Page 59 of The Hero + Vegas = No Regrets

“Yes, please.”

I crawl onto the bed next to Sophia and she shifts to be closer to me, resting her head on my chest. “You okay?” I stroke her hair away from her face as she focuses on the TV.

“You know that woman who got out of the elevator as we were leaving?”

I think I know what she’s going to say, but I keep my suspicions out of my voice. “Yeah,” I say.

“She’s been having an affair with my dad for twenty-five years. She has two kids with him. And my mom has known for decades.”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Fuck, Sophia. That’s a lot. You just found out?”

“During my last trip to Cincinnati. My mom announced she wanted a divorce.” She pauses to shove a handful of M&M’sinto her mouth. Once she chews and swallows, she continues. “I don’t even understand why—or any of it. Part of me wants every detail, wants to hear my dad explain why he betrayed us all. Why he lied and cheated all this time. And then another part of me just wants to run away and pretend it’s not happening.” She takes another M&M and pops it in my mouth. “My dad has been calling me nonstop since I found out. I haven’t accepted a single one. Haven’t answered any of his texts.” Her voice breaks. “You think that’s why he had a heart attack?”

“I don’t,” I say.

She looks up at me. “You don’t?”

“He’s been living a double life for twenty-five years, Sophia. He’s hidden the births of two children from his family. I’m pretty sure he’s had more stressful weeks than this one. He knows you love him.”

“I’m not sure I do.” Her voice is clipped and hard, which is hardly surprising. It’s a lot for anyone to take in.

“There’s a lot to process. You haven’t done anything wrong in this scenario.”

“You don’t think ignoring him was wrong? Or refusing to come home for Thanksgiving?”

“Your mom was hosting him at Thanksgiving?”

“Just like nothing happened. My brothers are the same—they’re just getting on with it, like this is business as usual. He’s still dear old Dad and we’re still the perfect family, white picket fence and everything.”

“I’m sure what you’re seeing isn’t what they’re feeling. Everyone copes differently. They probably feel as paralyzed and upset as you do. There’s no one way to grieve.”

“Not my mom. She says she’s had a long time to get used to it, and is perfectly fine with the whole, ‘Can you pass the gravy, Geoff?’ thing.”

“Fine?” I ask. “Or trying to be fine so you and your brothers don’t feel as bad?”

She sighs and opens the bag of popcorn. “That house is… I couldn’t go back there. Do you mind me coming back with you?”

“Sophia,” I say, my tone admonishing. “Do I mind? Of course I don’t mind. I’d ask you to move into the brownstone tomorrow if I thought you’d say yes.”

“Don’t ask me tonight, because Imightjust say yes.”

My heart inches higher and higher, and I’m so tempted to jump in and ask, but Sophia’s like a pressure cooker. She doesn’t need me adding any additional complications to her life at the moment.

“Let’s put a pin in that conversation for now.”

“I haven’t told anyone,” she says. “Not even Jules. About my parents or my dad’s second family.”

I keep my eyes on the TV, but my heart pushes in my chest at the thought of being her only confidant. “How come?”

“I found out a week before the wedding. I thought hearing about how much of a sham my parents’ relationship has been for the last twenty-five years might take the shine off.”

I continue to stroke her hair. “You’re a good friend. But I’m sure she’d want to know.”

She sighs. “I know. I don’t want to burst her bubble… and, I just… when I’m in New York, I can pretend it’s not real. If I tell Jules, then I have to deal with it or something. Don’t say anything, okay? Not to Leo, not to any of them?”

“You have my word.” Now’s not the time to tell her she probably needs to share this burden with her friends—because in my experience, it’s not until she starts to believe it that she’ll begin to heal.

---