"You’re not that person anymore," Leo whispers.
As much as I want to question how the fuck he is reading my mind, I allow his words to infiltrate my thoughts. I’m not that person anymore. At least I don’t feel like I am, and Leo’s words confirm it. I take a few deep breaths and finally get my emotions under control.
When I lift my head and swipe the tears from under my eyes, I give Leo a weak smile.
"Let’s get out of here." He brushes my hair off my neck, dragging his finger over my skin like he always does. And just like that, Leo does far more than just center me. He anchors me to his soul in a way that solidifies that I’ll never be the same without him.
"I’m okay," I mumble, pretending to be strong, all the while wishing I could crawl into a hole and sleep for a hundred years. I turn to face the rest of the group with Leo securely at my side. "Hi," I say softly, trying to keep my voice from shaking.
Brett’s eyes bounce between me and Leo, curiosity and confusion covering his face.
"Hey, Sarah," Jesse responds with a sweet smile.
"We’re out of here," Brett bites out, giving Caleb a nod but not bothering to acknowledge anyone else.
"Brett, wait. I can leave. You don’t have to," I call out, feeling horrible that, once again, even inadvertently, I’m ruining something for him.
"Don’t do me any favors, " he replies roughly.
"Hey," Leo interrupts, but I quickly silence him with a shake of the head.
"Right. Okay, then. I’m sorry, Jesse," I tell her around the lump in my throat.
For reasons known only to her, Brett’s new wife has always been kind to me. I don’t know her well, and she has more than enough reason to hate me. But even with all the hell I put her through, she spoke on my behalf at my sentencing and has reached out to me several times over the last few years, all of which has been behind Brett’s back.
"Don’t worry about it. Goodnight," she calls over her shoulder with a smile. Her eyes flash to Leo as Brett marches her out of the restaurant.
"Come on, ángel. I’ll take you home." Leo strokes a hand over my back.
"No. I’m okay. Really," I answer with an Oscar-winning smile. On the inside, I’m freaking the fuck out. "I’m just going to go fix my makeup. Come on. Let’s eat."
"You sure?" He eyes me warily.
"Of course," I say sweetly, securing my Golden Globe win as well.
"I already have to pee again anyway," Erica announces, bracing her swollen stomach.
"All right. Girls’ trip to the bathroom two point oh," Emma says, linking her arm through mine.
Not even a half second after the bathroom door closes behind us, I sprint to the big stall and dry heave into the toilet.
"You need to ignore Brett," Emma calls out. "He can be a real asshole sometimes."
"He’s not the asshole," I grumble from behind the closed door.
"No, but it’s more fun to talk shit about him than it is to listen to you puke," Emma states with a laugh.
My hands are sweating, and I lean against the wall as Erica decides to join the conversation.
"I dated this guy in college who used to whisper sweet nothings in my ear like, ‘You’d be really hot if you got a boob job.’ Unfortunately for my apparently small breasts, it didn’t work out. A few months ago, when news broke that I was with Slate, he tracked me down and asked to borrow ten thousand dollars. We all have an asshole ex."
"Brett’s not a bad guy. I’m his version of the guy who asked for money." I walk out of the stall and start washing my hands.
"We still all have them. Everyone gets a turn in life at being the asshole. We’re no exception," she replies, and I stare at her curiously. "Regrets will only hold you down. Own the wrongs and move on." She shrugs. "Come on. Let’s get back out there. If I know Slate and Leo, they are probably arguing about something by now. You going to be okay?"
"Yeah. I think I am. Sorry you had to witness that."
"Sarah, you never have to explain yourself to me. Just keep doing what you’re doing to make Leo happy and I’d be willing to forgive anything." She smiles kindly.
"Thank you," I say, returning her smile. Then I clean my face, apply lip gloss, and head back to Leo—needing to feel his touch more than ever.
"Hey, ángel." He stands from his chair as soon as I walk up.
I fold my arms around his waist and fill my lungs with as much of Leo as I can possibly hold. "I’m sorry about all that. That was—"
"The ex-husband. No biggie. Caleb filled me in."
My eyes immediately flash to Caleb, who gives his head the tiniest shake, letting me know that my secrets are still safe.