Chapter 9 – Sophie
9
SOPHIE
P romptly at 10 a.m., I am greeted by a car horn beeping excessively with the Spice Girls blaring in the background. I know immediately that Claire is here, and she made excellent time. I run out of the cottage and toward her car. She sticks her head out the window.
“I made it!” she shouts excitedly. She turns off the ignition and gets out of the car at the same time I get there. She throws her arms around me, and we squeal. “I missed you, Soph!” she says into my hair.
“I missed you too, Claire Bear!” I sniff. “Thank you for coming to see me.” We separate and I grab one of the duffel bags out of her trunk.
Claire hesitates before we head toward the cottage. “I drove by your house before I left,” she begins cautiously. “I wanted to see if it looked like James was still living there.”
I nervously chew on my lower lip. “And? What did you see?”
Claire takes a breath and reaches for my hand. “There were two cars in the driveway. James’ car and I guess the girl’s car? And a FOR SALE sign in the yard.” Claire squeezes the hand she’s holding. “I’m sorry, Soph.”
I exhale and nod. “I expected that, honestly. I’ve been avoiding his calls, but he’s been telling me he was going to list the house. I guess he didn’t need my blessing to do it.” I shrug, because what else can I do? “It’s really over.”
Claire nods sympathetically, her mouth turning downward in sadness. “It is. But you’ll be okay. I’m here.”
“Thank you,” I whisper and start walking toward the cottage.
Right then I decide we need mimosas with brunch.
* * *
Several hours later, I am laughing harder than I have laughed in a very long time. I didn’t realize how much I needed my best friend. We had brunch, walked around the Washington Street Mall, popped in and out of boutiques, and bought pretty things that we don’t really need. We walked on the beach, charged into the icy waves, and got ourselves soaking wet. Now, we’re sitting in the quiet room at Stillwater Spa, waiting for our massages, and we’re not being very quiet.
“Shh!” An older lady glares at us and points at the sign next to the door that reads Relaxation Room. Quiet Please. No Cell Phones .
Claire and I look at each other and giggle. I look at the lady and pretend to zip my lips and throw away the key. She turns back to her book, ignoring me. I lay back and close my eyes.
“Let’s go out tonight,” Claire whispers, forcing me to peek at her. “I think you need it.”
“I think I do too,” I agree.
* * *
It’s been ages since I got myself dressed and ready for a night on the town. I’m wearing my favorite boyfriend jeans and plunging red bodysuit that I haven’t worn in forever because James and I rarely went out. I got my hair done at the spa and then came home and put on makeup for the first time in way too long. My skin is soft and glowy from my massage, and I am feeling pretty good as I slip into my dressy black sandals.
“Girl, you are a knockout!” Claire gasps when I come out of the bathroom and do a little spin. “James who?” Then she squeals and throws her arms around me. “This is going to be okay. Everything is. And tonight, we party! When was the last time we went out together without husbands ?” She scrunches up her nose in mock distaste.
I laugh and shake my head. “You’re right. We need this. I need this. It’s Saturday night. Tomorrow I will figure out what I am doing with my life. I keep saying tomorrow but I really mean it. Tomorrow.”
“You got it, sis. I’m calling an Uber. We’re not taking any chances tonight.” She requests the Uber while I spritz on some of her perfume and a little guava lip gloss. By the time I finish our ride is here. We slide into the backseat of a white Toyota Prius. The driver is a young guy in his twenties.
“Va va voom, ladies! Where we going?” He looks at his driver app. “The Rusty Nail. Groovy. There’s live music there tonight!” He pulls away from the curb and for the first time in a long time, I feel free.
* * *
I feel like my younger self as we take seats at the bar closest to the live music. A cover band is playing all kinds of beachy tunes, like Jimmy Buffet and Kenny Chesney. I can tell the crowd in the bar is mostly locals, but everyone seems to be enjoying the mid-spring vibes on a Saturday night.
Claire waves her hand up to the cute bartender and he saunters over.
“Hiiii, can we have two shots of tequila please?” She gives her best flirtatious smile even though her two-carat diamond engagement ring is casting a glare in all directions.
“Sure thing, girls. What are we celebrating?” he asks. When Claire and I look at each other with raised eyebrows, he adds, “You always have to be celebrating something on a Saturday night, even if it’s just because it’s the weekend.” His smile is infectious, and I can tell this is his MO with all the women who come in here.
Claire looks at me and shrugs.
“Divorce!” I say, holding up my nearly empty margarita left over from dinner with a big smile. “And moving on.”
