I shoot her a flat look. “I mean, you poor thing.” Rosie moves to my side and wraps her arm around me.
“I feel like such an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot, he’s an idiot.” She rubs her hand along my arm. “If anything, it sounds like he was trying to do the right thing.”
I side eye her.
“Hey, I don’t know the guy, becausesomeonedidn’t introduce me, but from what you’ve said it sounds like he has a lot going on and he wanted to protect you from it.”
I break out in fresh sobs.
Rosie huffs and rests her head on mine. “Here,” she says, handing me back my wine glass. “Let’s get really drunk, watchBetter You Knowand throw chocolates at the TV Legally Blonde style.”
I take what I hope it a calming breath. “I’d like to do one of those things.”
“Throw chocolate at the TV? Me too, I love doing that.”
I laugh weakly and allow Rosie to fill my glass.
* * *
A few days of moping on Rosie’s couch and my mum calls me home with the promise of her famous onion soup and a hug.
As soon as I arrive through the front door, I’m swept into her arms and I lean on her a bit too heavily. I haven’t told her anything about Danny but I’m sure she’s figured out there’s something up. This is not the welcome home she was expecting to have to give.
“Come sit, I already made your soup.”
She scoops the soup into two bowls, the ceramic chipped and faded from years of use.
“Thank you,” I say, trying to keep the tears from falling.
I’ve never had a break up hurt this much before. Especially the end of a relationship that I walked into with open eyes. But I refuse to let the burning behind my eyes turn to tears. I cried enough huddled on Rosie’s shoulder to have anything left to give.
“Do you like it?” Mum asks before I’ve taken a bite. I roll my eyes and make a show of the first sip, groaning with delight.
“Delicious,” I tell her.
“Now, tell me all about it,” she says, taking her own spoon in hand.
I nod and take another sip to stall. “Yeah it was great, it’s going to be a good film when it’s out.” She’s still looking at me expectantly. “My job wasn’t exactly in the thick of it, but I’ve made some good connections.” She blinks at me. “And I might have my next thing lined up so that’s good.” I trail off lamely.
Mum nods. “And what about the man?”
“What man?” I shift in my seat.
“Anya,” She sends me a knowing look.
I gnaw on my lip. “What about him?” I ask hoarsely.
“What happened?”
“What happened with what?”
“With that Danny Covington boy.” How the hell did she even know? “I may be your mother but I’m not blind, I saw the pictures.”
“Nothing happened, okay!” I burst out. “It wasn’t ever going to be a long term thing, so let’s just drop it. No one even knows that was me.”
Mum holds her hands up placatingly. “Okay, okay.” She goes back to her soup. “Why wasn’t it going to be long term?”
