“Of course that’s where you want to start. What do you want to know Sch—Sofia?”
“You used my real name, Bren. What the fuck was that about?”
I shrug. “I write about what I feel. All the best writing comes from the most vulnerable places. I’d never been so vulnerable, and it paid off. Best critical reception in the band’s history.”
“At my expense!” she snaps.
“No one knows who you are.”
“You and I both know it’s only a matter of time. Especially now that you’re here,” she says.
I shift in my seat. She’s right. Returning to the city named in the two Sofia songs certainly has raised some eyebrows already. “Are you looking for an apology?” I ask. The album is meant to be my apology. I need her to understand that.
“No,” she huffs. “I’m just annoyed. And if my identity is revealed, there will be hell to pay, Brenner Reindhart.”
“I can live with those terms,” I say with a low chuckle. She is not amused.
“How come you included my name? You didn’t have to do that. You didn’t reveal Emma’s name. Why couldn’t you offer me the same courtesy?” She’s angry now.
“I didn’t love Emma,” I say simply.
She studies me for a long, silent moment. “You told me she broke your heart.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t know then what heartbreak really was. I thought what I had with Emma was love. But I didn’t know love. Not until you.”
Sofia’s hand drifts to press on her heart as her eyes start glistening. I have her now.
Then she composes herself. “Why are you back?” she asks with a sharp tone.
“I’m sorry. I thought that was obvious. I’m here to get you back.” I smile wickedly at her.
She sets down her coffee, then laughs. Right in my face.
“What’s so funny?” I ask, more than a little annoyed.
“You are!” she says then mocks me in an attempt to imitate my voice, “I’m here to get you back. Hah!”
“I’m serious,” I say.
“Bren, come on.”
“Come on, what?”
“It’s been over a year. What we had—it’s gone.”
“I’m not so sure it is. I haven’t moved on. Have you? With your business partner?” I ask as calmly as I can muster because the question tastes like battery acid.
“How about you, Bren? Haven’t you moved on with Emma?”
My eyes widen with the surprise of her rebuttal. “Why would you think that?”
“There was a report about you two being back together.”
“There was?”
Sofia nods.
“Don’t know what you are talking about, but no. We never got back together.”