Chapter 78
78
SOPHIE
“ F eeling better now that you’re nice and drunk, Soph?” Conor asked. They were several yards behind Gavin and Colette as they walked along the Seine back toward the hotel in opposite couplings after a particularly wine-heavy dinner. She couldn’t imagine what those two had to say. They’d sniped at each other all night. But she was too drunk, as Conor just helpfully pointed out, to worry about them.
“Yes, I feel?—”
Conor grabbed her arm to kept her from wavering. He steadied her and then put his arm around her to support her for the walk.
Sophie leaned her head into his shoulder, wrapping her arm around his waist. After a moment, she reached under his jacket for added warmth.
“You’ve got to sort yourself out, you know,” he told her quietly and then kissed the top of her head quickly. “You need to find your own way, honey.”
“What does that mean?” she mumbled.
“Just that it might be to your benefit to think about doing what’s right for you. Take care of yourself. Gavin’s a grown man—he can manage, you know?”
She turned to look up at him. “He’s my husband and he needs me.”
“Then you better run along and get him,” he replied, removing his arm from her.
The wine had left her head swimming and her vision slightly blurred. Conor’s anger at her was another rude awakening. It had never occurred to her that he would lose patience with her, that his adoration had limits.
They stopped on the street while Gavin and Colette walked on.
“Don’t be angry with me, Connie,” she whispered.
He took her hand into his and squeezed it. “I’m not, honey. I just . . . I want more for you. You deserve better.”
“This is what I have right now. And anyway, it’ll be better soon. Gavin promised me.”
He nodded warily. “Okay, then. Let’s walk. You need to get that alcohol out of your system if you’re to do the shows tomorrow, aye?”
She thought about the day that lay ahead of her, of the absurdly high heels and breathtakingly tight-fitting clothing she’d have to strut in under hot, bright lights, and she grew dizzy. She leaned into Conor and was grateful once more when he didn’t hesitate in holding her up.