Chapter 472
Mia’s POV
“There’s a new club. In the Meatpacking District. Very exclusive. Very-” Sophie makes a gesture. Fingers splaying.“–young p>
“Young p>
“I need to adjust my hormones, darling.” Sophie examines her nails. Perfect red. Perfectly manicured. “I’ve been surrounded by too much drama. Too much death. Too much-” She waves her hand. “-emotional complexity. I need something simple. Something uncomplicated p>
“Like a twenty–year–old with good abs p>
“Exactly like that.” Sophie smiles. “Or two. I’m not picky p>
Scarlett laughs. That bright sound she makes when something genuinely amuses her. “I’m coming with you p>
“Of course you are p>
“I need it.” She makes a frustrated sound. “I need some, you know, good men. Real good ones p>
Sophie is nodding along. Understanding. “Men need to be trained. Like dogs. They need to understand that there are rules. Expectations p>
“I don’t think Morton is a dog. He is a p>
“All men are dogs, Mia.” Sophie cuts her off. “Some are better trained than others. That’s the only difference p>
“And your Kyle is absolutely a dog.” Sophie says this like it’s obvious. “A well–bred one. Good genetics. Good bone structure. But still a dog. Still needs to be trained p>
I don’t have a response to that. “He is not mine p>
“Anyway,” Scarlett continues. “I’m coming tonight. I need to-” She gestures at her lower body. “-I need to clear out the cobwebs p>
“Cobwebs?” I repeat.
“Between my legs, Mia.” Scarlett says this completely straight–faced. “There are cobwebs between my legs. It’s been so long that spiders have moved in p>
“That’s disgusting p>
“It’s metaphorical p>
“It’s still disgusting p>
“It’s ACCURATE.” Scarlett’s voice rises slightly. Dramatic. “I haven’t had sex in-” She counts on her fingers. Stops. Counts again. “-too long. Way too long p>
I can’t help it. The words come out before I can stop them.
“Three weeks ago. Morton. His car. Ring any bells p>
Scarlett’s face goes red.
“SHUT UP p>
“I WILL KILL YOU p>
Sophie is laughing now. That full laugh she does. Head thrown back. Hand on her chest. “Oh mon Dieu. You had car sex? With Morton? After the divorce p>
Scarlett says through gritted teeth. “It was–it was a moment of weakness p>
“A moment that lasted two hours,” I add helpfully.
“MIA p>
“She told me everything, Sophie. Everything. There was a whole thing with the steering wheel p>
“I’m going to murder you.” Scarlett’s voice is deadly calm. “I’m going to murder you and no one will ever find the body p>
“The gearshift was also involved p>
“MIA p>
Sophie is crying now. Actually crying. Tears running down her face from laughing so hard. Her mascara somehow staying perfect because of course it does.
“The gearshift,” she manages between gasps. “What did what did Morton do with the gearshift p>
“Nothing happened with the gearshift!” Scarlett is standing now. Her face completely red. “Mia is making things up p>
“OKAY!” Scarlett’s hands come up. Surrender. “Okay. Fine. Yes. We had car sex. In the parking garage. Three weeks ago. Is everyone happy now p>
“I’m happy,” Sophie says. Wiping her eyes carefully. Not smudging her makeup. “I’m very happy p>
“I hate both of you p>
“No you don’t p>
Scarlett sits back down. Hard. Her chair scraping against the floor. “Fine. Fine. So I had car sex with my ex- husband. That doesn’t mean I’m not-” She gestures at her lower body again. “-experiencing a drought p>
“A drought,” Sophie repeats.
“Three weeks is a long time p>
“Three weeks is nothing. I went three months after my last divorce p>
“You’ve been divorced twice p>
“Three times, actually.” Sophie holds up three fingers. “But the third one doesn’t count. It was annulled after forty–eight hours p>
“Why p>
“He was boring.” Sophie shrugs. “I couldn’t stand it p>
“You annulled a marriage because he was boring p>
“Life is too short for boring men, Scarlett.” Sophie leans back. Crosses her legs. The silk of her pants catching the light. “But we’re getting off topic. Tonight. The club. Are you coming, Mia p>
I look at her. At both of them. My two best friends. Planning a night out like we’re still in our twenties. Like I don’t have three children at home. Like everything isn’t complicated and messy and fragile.
“I can’t p>
“You can’t or you won’t p>
“I can’t.” I pick up my coffee. It’s cold now. I drink it anyway. The bitterness coating my tongue. “I have the kids.
“Your mom could handle the children p>
“It’s not that simple.” I set the cup down. “I can’t just go out to clubs anymore. I have responsibilities. I have
“You have a life,” Sophie interrupts. “Or you should have. Outside of those children p>
“My life IS those children p>
“That’s not healthy p>
“That’s motherhood p>
“Come on,” Sophie says, turning to me, her voice coaxing. “You should come with us. Spa day, then maybe hit a bar after. Loosen up those mom muscles p>
“Yeah,” Scarlett jumps in, her jiggle starting up again. “When’s the last time you let loose? Pre–kids? Come on, Mia. One night. We’ll get you a cute outfit, do your hair p>
I shake my head, the idea landing like a rock in my stomach. “No way. Last time I went to club, Scarlett dragged me to that club–‘Paradise‘ or whatever. Next day, boom, pregnant. With twins, no less p>
Scarlett blinks. “What? I don’t know this story p>
“Paradise.” I say the name like it’s a curse. “Remember? That club you took me to? Four years ago? The one with the terrible music p>
“I remember Paradise p>
“You dragged me there. You said I needed to ‘loosen up.‘ You said I was ‘wound too tight.‘ You said-
“I remember what I said p>
“And I went. Against my better judgment. And I had-“I pause. Counting. “-three drinks. Maybe four. And I danced. And Kyle came. And we p>
I stop.