Hello, Privet! #1: Hello/Привет

Chapter 45

SOPHIE

The whole day, I don't see Anton, not that I want to see him. He is with Henry practicing, and usually, I had to be there to fetch him things and take him to press events, but I told Henry I wasn't feeling well.

I seriously debate leaving, but I have to be professional about this. This is my job and I can't just leave because it's now uncomfortable. I'm uncomfortable now because of what I did. It's my own fault. I shouldn't have let it happen. The only thing to do is to forget about it and move on.

So when Tal reminds me of our dinner plans, I tell him I can make it after all.

I meet him for dinner first, at an In-and-Out Burger, which is one of the things he says he misses about LA. His family lived here until he was thirteen, before they moved to Israel.

After dinner, he drives his rental car to the Hollywood Palladium. I wonder how Anton's doing. He has a match tonight.

When we get to the concert venue, I realize that Tal's taking me to the gig of The Renegades. I almost want to leave, but I don't want to be rude. Anton shouldn't stop me from enjoying the music of The Renegades just because I know that Liam is Anton's friend.

I sneak a glance at Tal.

He catches me looking at him and he smiles at me. I turn my head back to the stage. It's unfair to Tal that I'm here with him when I'm thinking about Anton. I could still remember everything we did the night before and everything he said to me. I squeeze my eyes shut briefly.

When Liam starts singing "Thinking About You," I receive a phone call. It's Anais. Anton's Anais. I debate with myself whether I should let it go to voice mail, then I tell Tal that I have to take a phone call. I head for the exit.

"Hello?"

"Hello, this is Anais."

"Yes, I know..."

"Anais Renault."

"Yes—"

"I need to speak to Anton," she says. She sounds worried.

"Well, I don't know..." I hedge. Why does she need to tell me that she wants to speak to him? I bite my lower lip. "You want me to tell him."

"Yes. Please."

"Okay. I can do that."

It seems like Anais has no intention of ending this supremely uncomfortable conversation yet. I stand by the mirrors and look at my reflection. "Um, is there anything else?"

"Well..." Anais hesitates. "I'm in LA too."

"Oh."

"And I want to see him tomorrow."

"Uh-huh."

"You understand?"

"Um... tomorrow? I'm not sure if I—"

"I just want to see him," Anais repeats.

"Okay." For some reason, this idea fills me with dread.

I can hear Anais breathing a sigh of relief. "Yes, thank you, Sophie. Thank you for helping me," she says.

"No problem," I chirp. "I'll let you know, okay?"

As I'm ending the phone call, my phone rings again. It's John this time. "Hello?"

"Hello Sophie, how are you?"

"I'm fine."

"How's Anton doing?"