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Tuesday
7:30 p.m.
Sonia lay in bed in her grandmother’s house, watching the sun sink behind the roofs of Georgetown.
Her phone was filled with messages that she’d ignored. Trevor wanted to know when she’d share the news with the dance company about the funding. Elena asked if she was up for a free concert across town. Diana was checking in…a lot.
I feel like I fucked things up. Please call me. Ian’s worried too.
There was only one message she couldn’t seem to shake off.
Every time she listened to Brendan’s voicemail, she swore she’d delete it. Those apologies were empty, weren’t they? All his promises meant nothing.
After the fifth time, she didn’t need to replay it anymore. The words stuck in her head.
A single stargazer lily — the last survivor of the bouquet — stood in a wine bottle filled with water on her bedside table. Its scent perfumed the air. The lucky lipstick lay beside it.
Rolling over, Sonia smoothed down her faded tank top, a relic from dance camp in high school, and kicked at her threadbare sweatpants. For the past two days, she’d had no desire to move. Forget working out, going to classes, or planning the future of the dance company. All she had energy for was tormenting herself by picturing every possible sultry scenario between Brendan, Diana, and Ian.
How could she not have known?
How had Ian been willing to share the woman he’d been in love with since they were kids?
And how could Brendan be so invested in his brother’s love life without expecting anything for himself?
A tap on the door startled her.
“Come in,” Sonia mumbled.
The door creaked open. Grandma Adrienne entered, carrying a steaming mug of tea. Perching on the bed, she offered the mug to Sonia.
“Thanks.” Sonia breathed in the minty fragrance. Her grandma looked perfectly put together, as usual. Manicured, polished, every hair in place. Tactfully, she didn’t comment on Sonia’s ratty sweats and unwashed hair.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Adrienne asked.
“You know the basics. Brendan kept something big from me. I broke up with him. That’s all there is to say.”
“Has he tried to make amends?” Adrienne crossed her stiletto-heeled shoe over her knee.
“He called. Left a message saying he was sorry and he wanted to make it up to me.”
“And?”
Sonia set down the mug with a clink. “Do you know how many times I’ve heard that?” she exploded. “‘We’re so, so sorry, Sonia. It won’t ever happen again.’ I know that cycle of lies and excuses and cover ups. Mom and Dad—”
“Are a completely different matter,” Adrienne said calmly.
“You don’t know that.”
“I know my son. Your grandfather leaving affected him deeply. He still hasn’t fully acknowledged it. These things leave scars, darling. I hate that it got passed down to you. But this boy—”
“This boy will sweet-talk me if I pick up the phone,” Sonia interrupted. “He’ll make more empty promises. I won’t be able to resist. That’s the hold he has on me.”
“He’s probably hurting too.”
Why did her grandmother have to be so reasonable? “I doubt it. He’s a heartless bastard who manipulates everyone for his own benefit.”
“Really?” Adrienne regarded her.
