Page 66 of Play the Part

And the way we’ve both been toying with one another.

“I can’t do meaningless with you, Connie. You — you’re —”

The door opens behind me, and reality snaps back in place like a well-tuned string.

I jump up from the couch and swivel to face Dusia as she walks back into the penthouse. Her eyes survey us both, quickly picking up onsomething,but she simply shuts the door behind her and smiles.

“So what do we think?”

28

CONNIE

“Your brother is ignoring me.”

It’s late Saturday morning, and I’m having brunch with Sophia at a trendy restaurant in the Central Business District. I’ve been trying to find an opening for the past half hour, but I lost patience and blurted it out.

Sophia’s eyes dart up while taking a bite of her chicken and waffles. She slowly straightens in her seat and grins. A large part of me didn’t want to get her involved in the shitshow that is Huxley and me, but ever since whatever that was last week, it’s the only thing I can focus on.

Dusia wanted me to go over some contracts, so Huxley left without me, and he’s been avoiding me since. The only communication we’ve had is him texting me, saying he didn’t want me to pick him up anymore. When I asked why, I was met with no response. His behavior pissed me off, but I didn’t press the subject. We haven’t talked in over a week, and it pains me to admit it, but I now need some backup in understanding what’s actually going on with him.

“Who? Ozzy?” Sophia’s grin is far too mischievous to pass as innocent.

“Ha. Ha,” I deadpan as I pick up my mimosa and take a sip. Then, because I’m already desperate, I add, “Has he mentioned anything to you?”

Sophia drops her fork and rests her elbow on the table. Sighing, she lifts her eyes to the ceiling and rubs her forehead in an amplified show of exasperation.

I don’t know if it’s because she basically had to fend for herself most of her life, but I often forget how young Sophia is. She’s always acted far older than her actual age.

“I’m not answering that until you finally tell me what the hell has been going on between you two.”

I feel like I’m about to burst into flames. Or suddenly develop a life-threatening rash. I pick at my fruit cup with my fork and avoid eye contact.

Eventually, I begrudgingly match her gaze and say, “It’s complicated?”

“Great.” She lifts her hands and widens her arms as if challenging me. “Because I have all day.” She drops her arms and checks her phone. “Actually, that’s not true, I work at three, so you’ll need to hurry this up.”

I roll my eyes, and she snickers, digging into her second waffle.

Chewing on my inner lip, I wonder how much I should tell her.

“I just don’t want anybody to know about this … for now — even Jamie.”

Sophia pretends to zip up her lips and throw away the key. I stare at her for a few seconds, not knowing how to start. Finally, I let my shoulders drop and sigh with defeat.

“We hooked up at Jamie’s engagement party.”

By the sheer shock on Sophia’s face and her gaping mouth, I know she didn’t expect me to say that.

“You hooked up at …” Her words trail off as if suddenly recalling something, then mumbles under her breath, “That’s where he disappeared to.” Her eyes dart back to me, eyebrows furrowing. “Weren’t you dating Oliver back then?”

I wave her off and shake my head. “We were barely in the talking stage.” I pause. “But to your point — after that night, I sort of just went back to my life in LA and pretended it never happened.”

“This explains why he’s been stalking you for so long,” she puffs out then shakes her head, laughing dryly. “Oh, Connie, he was barely out of prison, what the hell were you thinking?”

I lean forward, my wrists pressing against the edge of the table. “I wasn’t,” I hiss. “And well —” I lean back into the booth. “You can’t deny your brother is hot, he just looked very appetizing that night.”

“Gross,” Sophia sniffs. She takes a large sip of her coffee, staring at me while she swallows, then asks, “So that’s it?”

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