Chapter 27

“What?” She screws up her face, confused and wary, yet still pissed. Not a good combo on her. She pulls her hand away, and I sigh slowly, edgy, knowing deep down this heavy ache is anxiety at an all-time high. This is not going to be good.

“Natasha is here. She wants to collect some things and to talk. I just need you not to react.” I try to keep my cool; that flicker of rage in her face makes my stomach drop further, and honestly, for the first time in my life, I wish Natasha would not come up and leave me to work on getting Sophie back to sunny. I can handle Sophie when I’m left alone with her. I cannot take Sophie when she throws a shitstorm around other people.

“I’m staying right here to eat. I’m not moving from this room, so if you want to talk, then take her elsewhere.” She snaps and goes back to eating. Digging her heels in and being her delightfully difficult self, always making a point of making me put her over Tasha. She doesn’t think I’ve noticed how many time