41| Seeking Comfort

After returning home from the luncheon, Sophie felt a wave of loneliness crash over her. The entire afternoon had left her drained—dealing with Claire, Claire's friends, their passive-aggressive jabs. She felt emotionally exhausted and just wished Ethan was here.

Maybe she wouldn't even tell him how hard it was to fit into his world, but if he were home, he'd ask her how she was feeling, order food she liked, and simply sit with her. His presence alone would be enough.

The house felt too quiet, too empty without him. Unable to shake off the longing, Sophie wandered into Ethan's room. He had always told her she was welcome to go in, but she rarely did—there had never been a reason to.

The moment she stepped inside, his familiar cologne wrapped around her, strong and unmistakably Ethan. She could smell him everywhere, but he wasn't here. The ache in her chest deepened.

Without thinking, she crawled onto his bed. The cool sheets felt soothing against her skin, and the comforter was warm and inviting. Hugging his pillow tightly, she closed her eyes and finally allowed herself to relax—something she hadn't done in days.

She picked up her phone from the nightstand and scrolled to Ethan's last text:

"Going to bed now. Sleep well, Sophie."

True to his word, he called her every morning before his meetings, after his meetings, and before bed. His texts were sweet in a way that made her heart melt. He wasn't one to use emojis, but lately, he'd been adding them—awkward little hearts and smiley faces she could tell he wasn't used to. It was so adorably out of character that she'd found herself smiling at every single one.

But his calls—those were what she looked forward to the most. Hearing his voice so close in her ear, so warm and familiar, made the distance feel unbearable. God, she just wanted him home. She wanted to see him, hold him, kiss him again.

"I miss you, Ethan," she whispered into the quiet room.

As she drifted off to sleep, her mind wandered to all the things they'd do when he returned—simple, happy moments. Just being with him. That thought alone was enough to lull her into peaceful sleep, a soft smile lingering on her lips.

*******

Sophie stood behind the counter of her flower shop, absentmindedly arranging a bouquet. Just yesterday, she and Lily had hosted a workshop—the day right after the luncheon with Claire and her minions.

The workshop had been a breath of fresh air. It was filled with kind, enthusiastic women eager to learn the art of floral arrangements, women who reminded her why she loved doing this in the first place. It had recharged her, given her a sense of purpose.

And yet, even with the satisfaction of doing something meaningful, her mind kept drifting.

Two more days. Just two more days, and Ethan would be back.

The thought sent a pang through her chest, the kind that made her fingers falter over the bouquet she was arranging.

The soft chime of the shop's doorbell pulled her back. She looked up to see Mia walking in, her usual bright smile faltering the second she caught sight of Sophie.

"Hey, Sophie," Mia greeted, stepping up to the counter. "You look like you need a hug."

Which was usually Mia's code for you look like you just got hit by a truck.

Sophie managed a small, tired smile. "Hey, Mia. I'm fine, just a little exhausted from the luncheon and the workshop yesterday."

Mia narrowed her eyes. "Then why are you here today? You worked your ass off yesterday. You need a break." She leaned against the counter, arms crossed, concern etched into her face. "Have you even eaten today?"

Sophie hesitated. "I'm not really hungry."

Mia's jaw dropped. "Not hungry? Oh, no. That's it. You need some serious friend time." She clapped her hands together. "Let's go get Lily and have a girls' day out."

Sophie sighed, already shaking her head. "I don't know, Mia. I have a lot of work to do here."

Mia waved a hand dismissively. "The flowers will survive without you for a few hours. Come on, Sophie. You need a break."

Before Sophie could protest, the door swung open again. Lily strode in, still brushing off her hands—she had just finished delivering an order down the street. The moment she spotted Sophie behind the counter, she narrowed her eyes.

"Sophie," Lily called out, placing her hands on her hips. "I told you I better not catch you working when I got back!"

Sophie groaned. "I'm not in the mood for a Sophie versus Mia and Lily showdown," she muttered, rubbing her temple. "I'm fine. I'm not even that tired."

Who was she kidding?

Lily and Mia exchanged a knowing glance before Lily crossed her arms. "That's it. You're coming with us. We're not taking no for an answer."

Sophie looked between the two of them, seeing their matching determined expressions. She sighed, finally giving in.

"Alright, you win," she relented, tossing her apron onto the counter. "A day out sounds... nice."

Mia and Lily exchanged triumphant grins before each grabbing one of Sophie's arms and dragging her toward the door.

"We need something fresh this time," Lily declared. "Let's go to that fancy street on Sixth—the one with all the cute cafés and expensive little boutiques."

"Ooh, I'm so down," Mia said as she led the way to her car.

Sophie couldn't help but smile as they bundled her into the car. Maybe a day out with her best friends didn't sound so bad after all.

Their first stop was a cozy café known for its delicious brunches. The kind of place with soft jazz playing in the background and mismatched porcelain teacups. They settled into a corner booth as the waiter took their orders.

Mia picked up one of the delicate teacups, turning it in her hands with an exaggerated expression. "Every time I come here, I feel like some fancy British aristocrat," she mused, raising her pinky dramatically.

Lily snorted. "If that's the case, then why do you always go ham on the menu? I'll tell you right now, Mia, you definitely don't eat like a refined British aristocrat."