“Here, here!” A guy next to me holds his drink up in agreement. “Marriage sucks!” He has a lean build, tousled brown hair, and kind hazel eyes. And he’s very cute. We take our shots, and he takes a sip of his drink before turning to us. “I’m guessing you girls aren’t from around here,” he drawls in a very Jersey accent. He grins and the dimple in his left cheek catches my attention.
“You would be correct,” I say with a smile.
“I’m Claire, this is Sophie. We’re from Scranton,” Claire offers. “I’m here just for the weekend but my girl, Sophie is here…” She pauses to glance at me, cocking her head. “How long are you here for?”
“You know,” I mimic her head tilt. “I’m thinking about staying a while longer.”
“Staying, eh? In that case, I’m Miles.” He offers his hand to Claire first. “This is Danny and Jack. We’ve lived here our whole lives.”
The other two guys give “married guy” waves in our direction, and they aren’t nearly as interested in engaging with us as Miles is. Before I know it, Miles has conned us all into more tequila shots.
Miles and I share several dances up front near the stage as Claire watches from our bar seats. Miles is cute, and the tequila is making me forget all about the fact that my life is crumbling. Then I’m back at the bar, laughing and taking shots and singing along to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville when Danny turns to me. “Did you say your name is Sophie?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.
I nod, taking another big sip. “That’s me. Cute little lonely recently divorced Sophie.” I bop my shoulders up and down to the music. I’m going to cringe thinking about this tomorrow, I just know it.
“Are you staying with Ellie?” he asks, clearly more interested now.
“I am ,” I slur. “For the foreseeable future, I think.” I am getting a little sloppy now. “Why? Want to come over?” I give him my best flirtatious wink. Claire puts a water glass in front of me.
“Drink,” she says firmly. “I think you’re flagged.”
“I am not flagged!” I huff and turn back to Danny. “Am I flagged?” I pout.
Danny smiles and nods his head. “I think so. No, I’m not coming over.” He points at his wedding ring. “But I do know Ellie well, and Liam.”
“Oh, Liam! That asshole,” I shout. Miles barks out a laugh, as if it is the funniest thing he’s ever heard. Danny shoots him a look I am too drunk to interpret.
“Liam is an asshole,” Miles agrees, nodding vigorously.
Danny holds up his hands in defense. “Okay, okay. Liam can be …difficult, but he’s my best friend. Knock off the Liam bashing.” He puts his beer down and turns back to the band.
“You started it,” I challenge, a hand on my hips.
Claire takes my drink out of my hands. “Well, boys, it was super great to meet you, but our Uber is here so we’re going to go.” Claire signs the check for the tab that I didn't know she asked for, drapes my jacket over my shoulders, and leads me out of The Rusty Nail before I can even say my goodbyes.
* * *
“But I don’t want to leave!” I whine as Claire puts me in the back of a car.
“It’s time, babe. You’ve had a lot to drink, and you won’t like either of us tomorrow.” Then to the Uber driver, “Hey, can you stop at a CVS or a grocery store?”
“Sure thing,” he says, which is the only thing this driver says the entire drive. He’s probably not interested in engaging two drunk girls.
“Oooh…What are we getting?” I ask Claire, excitedly.
“ You are waiting in the car. I am getting Liquid IV and ramen.” Claire chuckles, grabbing her bag as the driver pulls up to the CVS on the next block. “Be right back. Don’t move.” Back in college we ate ramen after every night out, and to this day we still swear it’s the magic hangover preventer. Something about the salt balancing out all the alcohol.
I sigh and lean back on the seat. I pull out my phone and see a text from James.
James: I listed the house but you need to sign some things. We really need to talk, Sophie.
Maybe it’s all the tequila but for the first time, I want to text him back. I hesitate, my thumbs moving over the touch screen. I’m not sure what to say.
Me: I’m drunk. And I danced with another man tonight. And I think I am moving to Cape May.
James: Come home and talk to me.
Decisions made while drinking are never the best ones but after spending the day in Cape May with Claire, meeting locals this past week, and seeing the town with new adult eyes, I really can envision myself here. I don’t want to leave next week. I know my judgment may be clouded by tequila, but maybe I can take a leave of absence from work or see clients virtually. Maybe I can stay here a little longer.
Me: I will. If I am staying here, I will have to get all of my things from my dad’s house.
James: I have some things of yours still.
Me: Well, you can bring them over there.
James: Okay. I’ll do that. I’m sorry.
That’s it? That’s freaking it? I realize that I have started to cry right as Claire slides her butt back in the car. Her brow creases and her face falls. “What’s wrong?” she asks with great concern.
I sniffle but I can’t talk or the dam will break and it will no longer be just a few tears. Instead, I hold up my phone screen so she can read the exchange. She skims the text chain and then puts my phone in her purse. “Fuck him. I’m making us ramen.”