Chapter Five
sophie
“So I heard Sam broke up with you?” Savannah tries to look concerned. I’m not sure why she even bothers.
“Damn, Van.” Serena shoves her. She’s the only one of our friends who can come close to controlling Savannah. “She just got here. Let her have a second.”
“I broke up with him, but you already know that.” I down the rest of my champagne. I didn’t want to drink tonight, but being around Savannah for more than a few minutes makes it necessary.
“Why’d you break up with him?” Maisie’s future sister-in-law, Cate, pats my hand. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
“I don’t. He cheated on me with his assistant.” I take a long, deep breath. “Really original, huh?”
“That’s why you need to stop dating boys,” Taylor says as she pours me more champagne.
“I don’t date boys. Sam’s only a year younger than me.”
“A year younger in age, but about a decade younger in maturity. He’s still a bro. You know what I mean?”
“Tay, seriously, I haven’t known what you’ve meant once in the eight years I’ve known you.” I lean back in my chair, finally feeling relaxed. The champagne’s already starting to kick in.
“I mean,” she says, leaning forward, “that his mind’s back in college. He’s still in the learning stage. You need someone who will be an adult with you—and maybe even be able to teach you something.”
“I can think of someone who’d like to be your teacher—for tonight anyway.” Savannah looks over my head again—up to the VIP level. She’s been doing that since I sat down. I tilt my head backward. Famous Guy’s looking down, but he’s not looking at Savannah. His eyes are fixed on me. I jerk my head up.
“Oh my God. Is he eavesdropping on us? That’s the guy who made me late. Does anyone know who he is?”
Taylor opens her mouth, but Savannah slugs her. “Stop! No one tell her. Let’s make her guess.”
“I don’t want to guess because I don’t care who he is—”
I hear him laugh above me. I’m about to tell him to mind his own business, but I don’t even want to give him that much attention.
“He’s been looking at you since you walked in.” Savannah looks up at him again and then glares at me. Her mouth’s pouty like it gets when anyone’s receiving more attention than her.
“Aww, what’s wrong, Savannah?” Maisie laughs. “Can’t you get him to look at you? Maybe you should wear a brighter dress next time.”
“Is there a brighter dress than this somewhere in the world?” Serena pulls at Savannah’s sleeve. “Seriously, I didn’t know this color of orange existed.”
Savannah pulls her sleeve away. “Not everyone can wear orange and look this good, Serena. And I’m married. I don’t want guys to look at me anymore.”
We all burst out laughing. “You’ve wanted guys to look at you—and only you—from the second you were born,” I say, trying to catch my breath. “You were probably trying to hook up with the doctor right after you left the birth canal.”
“Yeah, Van, did you have a onesie in this color when you were a baby?” Taylor pulls at her dress from the other side.
Serena tries to pour me another refill.
“No, babe,” I say, putting my hand over the glass. “I have to work tomorrow. I can’t be hungover.”
“Who has to work on a Saturday?” Savannah rolls her eyes.
“A lot of people, Savannah.” I try to make my voice as condescending as possible. “Do you see all of the stores, restaurants, and gas stations that are open on the weekend? People work inside of them.”
“Oh, don’t get all “power to the people” on me. You don’t work at a gas station,” she says. “You own your own business. Could you not give yourself the day off?”
“I can’t. I have the first meeting with a potential new client tomorrow—”
“That you can’t talk about,” Serena says.