“Okay. I will do that. And Sophie, I mean it… Be careful.”
“I will, Claire. Thanks for always looking out.” We hang up and I am left alone with my thoughts. Maybe I should tell Liam I am going out with Melanie tonight? I don’t want to upset him when things appear to be going well between us. I think I like him and I hope maybe he likes me, too.I’ll just see how tonight goes. Anyway, he already told me he has plans tonight, too.
As I come up on the house, I see him in the garden still looking like an Abercrombie model straight out of the early 2000s catalog.
Liam stands up when he sees me coming, grabbing his water bottle and taking a swig. He grins at me. “I thought you got lost,” he jokes.
I force a laugh. “No, not lost. I did get a good workout in though, so thank you.” I push my lips together eyeing him carefully. “You got a lot done out here,” I muse, assessing his progress.
“I’m glad,” he says, raking a hand through his hair. “I’m just finishing up. Do you want to have some lunch with me and Ellie?”
Yes. But I’m afraid to tell him I’m hanging out with Melanie tonight.“I can’t,” I hesitate, chewing on my lip. “I haven’t finished unpacking and I’m going out tonight, so I need to find something to wear in those boxes.” I laugh half-heartedly.
Liam looks like he wants to say something else to me, but he swallows and remains quiet for a moment, surveying the garden. Then he turns back to me with a tight smile. “Well, have fun… I’ll see you tomorrow for yoga, right?”
I grin. “Definitely.”
* * *
I’m gettingready a few hours later when I get a text from James. A realtor is coming to assess the house on Monday and he’ll let me know what they think is a good listing price. The realization hits me that we’re not just selling our house, we’re selling dreams we built together when we bought it. My eyes well with tears and I angrily bat them away. In no universe could things have worked out for us, but the loss of the hope I had when we bought the house, well, that hurts almost as much.
I try to focus on getting myself ready. I blow out my hair straight, which is something I don’t do often. I wear a pair of loose white boyfriend jeans and a blue top with a plunging neckline. I cuff the ankles and slide on a gold pair of gladiator sandals. Just for fun, since I don’t wear it often, I put on some jewelry—little anchor earrings and a shell bracelet. I put on my favorite guava color lip gloss and perfume, and I am ready.
I head downstairs to find Ellie sitting on the couch with Lucy reading a book. “Wow, Sophie. You look great, dear.” She smiles. “Who are you going out with? Not Liam?”
I would assume Liam had told her where he was going but I don’t ask because I don’t want to seem too interested. I’m being very careful with how I act around Liam and how I talk about him to Ellie. I’m not sure how she would feel if she knew I might be interested in him.
“Actually…Melanie. I met her at the gym today and she convinced me.” I put my hands in my back pockets.
Ellie can’t hide her surprise. “Oh…well, then. Have fun. And be careful. Are you driving?”
“I have an Uber coming in just a minute,” I assure her. “I never drink and drive. And I just got a text from James about a realtor coming to the house, so I have a feeling I’m going to need a few drinks tonight.” I sigh. My phone buzzes letting me know my ride's here. “Don’t wait up.” I smile and turn to go.
“Bye Sophie, and please be safe!” Ellie calls after me.
* * *
I textMelanie when I get to The Rusty Nail, and she meets me at the door. I can already hear the band getting started. It’s a different band from last weekend when I came with Claire. This one is playing early 2000s pop-punk hits. I feel a rush of excitement as we walk in. Melanie seems to know everyone and is saying hi to people left and right as we make our way to the back corner of the wrap-around bar to a few other girls.
“I’ll introduce you to my friends,” Melanie says. “They’re married so they aren’t much fun.” She laughs at her own joke, and I pretend to laugh because I like to think I was still fun when I was married. We get to the corner, and I can see the other women sizing me up. One of them is tall and thin with curly blonde hair and clear blue eyes. The other one is shorter and rounder with a long brunette bob and eyelash extensions that I can’t unsee. “Ladies, we’re here!” Melanie sidles up to the girls and leans on the bar to get the bartender’s attention. “Sophie, these are my friends, Steph and Kristen. Girls, this is Sophie. She is staying with Ellie.”
“Ohhhh.” The blonde gives a knowing look. “So, you’re Sophie.”
I instantly feel awkward.How has she heard about me?I laugh, nervously. “How do you know of me?” I ask, trying my best to play it cool.
Once Kristen explains that she’s married to Danny, Liam’s friend, it feels less nefarious. But I can’t help feeling funny about being out with Liam’s people right now.
The same jolly bartender from last Saturday comes over. “What’ll it be ladies? And what are we celebrating?” He smiles the same effervescent smile I remember from the week before. Then he notices me. “Oh, hey! Divorce girl. I remember you from last week.”
I grit my teeth through a smile. “Hi…yeah. It’s me. Sophie,” I remind him. Then to the girls, I explain how we met the last time I was here.
“That makes so much more sense now,” Steph says, taking a sip of her mixed drink.
“So, what are you having, Sophie, Melanie?” he asks, expectantly.
“I think…I’m going to do a margarita on the rocks again,” I say.
“Oooh that sounds good, me too!” Melanie says. “And how about four shots of tequila to go with it?”
