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“Of course he remembers!” Jonah brandished the wooden spoon. “We talked about this last week, Yas. I said I was throwing this party for you, and he said ‘right on.’ O’Brian never forgets a party.”
Brendan nodded agreeably. He’d completely forgotten.
“You guys are just in time for chocolate fondue.” Yasmin looked him and Sonia up and down. “Cute dress.”
“Most of us were interns together a few years ago,” Brendan explained to Sonia, who seemed not to hear him. “We go way back.”
And he and Yasmin had had a thing while they were interns. He still remembered her exasperated voice as she stood half-naked in his doorway:Is this a relationship or not?And his response,Let’s just have fun together. Okay? You’re a lot of fun.
Sonia turned toward him. “I should go,” she said between clenched teeth. “We can do this another night. I didn’t know you had plans.”
“Don’t go,” Brendan answered, his voice equally low.
“Come on. I’m making chocolate fondue! What’s your name?” Jonah pointed the wooden spoon at Sonia, making for her like an eager puppy.
“This is Sonia. She’s a dancer, and she’s smart enough to stay out of politics.” Brendan beamed around at the group, but he had the sudden urge to scoop her up, run with her to his room, and lock the door.
“Sonia! Great to meet you. Any friend of Brendan’s is a friend of mine.” Jonah held out his hand. Sonia shook it mechanically.
Brendan sucked in a breath. “We’d love to join you all, but we’re going to excuse ourselves. Happy birthday, Yasmin.”
Jonah looked disappointed. Yasmin, along with some of the other guests, eyed them speculatively. There were a few smirks.
“Well, have fun,” Jonah said, perking up as he glanced back at the kitchen. “We’ll save you some fondue.”
Brendan walked Sonia down the hall. He wasn’t sure how to touch her. Firmly and reassuringly? Carefully? When she wasn’t being blunt and unfiltered, the woman was a locked box. It drove him crazy that he couldn’t read her.
He closed his bedroom door behind them. “Well, that was unexpected.”
Sonia freed herself from his grasp and went to the window, staring out.
“You okay?” He stayed where he was, by the bookshelf and the TV screen.
“I’m sorry.” She dug the heels of her hands abruptly into her eyes.
His throat tightened. “About what?”
“My parents would throw these parties, and they — ugh.”
Her parents? It was the first time he’d heard Sonia mention them. Brendan waited for her to go on.
“I don’t do well with unexpected things,” she finally said, still refusing to look at him. “I don’t like surprises. I’m not good with new people.”
Faintly, the strains of twenty-five people singing “Happy Birthday”came through the door.
Brendan took a step toward her. “It’s cool. I’d rather be in here with you.”
“So we can fuck,” she murmured, more to herself than him. “I’m sorry. I can’t tonight. I’m too worked up.” The words came out jerkily. “I guess I’ll leave now. Since, you know, that’s what I came for. There’s no reason for me to hang around.”
“What? No.”
They stared at each other.
“Why don’t you stay until the party dies down,” Brendan said carefully. “That way, you won’t have to walk past all those terrible people out there.”
“I don’t really think they’re terrible,” Sonia said quickly.
“I know.”
