Page 84 of Brittle Heart

Ouch.

“Yeah, it’s kinda new, but they’re my friends, I guess,” I say, trying not to feel hurt.

“And is one of those ‘friends’ going to be your date?” She grins, and my cheeks heat up. “Wait, really? Oh my God, I need to see that.”

“Chiara,” I warn.

“I’ll bring Leo, and it’ll be like a double date,” she says excitedly.

“Okay, sure, but can you tell him that he’ll need to pay for himself? I’m sorry, but—” I start.

“He’s going to pay for both of us, dummy. He’s my boyfriend, and that’s what they do.” She shrugs nonchalantly.

“Well, that’s not—” I want to lecture her, but then I think I’ll save that for another time. I can be a bit selfish too.

Chiara takes out her phone to text Leo about the new plans. “I’m so excited! This is going to be so much fun.”

* * *

Even now, as I’m walking into the lab, I still have no idea what my classes were about because I’m still not totally back to Earth. I smile to myself, and when I look up to say hello, Sophia smiles at me.

“And?” she asks eagerly.

“And what?” I counter, putting my backpack behind my desk and taking a seat.

She takes a sip from her mug, which readsMo-tea-vation.“How was it? I think he outdid himself. That was so fucking cute.”

I cringe a little. “Should I really talk to you about a date with your brother?”

She sits up straight, looking a bit surprised. “Of course, you should! I thought I was your friend, not just your boss?”

“You are?” I ask.

“Yes, I am! Now spill,” she demands.

“It was… nice,” I admit, smiling down at my lap.

“Just nice?” Sophia asks, a little unease in her tone.

“It was so nice, I can’t stop thinking about it,” I whisper, and Sophia jumps up from her chair, pumping her fist into the air, nearly spilling her tea.

“Fuck yes!” she shouts.

“Use your inside voice, woman,” I say, lifting my shoulders to my ears.

She chuckles and settles back in her seat. “Sorry, but this is so freaking cute. He told me he’s going to bring you to our ice-skating thing on Sunday?”

“If it’s okay? And I would bring my little sister and her boyfriend too, since she always wanted to do that, and I just couldn’t go without her,” I say.

“Of course! The more, the merrier.” She smiles, her face glowing with excitement. “Oh, and we got the okay for your parents’ case.”

I sit up straight, my heart pounding. “Really?”

“Really.” Her tone turns serious. “We can start working on it on Monday. But today and tomorrow, we have some urgent cases to handle ”

“Sure,” I say, but deep down, my anxiety rises.

I hope this feeling won’t ruin the weekend.

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