The Hero + Vegas = No Regrets

It’s late and Sophia is entirely out of energy. Everything about her is heavy—her gaze, her footsteps, her hand in mine. I take off her coat as she steps into the hotel suite. Then I bend and take off her shoes. “Can I run you a bath?”

She shakes her head. “I just want to lie on the bed and watch movies and eat junk.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.” She’ll be asleep in ten minutes. I head to the closet. “I hope you don’t mind, I had Jules pack up some stuff and I got it sent over.”

“What stuff?” She turns and sees her clothes hanging in the wardrobe.

“I thought you’d want to be comfortable.”

“How? I mean… that’s so incredibly nice of you, Worth.”

“It’s nothing. I had my housekeeper pack up some things of mine too.” I check the drawers. “Yeah. We have sweats. And thick socks. Perfect for a movie.”

It’s past midnight, but if she needs a movie to sleep, that’s what she’ll get.

I guide her over to the bed. I pull out some comfortable clothes and start to undress her. I work quickly, pulling down the zipper of her dress before pulling a hoodie over her head.

“I’m so tired,” she says.

I nod. “It’s late. You’ve had an exceptionally long day.”

I kneel at her feet and help her into her sweatpants, then lift her onto the bed and hand her the remote. “I’m just going to change.”

I do, and Sophia flicks through the TV channels.

“Find anything?” I ask.

“Nope. I need a murder mystery or something. Dark but not gory.”

“Agatha Christie-ish?”

“Exactly.”

I take the remote from her and scroll through the channels until I land on an adaptation starring loads of British actors. Next stop is the minibar, to gather snacks. “I have popcorn, gummy bears, or M&M’s.”

“Yes, please.”

I crawl onto the bed next to Sophia and she shifts to be closer to me, resting her head on my chest. “You okay?” I stroke her hair away from her face as she focuses on the TV.

“You know that woman who got out of the elevator as we were leaving?”

I think I know what she’s going to say, but I keep my suspicions out of my voice. “Yeah,” I say.

“She’s been having an affair with my dad for twenty-five years. She has two kids with him. And my mom has known for decades.”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Fuck, Sophia. That’s a lot. You just found out?”

“During my last trip to Cincinnati. My mom announced she wanted a divorce.” She pauses to shove a handful of M&M’s into her mouth. Once she chews and swallows, she continues. “I don’t even understand why—or any of it. Part of me wants every detail, wants to hear my dad explain why he betrayed us all. Why he lied and cheated all this time. And then another part of me just wants to run away and pretend it’s not happening.” She takes another M&M and pops it in my mouth. “My dad has been calling me nonstop since I found out. I haven’t accepted a single one. Haven’t answered any of his texts.” Her voice breaks. “You think that’s why he had a heart attack?”

“I don’t,” I say.

She looks up at me. “You don’t?”

“He’s been living a double life for twenty-five years, Sophia. He’s hidden the births of two children from his family. I’m pretty sure he’s had more stressful weeks than this one. He knows you love him.”

“I’m not sure I do.” Her voice is clipped and hard, which is hardly surprising. It’s a lot for anyone to take in.

“There’s a lot to process. You haven’t done anything wrong in this scenario.”

“You don’t think ignoring him was wrong? Or refusing to come home for Thanksgiving?”

“Your mom was hosting him at Thanksgiving?”

“Just like nothing happened. My brothers are the same—they’re just getting on with it, like this is business as usual. He’s still dear old Dad and we’re still the perfect family, white picket fence and everything.”

“I’m sure what you’re seeing isn’t what they’re feeling. Everyone copes differently. They probably feel as paralyzed and upset as you do. There’s no one way to grieve.”

“Not my mom. She says she’s had a long time to get used to it, and is perfectly fine with the whole, ‘Can you pass the gravy, Geoff?’ thing.”

“Fine?” I ask. “Or trying to be fine so you and your brothers don’t feel as bad?”

She sighs and opens the bag of popcorn. “That house is… I couldn’t go back there. Do you mind me coming back with you?”

“Sophia,” I say, my tone admonishing. “Do I mind? Of course I don’t mind. I’d ask you to move into the brownstone tomorrow if I thought you’d say yes.”

“Don’t ask me tonight, because I might just say yes.”

My heart inches higher and higher, and I’m so tempted to jump in and ask, but Sophia’s like a pressure cooker. She doesn’t need me adding any additional complications to her life at the moment.

“Let’s put a pin in that conversation for now.”

“I haven’t told anyone,” she says. “Not even Jules. About my parents or my dad’s second family.”

I keep my eyes on the TV, but my heart pushes in my chest at the thought of being her only confidant. “How come?”

“I found out a week before the wedding. I thought hearing about how much of a sham my parents’ relationship has been for the last twenty-five years might take the shine off.”

I continue to stroke her hair. “You’re a good friend. But I’m sure she’d want to know.”

She sighs. “I know. I don’t want to burst her bubble… and, I just… when I’m in New York, I can pretend it’s not real. If I tell Jules, then I have to deal with it or something. Don’t say anything, okay? Not to Leo, not to any of them?”

“You have my word.” Now’s not the time to tell her she probably needs to share this burden with her friends—because in my experience, it’s not until she starts to believe it that she’ll begin to heal.

She shifts so she’s sitting up next to me and leans her head on my shoulder. “Thank you, Worth. For all of this.”

“It’s nothing, Sophia.”

She looks up at me. “Don’t say that. It’s more than I ever could have expected.”

“Then you need to start expecting more,” I say. “You deserve everything.”

A small smile twitches at the corners of her lips, but she still looks so sad. I wish I could take it away from her. “You say the nicest things.” She looks away and pulls in a breath. “You should sleep. Do you want me to turn off the TV?”

“What about you?” I ask. “You should try and rest.”

She shakes her head resolutely. “I won’t sleep tonight.”noveldrama

“Then neither will I,” I say. “I won’t leave you alone.”

“You’re right here.”

“You can be near a person and still be alone, Sophia. If you’re not sleeping, neither am I. I’m here to talk if that’s what you want. I’m here for foot rubs if that’s what you want. I’m here to play goddamn charades if that’s what you want. I’m here with you, and I’m not going anywhere.”

She pulls in a deep breath, and when she exhales, her shoulders settle lower than before. For the first time tonight, there’s a sense of peace in her expression. If I’ve been able to help her with that, just a little, it’s more than I could have hoped to achieve. Even though I’ve only known Sophia a short time and logic says it doesn’t make sense, I’d do anything for this woman in my arms.

“After your dad has finished all his tests and been discharged, he should get a full physical. And a second opinion. Just so you all have a little more certainty. I have a number of contacts who would be able to help. I can arrange it if you want.”

She turns her head and presses a kiss to my shoulder. “Thank you.”

“I’m just pleased I could be here. Pleased I could do something.”

“I don’t need foot rubs or charades,” she says. “Just you.”

My chest expands at her words. How is it that I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been on my own with this woman, but I feel so protective of her? It felt like I got hit by a thunderbolt when I met her, but my feelings have only gotten stronger since then. I love her compassion for her friends and the way she can handle my sisters. I love her humor and the way she cares so deeply. I love holding her and helping her. I just want to be with her.

I’m in so deep, I’m worried I’ll never come back up if she doesn’t feel the same way.