“Those are important things,” Bryna rationalized.
“Yep. I’m just going to sit here and drink until it really feels like that’s the reason he’s there.”
“That boy is crazy about you,” Maya said.
“And you’re crazy about him,” Stacia added.
“I don’t get why you’re stressing. I mean, Chloe is a bitch, but Damon digs you. I’m not entirely sure where this is all coming from.” Bryna searched Trihn’s eyes. “You act as if he’s already cheated on you when he’s only going to be there for a few more days. Neal was an asshole, but you didn’t even really love him. I don’t get the extent of your fears. What am I missing?”
Trihn grabbed her martini from the bar and started drinking. Of course they didn’t get it. They didn’t know her whole history. She had always compartmentalized her life. Maybe it was time for her to open up.
“You know Preston, my sister’s fiancé?”
“Yeah,” Bryna said, clearly wondering about the abrupt shift in the conversation. “You said he was a douche.”
“Yeah, that’s because he was my first real boyfriend. I fell in love with him, and then it turned out that he’d been with my sister the entire time. They didn’t even break up when the truth came out the summer after graduation. I’d been planning to go to NYU, but two weeks before classes were going to start, I dropped everything to come here. It was all because of him, all because he ruined my life.”
All of her friends were staring at her with their mouths hanging open. Even Maya had stopped pouring drinks to look at Trihn in shock.
“So there…trust issues on full display. And, yes, Damon knows all about this. And he’s still in LA and he still didn’t call right away and he still is with another girl at a club. And in case anyone has a shoddy memory, a club is where we met. So, don’t mind me if I decide to drink heavily tonight.”
Eric put his hands on Bryna and Stacia. “Maybe we should give her some space, y’all.”
“All right, Cowboy,” Bryna said, taking a step back. “We were just trying to help.”
He kissed the top of her head. “You did what you could, Hollywood.”
Trihn closed her eyes against the image of how freaking cute they were.
Stacia reached out and rubbed her shoulder. When Trihn opened her eyes, she was staring directly into Stacia’s baby blues.
“I know I’m not normally the serious one of the bunch, but just for the record, I don’t think Damon is cheating on you. I think he’s very much in love with you, and you have nothing to worry about.” Her voice dipped lower. “If I had something like that, I wouldn’t let it go, no matter what, Trihn. You’re really lucky.”
“I don’t feel particularly lucky tonight,” Trihn admitted. It was really strange to see Stacia be visibly vulnerable.
“Just have fun with us tonight, okay? It’ll be better in the morning with fresh eyes.”
Stacia held her hand out, and with a deep breath, Trihn put her hand in Stacia’s.
Maybe Stacia was right. Maybe things would be better in the morning.
DAMON HAD ALREADY STAYED a week longer than he’d expected. It was a lot more work than he’d thought it would be, and Chloe had been introducing him to a lot more people. But he had been prompt in calling Trihn every single day, which lessened her stress.
Stacia was right. After Trihn’s breakdown at Posse, she’d seen it with clearer eyes the next morning. She was letting her past relationships cloud this perfectly good one, and if she didn’t stop, she was going to lose Damon over her own foolishness.
Damon would get back when he got back. It was about time for his call again anyway. Trihn had her phone near her, but she was working diligently on some last-minute changes to one of her skirts. Everything had to be turned in for final approval on Monday, and then she could have her photo shoot and work on getting the models ready for the runway. Thankfully, Francesca had agreed to help.
When the phone rang, Trihn smiled brightly. “Hey you,” she answered.
“Oh, man, I have missed that voice.”
She laughed. “I miss you, too. How were your meetings today?”
“Long and tedious. If I have to make small talk with one more person, I’m going to stab myself in the eyes.”
“Don’t do that,” she said. “You’ll mess up your pretty face.”
“Yeah, well, Los Angeles is its own beast. Not sure how I’d feel if I had to be there all the time.”
“You grew up in London and Las Vegas. Shouldn’t you be used to big cities?”
“Sure. But LA has its own flare. It makes me want to eat a cheeseburger,” he admitted with a chuckle.
“Cheeseburgers sound good.”
There was a knock at her door, and she sighed, wondering who was here so late at night.
Bryna and Stacia were gone for the NCA nationals, and Trihn had the apartment to herself. It was nice for the peace and quiet but not so much for strangers knocking on the door.
“Hey, hold on. Someone is at the door,” she said, cradling the phone between her face and shoulder.