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But I already know the answer.
“I don’t want to go alone.” Her eyes narrow. “You already know why.”
“Sofi…”
She lifts a hand. “I don’t want to hear whatever it is you have to say. You can’t relate to what I’m going through. Even if it happened to you, you’d never understand.”
“And why is that?”
She shrugs, her expression growing prim. It’s the snotty look she used to give me as a child when she was disappointed in me. “Because you’re not following God.”
Ice fills my veins, and the world around me grows a shade darker. Was there really warmth between us a moment ago? I hardly even remember.
I refuse to accept crumbs from her as if that’s all I deserve. If she wants to ostracize me from her life because of my lack of faith, it’s her loss.
That she doesn’t feel the loss as acutely as I do is painful, but that pain will fade.
I’m resilient.
I’m resilient because I choose to be.
ChapterSixteen
Mariana
I’ve hardly seen Brandon at all this week. At the very least, I can call him a man of his word. He said our relationship would be different from now on.
We’re as good as strangers now.
Today, I’ll have to change that, however little he might like it. I had a conversation with Harper this morning about a retreat he’s planning to go on next week. He’s leading most of the conference sessions and will hardly have a single moment of free time. He needs his PA with him.
But he told Harper he’s planning to go alone.
I can’t have it. If he really wants us to be strangers, he should have fired me.
He’d never do that, though. It would require too many lies. He certainly won’t tell my dad what happened between us, but he has too much integrity to invent a lie that would save my ass from looking like a fallen woman.
We’re stuck together for the next two weeks and for this retreat.
My heart pounds as I knock on his office door. When I walk inside, he’s sitting at his desk looking grim-faced,
“Can I talk to you about something?” I ask.
His posture grows rigid, like he’s bracing himself. I force a smile as I sit on the chair in front of his desk. I’ll do anything to lighten the tension between us, so I adopt a cheerful voice. “Harper told me you’re planning on going to the retreat alone.”
His eyes widen minutely. He takes a moment to answer. “I can handle everything on my own.”
I sigh. “I don’t think you can. I think you need your PA with you.”
“Mariana, you know it’s not right for us—”
“Not right for us to what?” His head jerks back at my raised voice. “Be alone together? What’s going to happen after Daisy’s maternity leave is over? Will we always have to avoid each other? People in my family will pick up on it.” I huff, shaking my head. “They’ll assume it’s my fault.”
His eyes flash. “I’d never let them think that. I won’t avoid you forever. I just… I need time.”
“You’ll have until next week.” I stand up from my chair, hoping I look like a boss babe who won’t take no for an answer. “You need me at that retreat.”
He frowns. “I’ll be fine on my own.”
