Chapter 23 – Sophie
23
SOPHIE
I walk quickly up to Lafayette Street, where we walked together last night, in search of Liam’s gym. It doesn’t take me long to spot the sign with black lettering that reads LOCAL outlined in red. I am frozen on the sidewalk for a moment, taking it in. This is not your typical gym where you may find group exercise classes, a sauna, or a locker room. No, this is entirely open air with nothing but groups of bulky men lifting, not a woman in sight. I am not sure if this place is exactly what I’m looking for. I’m busy hesitating out front when I see Melanie walk in through the open front doors.
She notices me too because she turns around, shades her eyes and says, “Are you just going to stand there or are you going to come in and work out?”
This is the push I need, so I follow her inside. She’s signing in at a kiosk at the counter when I walk up. The older gentleman working sizes me up. “Can I help you?” he asks.
“Hi… Yes. I just moved here. I’m looking for a gym membership.” I pause and look around. To my right is an assortment of cardio machines, ellipticals, stationary bikes, treadmills, and stair climbers. Further back where the meatheads are assembled appears to be various free weights and machines with bigger weights that I don’t know the names of. There’s a staircase to a smaller loft area where, when I look up, I am surprised to see a few women. I exhale and raise my eyebrows. “I guess you don’t have any group exercise classes here, huh?” I laugh nervously.
The man doesn’t laugh back but Melanie cackles from her place at the counter where she’s watching our interaction all too closely.
“Listen, lady, have you tried the yoga place up the street?” he offers.
“I have. I need something…different,” I say, looking around again.
“Well, this gym ain’t fancy. What you see is what you get. Take it or leave it,” he says. He turns away from me to answer the phone. I’m looking at the membership options and silently mulling them over when Melanie interrupts my thoughts.
“Sophie, right? Liam’s new neighbor?” She cracks her gum and leans on the glass countertop next to me.
“Yep...that’s me.” I blow air out of my mouth and don’t meet her eyes.
“If you decide to join, I could take you through my routine. Maybe help you navigate the weights,” she offers. She seems genuine but since Liam just permanently friend zoned her, I don’t know what to think. I don’t have time to answer her before the man hangs up the phone and turns back to me.
“So, what’ll it be?” He leans on the counter opposite me and now I’m sandwiched between him and Melanie. “You two know each other?” He’s talking to Melanie.
“Yeah, Duke, we do.” She cracks her gum again. “Sophie here just moved in next to Liam. What do you say we let her try it out before she joins?” Melanie asks, and if I’m not mistaken, bats her eyes at Duke.
Duke drops his hands in defeat. “Whatever.”
Melanie smiles big then turns to me. “Let’s go!”
* * *
I’m not sure what I’m doing or how I got here but I am sitting at a chest press machine pushing the lightest amount of weight possible and Melanie is next to me talking my ear off. So far, I have learned that she has lived here all of her life and that Liam is…or was…her best friend. She told me about the car accident and how Liam is fucked up from it and can’t sustain normal relationships. I don’t know what to say to all of this, so I just listen to her and react in short answers. She doesn’t ask me anything about myself or why I moved here and that much I appreciate.
“Liam just doesn’t know what he wants. I just feel so sorry for what he has been through, so I keep going back to him. But like, it’s so stupid . Not anymore.” She snaps her gum.
We switch spots so Melanie can take her turn. She adjusts the weight up twenty pounds from what I did, and I want to laugh but can’t because I’m too busy digesting this information. Hearing Melanie talk about Liam in this way should scare me. After all, she’s another woman and she’s been scorned by him. Instead, it only makes me want to know him more. I want to peel back his layers and uncover the broken man that I know is hiding underneath his prickly exterior. Fix him? I shake the thought away immediately.
“That’s…really sad,” I tell her, meaning it. “Liam hasn’t told me anything personal about himself.” That much is true. We made it home from our walk last night before he could share anything. I like to think maybe he would have if we had more time.
Melanie finishes her set, and we move on to another machine that says chest fly. Melanie hasn’t explained anything to me about how to use these machines. She is just waiting for me to sit down and figure it out. I let her go first this time. “And all my friends are married to his friends which is super annoying. So, he makes me mad and then I can’t even really avoid him. I’m tired of waiting for him to figure things out though.”
