The Setup and the Substitute by Jiffy Kate

Chapter 35

Sophie

“Hey, bitch,”Greer’s voice singsongs through the phone when I answer on the first ring. “I just left the studio and was going to swing by for a glass of wine or maybe we can walk down to Come Again. Whatever you feel like.”

Sighing, I lean against the banister of my balcony and watch a few people below.

It’s only been five days since I’ve seen Owen and the kids, but after living with them for the past few months, I feel lost without them, and I miss them more than I ever thought possible.

“Don’t tell me you don’t feel like doing anything,” she snips. “I’ve let you wallow long enough. You’re getting out of that apartment tonight.”

Owen texted me the first day they were gone, letting me know they had made it to his parents’ house. The conversation was a lot like the past couple weeks, short and closed-off. Since then, he’s been radio silent.

“Fine,” I say, turning and plopping down in my patio chair and pulling my feet up to dig into the soft fabric. “Let’s go out.”

“Thank God,” she says dramatically. “I thought this was going to turn into an intervention and I wasn’t sure I had the energy for that after the shitshow I’ve been dealing with all day.”

Letting out a chuckle, I lean my head back on the chair. “Sorry you had a hard day.”

“Such is the life of a lowly reporter.”

Greer is anything but lowly. She’s amazing and deserves to be at the top of her game and she will be, but it’s probably going to take a little longer than she’d like. Not only is she a woman, but she’s a Bradley-Hawthorne, which means she has to prove herself more than anyone else.

“I’m proud of you,” I tell her, feeling all the admiration and respect for my best friend. “I know that came out of left field, but I think you should know how much of a badass I think you are. Even when things don’t go your way, you just keep pushing toward your dreams. It’s quite admirable.”

She lets out a laugh. Greer’s never been one to take compliments well, but she deserves them.

“Well, thank you. And I can say the same for you. You’re one of the most tenacious people I know.”

Most of the time, she’s right. When it comes to things I want to do, I typically take the bull by the horns, so to speak, and I don’t take no for an answer. Except where Owen is concerned.

Or at least where my feelings for Owen are concerned.

I’ve wanted to tell him what’s been just under the surface for a while, but I haven’t. Since Lisa showed up, he’s been so stressed, and I haven’t wanted to add to it.

Before Lisa, I was afraid to disrupt the bubble we’d been living in. And now, I’m afraid it might be too late.

I’ve felt him pulling away from me and I’m not sure if I’ll ever get my chance to tell him how I feel.

I’m falling for him.

Falling in love with him.

And my heart hurts just thinking about it.

“Hello,” Greer says, practically yelling through the phone. “Did I lose you?”

“Oh, sorry. No, I’m here.”

“So, we’re good for drinks at seven? I’ll probably be at your apartment by six thirty.”

“Sounds great.”

A couple hours later Greer and I are sitting at a corner table in Come Again, just the two of us.

“Thanks for not inviting the whole crew,” I tell her as I bring a much-needed vodka tonic to my lips. “There’s no way I could’ve handled Gavin tonight.”

“When can we handle Gavin?” Greer groans. “Ever since you told me about his creepy advances in front of Molly and Ryan, I’ve wanted to kick him in the balls. So it’s better if we don’t mingle for now.”

We people watch for a minute, letting the liquor go to work.

When my phone lights up, I snatch it up with catlike reflexes.

“Still haven’t heard from him?” Greer asks, eyeing my screen where my brother Bennett has sent a link to some stupid TikTok video.

Turning it over so that I’m not tempted to watch it like a hawk, I shake my head. “Not since I talked to Molly and Ryan a couple days ago. But they should be back tomorrow. The Revelers have an away series the day after.”

Everything fell radio silent, until yesterday, when Owen’s number lit up my screen—and my heart, if I’m being honest. When I answered, it was Molly’s sweet voice that greeted me.

She told me all about her Nana and Pop’s house and all the fun things they’ve been doing. Ryan hopped on for a few minutes and told me about the new dinosaur book his grandma bought him and how there was a dinosaur in it that looked just like Ducky.

That call both healed my heart and gave me the boost I need to get through the next day or so until they get back.

“I’m sure he’ll call.”

I hope so because the distance between us has me on edge.

How am I supposed to know when to be at his house?

Will things go back to normal?

Or will his walls still be up?

The not knowing is pure torture.

“I see your wheels spinning,” Greer says after draining over half her glass. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Exhaling with a huff, I rest my head in my hands. “I don’t know.” The words come out too whiny for my liking, but I can’t help it. I feel so out of sorts. “I miss them so much and I’m having so many regrets for not telling him how I feel when I had the chance. The last few times we’ve talked, it’s been so matter of fact, like whatever we had is a thing of the past. I’m worried our time has passed by and I’m not ready for that to happen.”

“This,” Greer says, waving her hand around in the air, “whatever it is—it’s far from over. I’ve seen you blow through guys and have casual sex for most of our adult lives. Never has anyone ever affected you like Owen Thatcher. I think we’ve already established the fact you’re falling for him, so no, it’s not over.”

“But what if it is for him?” I ask, speaking my fear.

“Just because I’m feeling this way about him doesn’t mean it’s mutual.”

Greer scoffs. “He’d be an idiot to let you go.”

“That’s coming from my best friend, and I hate to tell you, reporter, but you’re a little biased.”

She gives me a sad smile and takes my hand in hers, letting me know without words that she’ll be here, even when no one else is.

Any further words get stuck in my throat along with my emotions, so I drink them down with what’s left of my vodka tonic.

After we get another round, we’re making small talk about an upcoming concert we both want to go to when my phone rings. For a second, I think about not looking. It could be anyone—Bennett, my mother… a spam call. But on the slim chance it’s Owen, I flip my phone over and my breath catches when it’s actually him.

Swiping my thumb across the screen, I bring the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

The bar isn’t packed, but it’s busy enough that I can’t hear very well.

“Just a second,” I tell him, motioning to Greer that I’m going to step outside.

Once I’m on the sidewalk and the noise of the bar is a distant chatter, I try again. “Hello?”

“Sophie?”

God, why does his voice have to sound so good?

“Hey,” I say, trying to keep my composure and not sound like an over-eager teenager who just got a call from her crush.

There’s a long pause and for a second, I think I’ve lost him.

Pulling the phone back, I can see it’s still connected, so I wait.

“Hey,” he finally says, his voice sounding a little strained.

“Is everything okay?”

We haven’t talked about Lisa since the night he left, so I hope this isn’t about her.

I hope she’s long gone—on her way back to California.

“Uh, yeah, everything’s fine, but I need to talk to you about something.”

“Okay.” My stomach drops and I try not to think of any worst-case scenarios, but he’s kind of freaking me out right now.

“The kids are going to stay with my parents for the next few weeks. I think they need some time to regroup, and so do I.”

Regroup?

A few weeks?

“So…” I don’t know what to say. If the kids aren’t going to be around, then Owen won’t need me.

“I’ll still pay you for the full six months, regardless of what happens.”

Every word out of his mouth pierces my heart like a dagger. Doesn’t he realize by now I don’t care about the paycheck? All I care about is him and Molly and Ryan.

This stopped being a job for me a long time ago.

“Okay.” It’s like my brain is stuck in neutral and that’s the only response I can think of at the moment, because everything else is a jumbled mess, along with my heart.

“I’ll call you when I’m back in town.”

“Okay,” I say again, as if on repeat.