Mia gasped, feigning deep offense. "Excuse me? How am I supposed to choose when everything looks so good?"

Sophie chuckled, shaking her head. "Mia, you're a menace. Last time we were here, you ordered so much we had to walk off our food coma before we could even function again."

"And you loved every second of it," Mia shot back with a smirk. "Besides, today, we're going to eat like queens and laugh like there's no tomorrow. Right, Sophie?"

Sophie hesitated for a second, then smiled. "Right." And for the first time in days, she actually meant it.

Their food arrived soon after, and they dug in immediately. Conversation flowed effortlessly between them—they talked about everything, their laughter filling the café with warmth.

"Soph, your outfit from the luncheon was too good. Me and Lily were raving about it in the group chat," Mia said between bites of her pancake. "You need to post it on IG . Those photos are to die for."

Sophie smiled, shaking her head. "Thank you, Mia. But you know I wouldn't have even picked that outfit if it weren't for you two."

"How was the luncheon, anyway?" Lily asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sophie hesitated, cutting a piece of her waffle. "The luncheon itself was actually... amazing. The women there were so elegant. I mean, they dressed beautifully just to have lunch."

"Itself?" Lily pressed. "What do you mean by that?"

Sophie sighed, setting down her fork. "Well... it started off really nice. Evelyn introduced me to all her friends, and they even invited me for afternoon tea at their homes."

Her voice softened slightly. "But during the luncheon, I was seated next to Claire and her friends, and—" she sighed, her head dropping slightly, "they were determined to make my life hell."

Mia's expression darkened. "That woman has some nerve. What did she do this time?"

"Just the usual," Sophie said with a sigh. "Snide comments about me not belonging, how I'm a poor little Cinderella who doesn't deserve their golden boy Ethan. It's exhausting."

Lily pushed back her chair slightly. "That's it. Where do they live? Because I swear, I will—"

Mia grabbed her wrist, rolling her eyes. "Sit down, drama queen." Then she turned back to Sophie, her voice gentler but no less protective. "Does Ethan know how mean she is to you?"

Sophie shrugged, looking down at her coffee. "Not outright. I tried bringing it up once, but it didn't go well. We ended up having a fight, and honestly... I don't think I communicated it the way I wanted to. Now, I'd rather just avoid the topic."

Lily reached across the table and squeezed Sophie's hand. "Sophie, your feelings are valid. If you don't talk about it, you're just going to keep carrying all of this alone."

Sophie managed a small smile. "I know. It's just hard to bring up. I don't want Ethan to think I'm some insecure, nagging woman."

Mia sighed. "Sophie..."

"I'm so sorry they made you feel like that," Lily added, her eyes a little watery at the thought of her sister being bullied.

Sophie let out a breath, her own eyes misty now. "Come on, you two are going to make me cry. But listen, I didn't let them think they could talk to me like that." She said with a proud expression. "I gave Claire a piece of my mind.

Mia gasped dramatically. "I knew you had it in you!"

"I'm proud of you, big sis. You're strong, and you fight when it matters," Lily said, squeezing Sophie's hand again.

"And you know how much I love you, right?" Mia added, her voice a little softer now.

Sophie laughed, blinking away her tears. "Girls, come on, you're going to make me cry for real." She took a deep breath and straightened her posture. "Let's talk about something fun." She turned to Lily with a teasing smile. "Like your date with Mrs. Jenkins' son."

Lily groaned but couldn't hide her smirk. "Oh, I so have tea to spill."

Mia grinned. "Finally, something good. Spill it, Lily. Today is about forgetting people like Claire. We're going to have fun and not let anyone ruin our day."

Sophie laughed, finally feeling lighter. "Alright, tell us everything."

Lily launched into a hilarious story about her recent date, complete with dramatic hand gestures and over-the-top impressions. It was clear from the start that there would definitely not be a second date.

After brunch, they strolled through the boutique-lined streets, stopping in front of a bright, airy dress shop. Mia and Lily immediately dove in, trying on half the store.

"What do you think about this one, Sophie?" Mia asked as she twirled in a bright sundress, the fabric swirling around her ankles.

Sophie smiled. "It's beautiful, Mia. You look great in it."

"And this?" Lily held up a sleek, fitted dress, turning slightly to inspect herself in the mirror. "I would say I'd wear this for my second date, but we all know that isn't happening."

"Not if I have a say in it," Sophie declared, crossing her arms. "We need to celebrate. We're getting these dresses, getting our makeup done, and going to a nice restaurant. Tonight."

Mia's jaw dropped. "Wait, who are you, and where has this Sophie been all my life?"

Lily grinned. "I love this plan. Then you better go try on a dress quick," she said, already ushering Sophie toward the changing room.

And that was exactly what they did.

They got ready at Mia's house, helping each other with their hair and makeup, slipping into their new dresses, and adding the perfect final touches before heading out to a beautiful restaurant.

It was the perfect way to erase the mess of the luncheon—replacing it with laughter, wine, and the company of the people Sophie loved most.

As they clinked their glasses together, the deep red wine catching the candlelight, Sophie couldn't help but think that this—this warmth, this love, this night—was exactly what she had needed.

A reminder that she was never alone.

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