And so is a friend genuinely offering help. Instead of falling into old habits of denying assistance, I say, “Thank you.”
A heavy breath escapes me, and I feel the peace that comes with it. I’ve always been supported. It’s time I accept their assistance, instead of pushing everyone away.
Another knock comes on the door, and I look at Elanee.
She shakes her head, telling me she doesn’t know who it could be either. I walk over to the door, and when I open it, Sienna looks up from her phone.
“Finally. Why didn’t you reply to my message?” She pushes past me into the apartment, then pauses when she sees Elanee.
“Oh, Elanee. I didn’t know you’d be here too. Exciting! Are we having like a girls' brunch or something?”
My head is reeling. Why is Sienna here?
I close the door. “Wait, I’m confused. You’re meant to be in London with Michael, aren't you?”
Her throat bobs, and she pushes back a lock of her hair. “First of all, you invited me over.”
“No, I didn—” My mouth snaps shut—that asshole. I have no idea what else he got up to while scrolling through my phone, but instead of running to check, I take a good, hard look at Sienna. And I note that her eyes are swollen, and the spark and sass she's known for are missing.
I take a step toward her and pull her in for a hug, and she chokes. I don’t know what’s happened, but something is wrong. Guilt begins to press down on me, but I push it away. I’m not going to eat myself alive anymore because of all the ways I’ve believed I’m a bad friend.
“I’m here now,” is all I say, and I can hear the tremble in her voice as she speaks and hugs me back.
“I’ve been back for a week now, crying, doom scrolling, and eating my feelings. I found him cheating on me. I didn’t want to bother you, and I didn’t want to face anyone because I knew you were all assuming it. But I was so stupid in thinking it wasn’t happening! That he actually loved me and couldn’t betray me like that! I thought Michael was different!”
I hold her tightly and glance over her shoulder at Elanee, who grimaces as we let Sienna pull herself together. We all suspected it, but there’s no satisfaction in being right here.
“I’m fine, though. Really,” Sienna says, wiping away her tears. “Honestly, I was happy when you messaged me about coming over, because although the pain still hits me in waves, I don’t want to waste any more time or energy on him. Fuck that asshole!”
I don’t correct her that it wasn’t actually me who sent the text. And again, despite Dante’s meddling, I’m grateful he did it, or who knows how long my friend would've gone through this alone.
“Lucky your friend is a matchmaker, so we’ll find you someone hotter and richer in no time.” Sienna awkwardly laughs at Elanee’s attempt at humor. “Didn’t you have an acting gig over there as well, though?”
“Fuck that. It was in the same film as him. I don’t want anything to do with him. He’s humiliated me. My father is furious. If he even tries to step back in Manhattan, I’m certain my father will run him over.”
Elanee and I share a glance as Sienna enters the kitchen, because the reality is, we now know men who are very capable of that kind of unremorseful rage.
When Sienna opens the cupboard, her eyes go wide. “Holy shit, I haven’t seen so much food in these cupboards in like… ever.” She pulls out the chocolate cookies and immediately tears them open and starts inhaling them.
It’s refreshing to see Sienna like this, not because of her pain, but because she’s always been so conscious of what she eats, when she eats, and how she eats. Much of that has to do with her being a model, but it’s the first time I’ve seen her not give a shit. It sucks that it’s under these circumstances.
“You can’t give up opportunities because of him.” Elanee looks as if she’s about to give her numerous reasons as to why. “You were so excited for that acting gig. If you want that job, then you turn your fine ass around and board a flight back to London. If not, you start finding gigs here and show that asshole what he lost.”
Sienna shoves another cookie into her mouth. “I like this side of you, Elanee. You’re right. Fuck Michael. Gosh, I’ve missed you girls.” Her voice wobbles. “But I don’t want to talk abouthim. Why did you invite us over, Romi? Oh, and we also need to discuss this Dante Moretti thing. What the hell? You know Lorenzo is going to go crazy when he hears about this. He made it very clear that he and his brother don't get along. Does Lily know?” She bites into another cookie and talks around the mouthful. “I never thought you’d be declaring a relationship on social media. Must be pretty serious.”
My hands clench into fists. How do I explain that the asshole in question is the one who instigated the self-proclaimed relationship and is also the reason they’re both here in the first place?
I don’t care for labels, and I didn’t think Dante did either. Then again, he’s a possessive asshole who doesn’t know personal boundaries, so here we are. But if he weren't so overbearing, then I might’ve missed out on all of this. It feels nice to have tears and laughter in my apartment again. My friends, whom I’ve been pushing away for so long, are pardoning my shitty behavior from the last few months.
It feels like, bit by bit, my life is moving forward again.
There’s just one more person I need to reconnect with now.
“No, I haven’t called Lily since she left. I’ve been... a shitty friend.” There are a million reasons I could give, but the main one is that I’m not sure how to face Lily or ask her about Lorenzo’s background, especially over the phone. But I want to get my life back together, so when I see her next, she knows I’m okay. That I’m no longer the chaotic mess she was so worried about when she left.
“You’re not a shitty friend,” Elanee says with sincerity. “We all have our battles, and we’re allowed to have our moments. It’s how we come out on the other side, and those who stand by us during the storm, that matters the most.”
“Yes!” Sienna perks up as she makes room for me in the kitchen to finish off the tea. She offers Elanee a chocolate cookie.
