Chapter 3 We need to talk

"Sophie, take it easy," Lisa said as she caught up to her.

"You heard them Lisa '' she said in between sobs. "He used and dumped me. Or no, they said I'm the one who used him. Can you believe that?"

"Honey, they are saying rubbish." Lisa hugged her tight. "They don't know anything about you."

She continued stroking her back. "I say he's the thrash and he has lost a valuable gem in you."

***

In Lisa's house that evening, she couldn't concentrate on the TV show they were watching. She decided to do the dishes to distract herself since TV wasn't working. The dinner Lisa prepared was delicious but her mind was too occupied to register anything.

Now she is still thinking about the engagement. What if it's a prank? She looked at the phone on top of the cabinet and waited for it to ring. For Ethan to tell her it was a mistake, a PR stunt, a... she sighed.

Of course not. This was a contract, she keeps forgetting. She means nothing to him at all. She cleaned her hands on the towel, picked her phone and went to bed.

She had a sleepless night, kept drifting in and out of baseless dreams but finally it's morning and she decided to go about her life.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" Lisa asked her.

"Your shopping takes all day Lisa," she said smiling.

"No, it does not," Lisa throws her a pillow.

"Okay but promise me you'll be fine." Lisa gave her questioning look.

"Sure. I'll be good." Lisa didn't seem to believe her.

"Look", Sophie continued. "I'll read a new book I found in your bookshelves, then I'll eat, watch TV and sleep." She spread her two hands.

Lisa nodded "I didn't hear crying among those things."

Sophie laughed, "I'm done with that."

"Good."

As she was reading a book she saw in Lisa's house later, she leisurely strolled to the fridge to pick some cashew nuts. Then quickly came back to the legal thriller she was reading. In no time she was done with the interesting book.

She remembered when she got her love for reading. She was working in a bookstore close to their home as part of high school holiday jobs. That was when she was introduced to the world of books and since then she never looked back.

She kept working in that store whenever she had the chance because she loved the owner and she had free books to read.

But then the tragic accident that claimed her father's life happened and things fell apart. She and her mother couldn't make enough money to take care of their needs and her schooling and so she had to get a different job.

She was managing until her mother fell sick. She decided to get more jobs to augment yet the money wasn't adding up.

Then a friend invited her to a club to work the night shift, promising that the pay is good plus the tips. That was where she met Ethan.

"I'm back" Lisa announced with a flourish hurlings bags and bags of items. Sophie rushed to help her with the bags.

"Jeez, Lisa, did you close a shop with all these?"

"No, but I figured since it's the weekend, we can stay indoors and celebrate."

"Celebrate what?" Sophie asked, chuckling.

"You, getting rid of the jerk in your life."

"Oh," was all Sophie could say.

"I mean, even if he doesn't want you again, the mature thing to do is to quietly tell you and end things. Not have breakfast and go and have an engagement party with someone else the same day."

"That's the definition of a jerk, if you ask me" That brought a smile to Sophie.

"He didn't know what he lost in you and I say it's good he left now. We are going to party and celebrate all day long."

"I'm in!" shouted Sophie.

"Yes. There's a lot to eat and drink," said Lisa as she raised a bottle of red wine.

***

Sophie's phone was ringing endlessly and she ignored it. Lisa came out of the kitchen with a plate of fried chicken. "You want more?"

"You bet," said Sophie as she grabbed a drumstick.

"Why are you not answering your phone?" Lisa wondered.

"It's him."

"So answer it and see what he has to say."

"Hello, he is a jerk, remember?" Sophie told her.

"I know," said Lisa, scratching her head. "But maybe...maybe you should hear him out and let him explain..."

"Explain what, Lisa?"

Lisa shrugged, "why is he a jerk?" and they burst out laughing.

"Hello," Sophie said as she picked the call.

"Why are you not picking your call? Why didn't you reply to my messages? Why were you not at home?"

"Woah, slow down cowboy," she answered in a slurred voice. Wait, how many bottles have they taken? "Which question am I going to answer"

"We need to talk," Ethan said. "Come home, let's talk".

"Aren't you forgetting something Mr Grant"

"What?

"Why, you have gotten the real gold of course." She said, waving her hand. "So you don't need me again."

"Don't say that." Ethan replied.

"Don't worry. I'm okay, I'm finneee," she gurped. "Couldn't you have told me on time or given me a hint somehow? Didn't bother answering, bye." She cut off the call.

"Why did you do that?" asked Lisa. "You didn't even give him a chance to talk."

"Hearing his voice brings back all the emotions I thought I'd buried," she said with tears forming in her eyes.

"Oh Sophie."

"Bring that bottle," she said, cleaning her eyes. "Let's drink more."

The next day Sophie came out to meet Lisa making coffee. "Oh I need that coffee."

"You can't hold your drink at all," Lisa said, holding her a cup of coffee. "And I drank most of the wine."

Sophie was holding her head. "I 'll just get some sleep later. I'll be fine when I wake up."

"You need to have some breakfast." Lisa said, showing her a plate of pancakes and a cup of milk.

"Thank you. You are a blessing"

"I am." She smiled at Sophie.

Just then Sophie's phone rang and it was a strange number.

"Hello?"

"Are you Sophie Adams?