Page 101 of Pin-up Girl

Sylvie shook her head. “I didn’t want anyone to know how badly I fucked up. And then I found out from the doctor that I can’t have kids. Totally unrelated, but I’d always told myself when I was far enough along in my career… I thought I still had time. I could be a mom. Just a few more years. And then there was no career and no family.” She whimpered.

I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and squeezed.

Sylvie dragged in a few deep breaths as she leaned into me, then straightened up again. “I met Peter a few months after all of that, and he was perfect. He wanted to spend time with me. He didn’t care that I can’t— He said he was good with adopting. He said all the right things. Do you know what Sebastian told me when we broke up?”

“No.” Neither of them talked about their split, so the only thing I knew was that Sebastian blamed Sylvie for at least part of what happened to him.

“He told me he hoped I got what I deserved, for the way I fucked him over. When things fell apart at the start of the year, I convinced myself that was what was happening. Hell, even now… Peter wasn’t like this. He made me feel good. He made me feel needed. He—” She gasped and went quiet.

I didn’t have any idea how to help with this. “I’m here for you. Whatever you need.”

“After the way I acted? I was mean to you and I was demanding and I brought Grandma here…”

Yeah, that all kind of sucked. “You can grovel for that when you feel better.” I wouldn’t pretend it was okay, but I also understood.

“Do you think I’m horrible?” Sylvie asked.

“I think bad shit happened to you, and you dealt with it the best way you could.” I hated hearing that she’d gone through that. Why did people have to be so shitty? To Sylvie. To each other. Like Regina picking her career over Dee. Like my aunt, threatening me with future unspecified favors, so I could help Clint and Dee. Like Peter walking in here and demanding Sylvie talk to him. Like that fucking CFO thinking he was owed a blow job. Even like Sebastian, and the way he was snubbing Sylvie even though I knew she hadn’t been responsible for his downfall.

The more I thought about it, the more I ached for the people who were treated so badly.

Sylvie pushed to her feet. “So that’s my story. Thank you for listening.”

“I will always listen.” Or at least, I would try.

“I know.” She almost smiled. “Give me a ride back to my motel room?”

“Do you want to stay at my place?”

“No.” Sylvie shook her head. “I mean yes, but you’ve done enough for me, and I know I’m going to end up asking for more. At least I can let you have your fuck den back.”

I laughed, more out of surprise and the need for release than anything. “My what?”

“You heard me.” Sylvie walked toward my car. “Give me a ride. I have a wedding to cancel—and yes, I’ll send those notices out by myself.”

I knew arguing wouldn’t do me any good. I dropped her off at the motel, and headed for Clint’s. The entire conversation bounced in my head, mixing with what Dee had just gone through and with the way my family was treating both Sylvie and me. It all gnawed at me until the unpleasantness chewed away at my soul.

27

clint

I was happy Brodie came home with me after the picnic, and so was Dee. The three of us decided to play a new platform game Dee had asked for. Rather, I was trying to play, and Dee would get frustrated and take the controller from me every time I missed a jump.

Brodie didn’t seem to have a problem with the game, and the two of them easily fell into a co-op version.

When Aubrey joined us, she joined the fun, but Dee didn’t have much more patience for her play style than mine.

After the game, and through dinner, Aubrey was quiet.

When Dee asked what was wrong, Aubrey said, “It was a long day.”

Dee frowned. “So, grown-up stuff?”

Aubrey smiled. “Yes.”

“Bad grown-up stuff?”

Aubrey shook her head. “Not the kind that will make you sad.”

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