Plot Twist(8)

“That story? You mean, my story?” What exactly was her sister suggesting? Sophie wasn’t a character in her own book, she was the author.

“Soph, you work well when you have a roadmap. For Whisked Away, you used Leo and me as inspiration.” Nina shrugged. “Why not use yourself?”

Sophie had based Whisked Away loosely—very loosely, as she’d mentioned in interviews—on her sister’s real-life romance with Leo. She’d turned both love interests into bakers and utilized the secret-billionaire trope. But Nina was right: Sophie had been able to finish the book because she knew how it ended. She’d had their relationship as a kind of outline.

“But your answer here is that I do the very simple, quick, and easy thing of falling in love in order to solve all my problems?” Sophie wanted her question to hang for a beat so Nina would feel, even just momentarily, a bit silly. But that was not who Nina was, and so she launched back in with solutions.

“Just take control of the narrative.” Nina cut into her omelet. “People paying attention is an opportunity, and you should see the comments—they’re rooting for you.”

Sophie remembered some of the comments.

My new Tinder bio.
You and me both, sister.
mood.

“Don’t just roll over and never write another word again. Writing is your dream. So do whatever it takes to make it come true.” Nina leaned across the table, then added, “Mom wouldn’t have wanted you to give up.”

Well, Nina definitely knew how to punch Sophie right in the feels. Their mom had been so encouraging of Sophie’s writing and always knew she’d be a published author. What would she say about this situation if she was still around?

“How many views does your new video have?” Poppy cut off a piece of avocado toast and popped it into her mouth.

“Six thousand.” Sophie held the phone up, as if it were evidence in the trial of The People of TikTok vs. Drunk Sad Lady.

“I’d raise my eyebrows, but I just had some Botox.” Poppy pointed to her forehead, which didn’t move. “Trust that I’m impressed.”

When Whisked Away came out, Sophie’s publicist, editor, and agent had all encouraged her to build up her social-media presence. The more followers she had, the more book sales they could bring in. Which meant she had to try her best to curate an exciting and bookish life, like an author you might want to be friends with. Even though she was squarely an introvert, part of the game was putting herself on display. So she’d posted selfies wearing bright pink lipstick in bookshops, lined up her to-be-read list in her apartment, written quippy captions, and done Ask Me Anythings on her Instagram stories. She wasn’t famous, like Nina, but she had fans.

Still, she had a sinking suspicion this was not what her team had in mind when they suggested she try to grow her social following.

“Are you really going to meet up with your exes?” Nina sipped from her cappuccino. “As someone who made the mistake of meeting up with an ex to hash things out, it doesn’t always end well.”

“I don’t want to see them either, really, but maybe I’ll learn something about myself. I mean, it’s weird that I’ve had a few long-term relationships but never said I love you. And I do want to find someone.” Sophie fanned herself, feeling intensely warm from the overhead sun plus all the attention.

Poppy suddenly gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. Still, she managed to talk through the hand wall. “Carla. Heart doctor slash heartbreaker. You won’t see her, right?”

Sophie stabbed a piece of burrata with her fork and took a bite before answering. “Carla did text me.”

Poppy gripped the sides of the table dramatically. “No! That gorgeous temptress. What does she want?”

When it came to Sophie’s relationship with Carla, her ex had the upper hand in several ways. For example, Sophie still followed Carla on Instagram, but Carla didn’t follow her back. And Sophie had, on a handful of occasions, reached out to try to reconcile. She’d sent Carla a Happy Birthday text, then tried calling her after she’d had a gummy-bear edible and was feeling sad. Carla never responded—another move that gave her the prime position of the ex who was better off. So to see Carla finally reach out after something completely humiliating had happened was an unfortunate plot twist in the novel of Sophie’s life.

“Carla said she saw the video.” Sophie dabbed her lip with a napkin.

“Ugh.” Poppy’s beaded bracelets had ridden up her arm, and she smoothed them back down toward her hands. “Of course she did. I think all exes have radar that beeps anytime we fuck up. Not that you fucked up. Just, ya know, had a moment. You know what I mean.”

“I do.” Though, Sophie was sure an embarrassed flush crept across her cheeks.

“Do you still have feelings for her?” Nina asked.

Sophie pursed her lips. “I mean, I don’t know? Carla has always been my catnip.”

“Yes.” Poppy raised her glass of celery juice in acknowledgment.

“Or kryptonite? I never really read comic books, but she always makes me—”

“Not yourself,” Poppy cut her off.

“Right.” Sophie did know that Carla brought out a different side of her—some of that great, and some of it less so. But still, she’d almost loved Carla. They had history, and Sophie thought she’d be a good ex to talk to, especially if there was still a connection between them. She wouldn’t know for sure until they saw each other again.