Plot Twist(43)

Carla had always loved ordering for them—she was a self-proclaimed foodie. She licked her lips, then said, “You won’t regret this.”

“Unless you order too much food.” Sophie raised a brow, and a grin crossed Carla’s lips. On their first date ever, when Sophie was trying to impress her, she’d eaten all the sushi that Carla had ordered—too much—and proceeded to feel nauseous immediately after.

“You just have to remember to share what I order,” Carla said.

“Sharing is wildly overrated.”

Sophie was surprised that the conversation was easier than expected. Part of her had anticipated that this dinner would mostly be hashing things out, something they’d never had the chance to do, but maybe they could just move past their old issues and start fresh.

Carla reached across the table and tucked a loose strand of hair behind Sophie’s ear. The graze of those fingertips shot a little shiver down her, and Carla let her hand linger as she studied Sophie’s face.

“That wasn’t another soy sauce packet, right?” Sophie joked.

“No, it’s just really good to see you,” Carla said.

“I’ve missed you.” Sophie flinched, as she hadn’t meant to say that out loud—it was a thought she’d have about once a month, then bury. Carla had been the one person she’d never gotten over. A relationship that stuck in her mind and when she got lonely, or tangled up with a vibrator, she often pictured Carla there with her. Though lately, when she thought about touching herself, it wasn’t Carla’s face that came to mind...

Carla’s eyes flitted over Sophie’s breasts, then back to her mouth, and she licked her lips. “We have a lot to catch up on. I was surprised to see you telling the world that love wasn’t real.”

“Oh, that?” Sophie fake laughed, then shriveled as she remembered that Carla had seen the video. “Just trying to spread the good word.”

“So you still haven’t fallen in love, huh?” Carla asked.

“I haven’t. I think you know I haven’t.” Sophie wondered if she should say the thought that had come to mind. But before she could stop herself, the words tumbled out. “I could have, though, with you.”

Carla studied her. “I didn’t get that sense when we were together.”

Sophie had absolutely nothing to lose, so she pressed on, “You never even told me why you broke up with me.”

Carla smoothed the fabric of her shorts across her thighs. “Sophie, do you remember the first time I told you I loved you?”

“Yes.” She did. Of course she did. They’d been lying in bed with their bodies tangled up in the sheets and each other and been just drifting off. And Carla had reached over, pushed hair behind Sophie’s ear, then whispered, I love you. And Sophie knew she should say it back. They’d been dating for six months. That’s what you did when someone loved you. But the truth was, she hadn’t loved Carla back. Or maybe she had. She wasn’t sure what her feelings were, but she couldn’t say the words. So instead, she’d kissed Carla long, and hard, and then made love to her. The only way she could express what she’d felt.

And the next morning, over tea and croissants, Carla told her she didn’t need to hear it back until Sophie was ready. But then a month passed, and another, and eventually Carla ended their relationship.

“You were so closed-off with your feelings. But I thought that if I gave you a little push, you might fall with me.” Carla’s gaze flicked over Sophie’s face.

“I’m sorry.” She instinctively reached a hand toward Carla, then stopped herself. “I wanted to get there, but I needed more time.”

“I don’t really know what to say to that.” Carla rested her hands on the arms of her chair. When they’d dated, Sophie knew every single expression Carla made, and what each one meant. But now, Sophie couldn’t read her at all. “We dated for close to a year, and if you don’t know whether you love someone after a year, then there’s probably a bigger issue. I don’t want to be mean about that, but it’s true.”

“There is an issue, you’re right,” Sophie admitted. “That’s what I’m trying to work on now, and I’m aware that it’s completely a me thing. I’m just hoping that you might be willing to give me a chance—”

The sharp ring of a cell phone interrupted them. Carla hesitated, then frowned and pulled her cell out. “Shit, I have to take this. Work.” She caught Sophie’s eye with an apologetic look, then stood and walked out.

Sophie exhaled sharply and sat back in her seat. She didn’t know why she felt exhausted, exactly. If anything, she should be energized about being in the same room as Carla. But the way that Carla used to make her giddy didn’t seem to be kicking in. Maybe she’d been so worked up and stressed about what could happen leading up to their date that her body was just starting to catch up?

Sophie checked her phone and saw a new message from Nina. She sucked her lip in. It’s not that she was avoiding her sister, exactly, but she knew that Nina was still (rightfully) pissed off, so she thought it best to give her some space.

You are coming to see me on set tomorrow. No excuses.

Well, now she had no other choice. Even though she’d hoped Nina might take time to cool off, she suspected her sister was still very much in the land of being mad. She gave the text a thumbs-up, put the phone in her pocket, and went back to waiting.