Chapter 2
At the table, Olivia kept placing food on David's plate.
"David, eat more. You've lost weight lately."
David glanced at me, a little embarrassed. "I can serve myself."
"Sophie, you should eat too."
Olivia picked up a piece of beef for me.
"You don't look so well lately. You need to take care of yourself."
I looked at her.
A twenty-year-old girl, her skin soft and glowing.
Unlike me, thirty-one, with fine lines starting at the corners of my eyes.
"Thanks, Olivia."
I took a bite of the beef. It tasted good.
David has always been a great cook.
He used to say he would cook for me for the rest of our lives.
Now that I think about it, a lifetime is not very long.
Seven years was all it took.
"Sophie, there's something I want to talk to you about."
Olivia set down her fork, her expression serious.
My chest tightened.
Here it comes.
"What is it?" I asked.
"I'm thinking of moving to the city," she said. "It's hard to find work back home, so I want to rent a place near you. Then I can come by more often."
David paused. "Rent isn't cheap. You just started working, can you afford it?"
"That's why I was thinking," Olivia trailed off.
"Thinking what?" I asked.
"I was hoping I could stay here for a while," she said. "Just a month or two, until I find a job, then I'll move out."
She looked at me with wide, innocent eyes.
"Sophie, you wouldn't say no, would you? I'm scared living alone in the city."
I smiled.
A sincere smile.
"Of course you can stay. As long as you want."
David looked at me, surprised.
Olivia froze for a second, too, clearly not expecting me to agree so easily.
"That's great! Thank you, Sophie!"
She happily wrapped her arm around mine.
Her perfume was strong.
The same scent was lingering on David's collar.
"But," I added, shifting my tone, "we only have two bedrooms. You'll have to take the couch."
Her smile stiffened.
"The couch? That's not ideal."
"Then what should we do?" I asked, sounding troubled.
"How about you take our bedroom, and I'll sleep on the couch?"
"No, no," David cut in quickly. "You can't sleep on the couch."
"Then," Olivia glanced at David.
The look in her eyes was obvious.
"Or," David started.
I waited for him to say it.
"How about I take the couch, and you two share the bedroom?"
That was what he landed on.
I let out a quiet breath of relief.
At least he was not foolish enough to suggest she share a bed with him.
"That doesn't feel right," Olivia said, pouting. "David has work tomorrow."
"It's settled," I said, making the decision final.
"David takes the couch. Olivia and I share the bedroom.
"It's been a while since we had a proper girls' talk anyway."
I looked at Olivia.
A flicker of reluctance crossed her eyes, then disappeared.
"Okay, I'll do whatever you say, Sophie."
After dinner, Olivia volunteered to clean up the kitchen.
David pulled me out to the balcony.
"You're really going to let her stay here?"
"What else would I do?" I shot back.
"She's your sister. She came all this way to stay with us. I can't just turn her away."
He rubbed his nose. "I just think it might be inconvenient."
"Inconvenient how?"
I held his gaze.
"Feeling guilty about something?"
"Of course not." His voice jumped, then dropped again.
"I just don't want you getting worn out. Olivia can be a bit delicate. I don't want you putting up with anything."
"She's my sister. What would I have to put up with?"
I smiled. "Or is there something you know that I don't?"
His eyes flickered away. "What would I know? Sophie, did you hear something?"
"No."
I turned to the window.
Night had settled in, lights glowing in every apartment.
Behind each one, a different story.
Some warm, some not.
"I just think you've been a little off lately."
"How so?"
David slipped his arms around me from behind.
"You know I love you more than anything."
That used to make my heart race.
Now it just made me sick.
"I know."
I gently pulled away.
"I'm going to get Olivia's room ready."
In the bedroom, I took spare bedding from the closet.
Olivia appeared in the doorway without a sound.
"Sophie, I can do it myself."
"It's fine."
I spread the bedding on the sofa.
It folds out into a bed.
"Sorry, you have to make do tonight. I'll get you a single bed for the study tomorrow."
"Thanks, Sophie."
She sat on the bed and looked around our room.
Her gaze settled on the wedding photo on the nightstand.
In the picture, David had his arm around me, grinning from ear to ear.
That was seven years ago.
Back when we still believed in love.
"You and David are really close," Olivia said softly. "Seven years of marriage, and you're still so affectionate."
"Yeah."
I answered quietly.
"Olivia, do you have a boyfriend?"
"Not yet." She lowered her head, fiddling with the hem of her clothes. "The person I like doesn't like me back."
"Really?"
I sat down beside her. "Who could be that blind, turning you down?"
She looked up at me, something complicated in her eyes.
"A married man," she said.
The air went still.
I looked at her.
She looked right back at me.
Neither of us looked away.
Neither of us looked away.
"No, it isn't."
Olivia smiled. "But feelings aren't something you can control. Don't you think, Sophie?"
There was a knock at the door.
David leaned in. "What are you two talking about? Sounds lively."
"Relationships."
I stood up. "Olivia says she likes someone, but he's married."
His expression shifted.
"Really? Then she should end it as soon as possible."
"David, you think it's wrong to get involved in someone else's marriage?" Olivia tilted her head.
"Of course it's wrong," he said firmly. "People who break up families never end well."
"Is that so?"
Olivia smiled, her tone layered with meaning. "What if the man in that marriage made the first move?"
"It's still wrong."
David avoided my eyes. "It's late. We should get some rest."
He left in a hurry.
Olivia looked at me, a hint of provocation in her gaze.
She was waiting for me to snap.
Waiting for me to make a scene so she could play the victim and make everyone think I was bullying her.
Too bad.
I was not going to give her that.