Page 74 of Sleeping with the Frenemy

Sofi was well aware. She’d been taking advantage of the fact with Leo. “What about Alex and Gabi.”

“Count Gabi out. She’s basically a nun now and she likes it that way,” Alex said, then ducked her sister’s head smack. “But don’t worry about me. I’m on the stress relief train too. Trust and believe that I need it after working on the fucking theater for the last year.”

Kamilah turned in her seat to face her cousin. “Was it that bad? I thought you said the damage wasn’t as severe as you’d originally thought.”

Alex tossed her long light brown waves over a shoulder. “The problem wasn’t the building, but the owner.”

“Don’t tell me that Chord Bailón is an asshole,” Lucy cried from the front of the car. “My Barrio Brothers stan heart couldn’t take it.”

Sofi had missed a lot in her time away from the Vegas. She still found it hard to believe that Alex and Gabi’s Broadway-based mom, Carmen, and older sister, Evalisse, were back in Chicago specifically to work on a brand-new musical written, directed, and starring, of all people, Chord Bailón—the heartthrob of world-famous boy band the Barrio Brothers. Not only that, but he’d bought an old theater slash office building to house his masterpieceandthe new El Hogar. She didn’t know how Saint and Lola had gotten that to happen, but it made her happy to see the family thriving for the most part. Although, apparently Alex felt differently about the whole thing.

Alex scoffed at Lucy’s comment. “Well, I hate to break your heart, but he’s the fucking worst. I’ve never met a more arrogant and annoying pain in the ass in my entire life.”

“Damn. Why do the best-looking celebs always have to be assholes?” Liza shook her head as if really sad about it.

“That’s not true,” Kamilah said. “I’ve heard that Keanu Reeves is one of the nicest people ever and has actually saved someone’s life.”

“Keanu doesn’t count,” Alex said. “He’s another type of being entirely. Like an angel who was sent here to give us all hope that not everything is crap.”

“So he’s basically Denzel inThe Preacher’s Wife?” Liza asked with a smart-ass smile.

Sofi breathed a sigh of relief as they began talking about celebrity gossip. She was positive that she’d successfully pulled off a diversion, but then they arrived at the club and Kamilah proceeded to push her at every single good-looking man she could find. There was the hot nerdy guy, the Eastern European guy who looked like a Bratva member but danced like a cast member ofDancing with the Stars, and the creep who gave straight-up serial killer vibes.

Sofi plopped onto her seat, out of breath after a dance with her last would-be hookup. “Dear lord, he kept spinning me like a damn dreidel. I’m dizzy.” She picked up her drink and slammed it. She was so hot.

Kamilah snort laughed. “You looked like one of those drills that they use to look for oil.”

Sofi glanced around. “Where is everyone else?” She had to practically yell the question because it was so loud.

“They’re out there dancing.” She sipped her own drink before putting it down with a plop. “Okay, he’s off the list.” She turned her head from side to side, searching. “Let’s find someone else.”

“I don’t want someone else and you look like a meerkat when you do that.”

“Stop being a bummer,” Kamilah told her. “I’m going to find you a sexy man to at least grind on and make out with if it’s the last thing I do.”

If there was one thing that Sofi knew about her friend it was that once she put her mind to something she was going to pursue it doggedly. There was only one option left. Sofi was going to have to come clean. The only way to stop this farce was to tell Kamilah that she was in a relationship, but she knew all too well that it wouldn’t stop there. Her friend would want to know who.

Fuck. She was too drunk for this. She stood and held her hand out to Kamilah. “Come outside to the patio with me.”

Kamilah stood and grabbed her hand. “Yes. Let’s cool off before we go back to our hunt.”

Sofi led Kamilah through the club and to the equally packed patio area. It was barely cooler than the inside, but there was at least a little bit of a breeze. Sofi found a tiny table with one single chair in the darkest corner.

Kamilah dropped into the chair. “I forgot how much heels suck,” she said, her champagne-colored sequin dress with a draped neckline, low back, and thigh-high slit sparkled even in the dark. She’d told Sofi she wanted to feel like Vanessa Williams inDance with Meand Sofi was there to make all her professional ballroom dreams come true.

Sofi sat on the edge of the table. Her heart was racing. She took a deep breath and wished she were either more sober or more drunk for what was about to happen. “Kamilah, I have to tell you something, but I’m scared.”

Kamilah frowned. “Scared? About what?”

“I feel like I’m going to lose you again if tell you and I just got you back.” Dear lord, Sofi hated how pathetic she sounded. This was why it was never good to have deep conversations while drunk and overly sensitive. “I don’t want to ruin anything.”

“Sofi, you’re scaring me. Just tell me.”

Okay. She just needed to spit it out. “Leo and I are together. Actually it’s more like back together. You see we have a bit of a history. Not a bit. More like a lot of history. Like over fifteen years of history.” Then Sofi just kept talking. She told Kamilah everything from their first kiss when Sofi was fifteen to them deciding to give themselves a real shot. “And I should’ve told you all of this years ago, but the truth is that I’m a hypocrite. I was so mad at you for lying when I’ve been lying to you for much longer. I’m sorry and I hope you are more forgiving than I was.” She stared at her wringing hands.

A hand appeared on top of hers. “Sofi, look at me.” Kamilah squeezed Sofi’s hand and gave it a little shake. “Seriously, look at me.”

Sofi looked up. She was surprised to see nothing in Kamilah’s gaze but earnest caring. No disgust or anger. No disappointment. She didn’t get it. How could she be so cool about this?

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