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He hadn’t wasted any time when she’d blown him off. A few ignored calls—she’d deleted two messages from him without listening this morning when she woke up—and he was back in Nicole’s arms. In fact, these pictures were probably taken before that. Maybe the messages she’d skipped were brush offs. She’d never know now. That was probably best.
Sophie tossed the paper in the trash and glanced down at her phone. Who was the unknown number? A reporter, looking for a quote from the rebound screw? Nicole, calling to rub her face in the reunion. She dialed her voicemail and listened with a clenched jaw.
It was neither. Instead, Carl’s usually jovial voice informed her that they needed to talk. “I know what you think, Sophie. Or, at least, I know what I’d think if I were you. But at least hear me out.”
She deleted the message, not about to let Carl sweet talk her into... whatever it was he wanted to sweet talk her into. The comedian had a way with words and could be persuasive. Hadn’t he been the one to convince her to give Henry a second chance? Well, she wasn’t about to give him a third.
Speak of the devil. Her phone rang again, and the number that popped up was none other than Henry’s. What could he possibly have to say for himself? Heat burned high in her cheeks. Her hands clenched into fists. She jerked the phone to her ear.
“Save it.”
“Sophie! I’ve been trying to get hold of you since last night. Listen—” There was an edge of panic in his voice. He’d clearly been caught out by the article. Sophie barked a rough laugh.
“I think I’ve listened to you enough, Henry. There’s nothing you could possibly say now.”
He cursed. “It’s not what you think.” If her throat hadn’t closed up, she would have laughed again. Isn’t that what someone who’d been caught doing something wrong said?
“Oh? Nicole isn’t your ex-girlfriend? Or, excuse me, ex-ex-girlfriend.”
“She isn’t. I mean, she was. Damn it. Can we not do this over the phone? Where are you? I went by your apartment but you weren’t there and every time I call the studio, Darren hangs up on me.”
And when I get my hands on that snake, Darren had said, in tones dripping venom. He’d seen the news already. No wonder he was behind her little vacation all of the sudden.
“Don’t go to the studio. Stay away from my apartment. Stay away from me, Henry.” Her voice was thick with anger. But it was better than the tears that were prickling at her eyes. She blinked rapidly to keep them at bay.
“Sophie—”
“I know it was all about the charade and the scandal, but I thought we were at least being honest with each other, Henry. I told you things...” She swallowed audibly. “And then you went and told her?”
“What are you talking about? Told who what?” He sounded genuinely puzzled. But she was babbling a little.
Her thoughts were churning and her mouth couldn’t keep up. “You told Nicole about my accident. About my scars. You might as well have shoved a knife right into my heart. It would hurt less.”
“I don’t know where you’re getting this. I never told Nicole anything about you, Sophie. If one of the papers is saying I did then—”
“How’d she know then?” People on the street were starting to look at her. Sophie knew her voice was getting louder, but couldn’t help it. She tried to reign in the volume a little. “How’d she know what my leg looks like, Henry? I think you know how few people have seen it since the accident.”
“Sophie, I swear. Look, please just come meet me. Or tell me where you are and I’ll come there. We can talk this out.” A car door closed with a thunk. She recalled the buttery leather seats of his Maybach beneath her thighs the morning Henry had taken her to the building site.
Her heart turned itself inside out. “No, Henry. We can’t. There’s nothing more to say. I’m done being the pawn in whatever game it is you’re playing. Just... leave me alone.” She was shaking, the last few words a desperate plea.
“Sophie.” Henry’s voice was soft, low, coaxing. She squeezed her eyes shut, alternating waves of rage and anguish pouring through her.
“You’re killing me, Henry.”
There’s was a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line, followed by a moment of silence. “Don’t say that Sophie, you don’t know how much those words hurt me.”
“I don’t know anything anymore. All I know is that my life was fine before you came into it and ruined everything!”
When Henry spoke again, his tone was flat and distant. “If that’s how you feel—”
“I want you to leave me the fuck alone. Is that clear enough for you?” Sophie snapped. Her voice was harsh. Her throat ached with anger, and with the sobs she was holding back. She was done with Henry Medina. Done.
“Crystal. Goodbye, Sophie.” He hung up. Her hands were shaking so bad it took her three attempts to shove her phone back into her jeans.
She had no idea how long she stood out in front of Bistro pretending to stare at the menu. She was pretty sure her mother called her name multiple times though, because she looked at Sophie with wrinkled brows and took her arm.
“You ready to have some