“Mmm.” I nod. “I can see why.” It’s my turn now and I sit down and start to mimic the same motion I watched Melanie do moments before.
“Anyway, you should totally come out with me tonight. You’re new in town, you look single. Why don’t we go out and try to find some men?” She snaps that gum again.
I stop what I’m doing. How did I get here? I look single? And why is she being so friendly? “I don’t know…” I trail off.
“Oh come on, girl! Live a little. Be my wing woman. I promise, I’m a ton of fun.” Melanie does a little dance that reminds me of something Claire might do. I really don’t have a good reason not to go, other than it would probably irk the hell out of Liam. But why am I worried about what Liam thinks? It wouldn’t hurt me to have a girlfriend here since my best friend is four hours away, and Ellie is not exactly in my age bracket. “I will introduce you to some locals. You’ll fit right in.”
Work on building your social circle, Doc’s words echo in my head.
I stand up, ready to move to the next machine and take a sip of water. Melanie has stopped talking now and is eyeing me suspiciously. I know she’s waiting for me to give her an answer.
“Okay, okay. Yeah, why not?”
“Yes! That’s my girl.” Melanie claps. “We’re going to have a great time.”
“Okay. Where are we going?” I ask, following her over to a flat bench and some free weights.
“You ever heard of The Rusty Nail?”
* * *
I call Claire on my walk back from the gym and neither of us knows what to make of the interaction with Melanie.
“That’s so weird!” Claire says. “And last time you saw her she acted like you didn’t exist?”
“Last time I saw her it was super contentious and awkward. Like she didn’t like me babysitting for Liam.” I stop at a Do Not Walk and take a swig of my water. The streets are filling with people walking to get breakfast or coffee or on their morning jogs. The Saturday morning air is salty and sweet, and I can hear the sound of the ocean. I want to be optimistic. “Maybe she just needs a friend?” I suggest. “She did say all of her friends are married to Liam’s friends.”
Claire makes a tsk sound. “I don’t know. It’s fishy to me. Be careful. Maybe take your own car.” She sounds like a mama bear. “I wish I was there to go out with you again. That place was fun.”
“Maybe you and Derek can come for Memorial Day?” I suggest. “And I will be careful. I don’t have anything to lose by trying to make friends. And she doesn’t know anything about me. Nor did she ask.”
“See, that’s what makes it weird to me,” Claire says thoughtfully. “Why wouldn’t she want to know more about you?”
“Maybe she is thinking she’ll find out tonight? How about this… You call me at 9 p.m. and if it sucks, I’ll make your call an excuse to leave.” I laugh. “Just like our bad dates in college.”
“Okay. I will do that. And Sophie, I mean it… Be careful.”
“I will, Claire. Thanks for always looking out.” We hang up and I am left alone with my thoughts. Maybe I should tell Liam I am going out with Melanie tonight? I don’t want to upset him when things appear to be going well between us. I think I like him and I hope maybe he likes me, too. I’ll just see how tonight goes. Anyway, he already told me he has plans tonight, too.
As I come up on the house, I see him in the garden still looking like an Abercrombie model straight out of the early 2000s catalog.
Liam stands up when he sees me coming, grabbing his water bottle and taking a swig. He grins at me. “I thought you got lost,” he jokes.
I force a laugh. “No, not lost. I did get a good workout in though, so thank you.” I push my lips together eyeing him carefully. “You got a lot done out here,” I muse, assessing his progress.
“I’m glad,” he says, raking a hand through his hair. “I’m just finishing up. Do you want to have some lunch with me and Ellie?”
Yes. But I’m afraid to tell him I’m hanging out with Melanie tonight. “I can’t,” I hesitate, chewing on my lip. “I haven’t finished unpacking and I’m going out tonight, so I need to find something to wear in those boxes.” I laugh half-heartedly.
Liam looks like he wants to say something else to me, but he swallows and remains quiet for a moment, surveying the garden. Then he turns back to me with a tight smile. “Well, have fun… I’ll see you tomorrow for yoga, right?”
I grin. “Definitely.”
