Page 7 of Plot Twist
“Just take control of the narrative.” Nina cut into her omelet. “People paying attention is an opportunity, and you should see the comments—they’re rooting for you.”
Sophie remembered some of the comments.
My new Tinder bio.
You and me both, sister.
mood.
“Don’t just roll over and never write another word again. Writing is your dream. So do whatever it takes to make it come true.” Nina leaned across the table, then added, “Mom wouldn’t have wanted you to give up.”
Well, Nina definitely knew how to punch Sophie right in the feels. Their mom had been so encouraging of Sophie’s writing and always knew she’d be a published author. Whatwouldshe say about this situation if she was still around?
“How many views does your new video have?” Poppy cut off a piece of avocado toast and popped it into her mouth.
“Six thousand.” Sophie held the phone up, as if it were evidence in the trial ofThe People of TikTok vs. Drunk Sad Lady.
“I’d raise my eyebrows, but I just had some Botox.” Poppy pointed to her forehead, which didn’t move. “Trust that I’m impressed.”
WhenWhisked Awaycame out, Sophie’s publicist, editor, and agent had all encouraged her to build up her social-media presence. The more followers she had, the more book sales they could bring in. Which meant she had to try her best to curate an exciting and bookish life, like an author you might want to be friends with. Even though she was squarely an introvert, part of the game was putting herself on display. So she’d posted selfies wearing bright pink lipstick in bookshops, lined up her to-be-read list in her apartment, written quippy captions, and done Ask Me Anythings on her Instagram stories. She wasn’t famous, like Nina, but she had fans.
Still, she had a sinking suspicion this was not what her team had in mind when they suggested she try to grow her social following.
“Are you really going to meet up with your exes?” Nina sipped from her cappuccino. “As someone who made the mistake of meeting up with an ex to hash things out, it doesn’t always end well.”
“I don’t want to see them either, really, but maybe I’ll learn something about myself. I mean, it’s weird that I’ve had a few long-term relationships but never saidI love you. And I do want to find someone.” Sophie fanned herself, feeling intensely warm from the overhead sun plus all the attention.
Poppy suddenly gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. Still, she managed to talk through the hand wall. “Carla. Heart doctor slash heartbreaker. You won’t see her, right?”
Sophie stabbed a piece of burrata with her fork and took a bite before answering. “Carla did text me.”
Poppy gripped the sides of the table dramatically. “No! That gorgeous temptress. What does she want?”
When it came to Sophie’s relationship with Carla, her ex had the upper hand in several ways. For example, Sophie still followed Carla on Instagram, but Carla didn’t follow her back. And Sophie had, on a handful of occasions, reached out to try to reconcile. She’d sent Carla aHappy Birthdaytext, then tried calling her after she’d had a gummy-bear edible and was feeling sad. Carla never responded—another move that gave her the prime position of the ex who was better off. So to see Carla finally reach out after something completely humiliating had happened was an unfortunate plot twist in the novel of Sophie’s life.
“Carla said she saw the video.” Sophie dabbed her lip with a napkin.
“Ugh.” Poppy’s beaded bracelets had ridden up her arm, and she smoothed them back down toward her hands. “Of course she did. I think all exes have radar that beeps anytime we fuck up. Not that you fucked up. Just, ya know, had a moment. You know what I mean.”
“I do.” Though, Sophie was sure an embarrassed flush crept across her cheeks.
“Do you still have feelings for her?” Nina asked.
Sophie pursed her lips. “I mean, I don’t know? Carla has always been my catnip.”
“Yes.” Poppy raised her glass of celery juice in acknowledgment.
“Or kryptonite? I never really read comic books, but she always makes me—”
“Not yourself,” Poppy cut her off.
“Right.” Sophie did know that Carla brought out a different side of her—some of that great, and some of it less so. But still, she’d almost loved Carla. They had history, and Sophie thought she’d be a good ex to talk to, especially if there was still a connection between them. She wouldn’t know for sure until they saw each other again.
Sophie put the phone back in her dress pocket and exhaled sharply. She knew what she had to do.
Nina was right: there would be another book. Sophie would make their mom proud. She wouldn’t be a one-hit wonder, and she wasn’t going to let her writer’s block get the best of her. She was a fighter, and self-sufficient, the way their mother had taught them to be. She’d worked hard to get to where she was, so she was going to do everything she could to save her career and find a happily-ever-after she could write about, even if it meant putting herself out there way more than she liked.
“I’ll be right back.” Sophie pushed her chair out and stood from the table.
