know. It never came up. Why would I want to talk about Ali?”
“Because that’s what my friends do. We talk about everything over and over, and fixate, and dissect it. If I had been in your shoes I would have talked to you about it.” Then I wouldn’t have been blindsided by Christian. I would have known he was a dirtbag who had slept with his brother’s girlfriend.
“I don’t know what to tell you. It felt irrelevant to me at the time. My intention was only to have sex with Cain, not develop a relationship with him.”
Everything Sophie said was so damn logical. “Well. I wouldn’t have liked Christian so much if I had known.”
Sophie was silent for a second, then she said quietly, “That’s very revealing.”
“What do you mean?”
She glanced over at me. “You like him.”
“Well…I don’t anymore. I can’t because he’s gross.” She was confusing me.
“He didn’t lie to you. Or to anyone. He might not have shown the best judgment or restraint, but he didn’t cheat with Ali. And I imagine he regrets it profoundly.”
“Are you on his side?” I asked, annoyed. “Shouldn’t you be on Cain’s side?”
“Cain hasn’t said a word to me in two weeks.”
That made me feel bad. “I’m sorry, Soph. I really am.”
“Don’t feel sorry for me. You’re the one who ran out of the church in your wedding gown because your fiancé is an asshole.”
That made me laugh. “We’re a mess.”
But her words made me think. A lot. I turned it around and around in my head. I could easily picture Ali lying and manipulating Christian. I had heard and seen his regret and guilt for his falling-out with his brother.
And I knew he wasn’t a complete dirtbag. I saw what a fantastic father he was. Maybe I should stop projecting my fear over being unable to read people (hello, Bradley) onto Christian and trust that he was actually forthright with me.
Or I could sit on the couch with Bella and a pint of ice cream, which is exactly what I did.
—
Most nights I could feel Christian’s eyes on me. He watched me like we had unfinished business, which to my mind, we shouldn’t have. Though we might, because Sophie was right. I had liked Christian, and I could admit I wanted to still like him. Maybe I had been too hasty, too judgmental. Sophie had forgiven Cain. He had shown up at her apartment in Cambridge and they were talking, seeing each other on the weekends when he had a day pass from rehab.
Sophie was the smart one. Maybe I should take a page from her book.
I had no idea what Christian was thinking though because he never said anything. We had casual conversation. He said things like, “How is your sister? I heard Cain went and visited her.”
Or, “You’re really good at this job, Bella. You’re a pretty impressive person, do you know that?”
It mattered more than it should.