* * *
I’m getting ready a few hours later when I get a text from James. A realtor is coming to assess the house on Monday and he’ll let me know what they think is a good listing price. The realization hits me that we’re not just selling our house, we’re selling dreams we built together when we bought it. My eyes well with tears and I angrily bat them away. In no universe could things have worked out for us, but the loss of the hope I had when we bought the house, well, that hurts almost as much.
I try to focus on getting myself ready. I blow out my hair straight, which is something I don’t do often. I wear a pair of loose white boyfriend jeans and a blue top with a plunging neckline. I cuff the ankles and slide on a gold pair of gladiator sandals. Just for fun, since I don’t wear it often, I put on some jewelry—little anchor earrings and a shell bracelet. I put on my favorite guava color lip gloss and perfume, and I am ready.
I head downstairs to find Ellie sitting on the couch with Lucy reading a book. “Wow, Sophie. You look great, dear.” She smiles. “Who are you going out with? Not Liam?”
I would assume Liam had told her where he was going but I don’t ask because I don’t want to seem too interested. I’m being very careful with how I act around Liam and how I talk about him to Ellie. I’m not sure how she would feel if she knew I might be interested in him.
“Actually…Melanie. I met her at the gym today and she convinced me.” I put my hands in my back pockets.
Ellie can’t hide her surprise. “Oh…well, then. Have fun. And be careful. Are you driving?”
“I have an Uber coming in just a minute,” I assure her. “I never drink and drive. And I just got a text from James about a realtor coming to the house, so I have a feeling I’m going to need a few drinks tonight.” I sigh. My phone buzzes letting me know my ride's here. “Don’t wait up.” I smile and turn to go.
“Bye Sophie, and please be safe!” Ellie calls after me.
* * *
I text Melanie when I get to The Rusty Nail, and she meets me at the door. I can already hear the band getting started. It’s a different band from last weekend when I came with Claire. This one is playing early 2000s pop-punk hits. I feel a rush of excitement as we walk in. Melanie seems to know everyone and is saying hi to people left and right as we make our way to the back corner of the wrap-around bar to a few other girls.
“I’ll introduce you to my friends,” Melanie says. “They’re married so they aren’t much fun.” She laughs at her own joke, and I pretend to laugh because I like to think I was still fun when I was married. We get to the corner, and I can see the other women sizing me up. One of them is tall and thin with curly blonde hair and clear blue eyes. The other one is shorter and rounder with a long brunette bob and eyelash extensions that I can’t unsee. “Ladies, we’re here!” Melanie sidles up to the girls and leans on the bar to get the bartender’s attention. “Sophie, these are my friends, Steph and Kristen. Girls, this is Sophie. She is staying with Ellie.”
“Ohhhh.” The blonde gives a knowing look. “So, you’re Sophie.”
I instantly feel awkward. How has she heard about me? I laugh, nervously. “How do you know of me?” I ask, trying my best to play it cool.
Once Kristen explains that she’s married to Danny, Liam’s friend, it feels less nefarious. But I can’t help feeling funny about being out with Liam’s people right now.
The same jolly bartender from last Saturday comes over. “What’ll it be ladies? And what are we celebrating?” He smiles the same effervescent smile I remember from the week before. Then he notices me. “Oh, hey! Divorce girl. I remember you from last week.”
I grit my teeth through a smile. “Hi…yeah. It’s me. Sophie,” I remind him. Then to the girls, I explain how we met the last time I was here.
“That makes so much more sense now,” Steph says, taking a sip of her mixed drink.
“So, what are you having, Sophie, Melanie?” he asks, expectantly.
“I think…I’m going to do a margarita on the rocks again,” I say.
“Oooh that sounds good, me too!” Melanie says. “And how about four shots of tequila to go with it?”
Our happy host, whose name I find out is Bobby, comes back with our drinks and in no time, I feel relaxed. Stephanie and Kristen seem kind enough and no one has asked me anything super personal, since we moved past the divorce thing. We take our shot…and then another, and I am feeling proud of myself for taking an Uber here. All feels right until I look up and see a group of guys headed our way. Two with wedding rings and two without. Trailing at the back of the pack is none other than…Liam. And he’s as surprised to see me as I am to see him.