Sisters by Choice (Blackberry Island #4)(118)

“What did you do?”

“Me? Nothing.”

Heather stared at her. “Sophie, tell me. You know I’ll find out eventually.”

Sophie briefly wondered if she could fake her way out of the situation. She knew she could play the “you don’t need to know” card, but that seemed out of keeping with their relationship. Besides, Heather was right—she would find out eventually.

“I want you to have this chance,” she said instead. “You’re such a great kid and you’ve been dealing with your mom since you were born and if you don’t get away, she’ll suck the life out of you. Plus, I love you.”

“I love you, too. What did you do?”

“Not distracted by the glory that is you?”

Heather didn’t smile.

“Okay, fine. I bought her a condo. I’m covering the expenses for the first year, then she’s on her own. But the condition was she had to be nice to you about your leaving.” Sophie winced, remembering her conversation with her cousin. “I didn’t know she hadn’t been told about your leaving for USC. That didn’t go well.”

Heather stood up, walked around her desk, then hugged Sophie. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I’ll pay you back, I swear.”

“Hey, no paying me back. This was my decision. My choice. Only me.” Well, Elliot and Dugan had been a big part of her making up her mind, but why go into that. “Like I said, I love you. I wanted to help you get away without worrying about your mom.”

Heather straightened and returned to her chair. When she sat down, she sighed. “You’re so good to me, Sophie. You and Elliot and Kristine.” She smiled. “She’s taking me shopping tomorrow. She says I have to have cool clothes if I’m going to hang out in LA. Everyone is being so wonderful.”

And your mother? Is she being wonderful? Only in that moment, Sophie realized she had her answer. Of course Amber hadn’t been pleasant. It wasn’t in her nature. But making Heather rat out her own mother only made things worse. The kid had gone through enough. She was getting her chance and that should be enough. Regardless of what had happened, Sophie knew she wasn’t taking back the condo. Not because of Amber, but because that would mean Heather was trapped forever.

“What if you’re discovered?” Sophie asked, her voice teasing. “Will you remember us when you’re a famous actress?”

“Oh, please. That isn’t going to happen.” Her smile faded. “About my mom...” she began.

Sophie stood and crossed to the door. “Don’t worry, kid. I know she did what she did and that’s okay. I’m looking at the bigger picture.” She started to walk out, then paused, feeling more unnamed emotions swelling up inside her. She turned back to Heather.

“Whatever happens, I’m always here for you. I’m a phone call away. When the CK offices burned down, Kristine was on the next flight out of Seattle. I’m making you the same promise. If something happens, I’ll be there in a heartbeat. No matter what it is.”

Heather’s eyes filled with tears. “I know. Thank you.”

Sophie waved and walked back toward her office. Once she got there, she looked at her computer, then groaned. She just couldn’t focus. She got her bag and walked out, swinging by Tina’s desk to tell her she would be gone for a couple of hours.

It only took fifteen minutes to drive to Dugan’s house. When she arrived, she marched up to the front door, only to realize she had no idea what she was going to say.

“Take me to Paris” seemed like an option, except they’d already talked about the south of France and didn’t that make things too France-centric? Italy was a possibility. Or Hong Kong. She’d always wanted to go to Hong Kong.

Just not today, she thought, ringing the bell. When he answered, she narrowed her gaze. “What is this game you’re playing? Are we a couple or not? What do you want from me and why won’t you sleep with me?”

He stepped back to let her inside, but didn’t close the door. Not exactly a promising beginning.

“You first,” he told her, his voice gentle. “You first, Sophie. What do you want us to be? A couple? Friends with benefits? Where do you see us short-term and long-term? Is there a long-term?”

“I don’t know. Relationships aren’t my thing.”

One corner of his mouth turned up. That man, she thought, trying not to be distracted by how good he looked.

“I figured that out the first day,” he said. “But here’s the thing. I’m not willing to just be a convenience. I know you’re comfortable being in charge and I’m okay with that—to a point. I know you’re never going to want anything traditional. You’re not the type to dream about getting married and having kids. I can handle that. But for this to work, you have to be willing to care about me.”

This was so much more information than she’d wanted. She’d been hoping he would say he was just waiting for her to ask for sex or something. Why did everything have to be so touchy-feely? People said women were emotional creatures, but they were wrong.

“I don’t know what that means.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her so she was facing the door, then gave her a little push. When she was on the front porch, he spoke again.