Read Little Disquietude for Free Online Page B

said, with a
rush of headiness.
    Sophia laughed. "All right, all right."
    The play had made Leah's skin crawl and she'd
cried, afraid to wipe her cheeks in case the gesture gave her away.
She wanted to seize Sophia and kiss her in gratitude for the
emotion, also to have a place to channel it. She knew the swollen,
alive feeling would ebb, and that she'd have to seek it out again.
Already the scenes replaying in her head had lost their force, like
worn photocopies or videotape.
    Leah wondered if this is how people would
feel if they saw her in Poe .
    Sophia gently took her wrist and said, "I'm
glad you came. I wanted you to see--" She paused.
    "What?"
    Sophia dropped her hand and shrugged.
"Me."
    "The understudies are always good. People
forget that," Leah said.
    "Even the understudies."
    "Please. The only person with more 'tude
around here is Ward."
    "You haven't met our director," Sophia
said.
    Leah noticed, as the cast and crew swarmed
about, and the press took pictures and asked for quotes, that
though people came up to Sophia to congratulate her, even to gush,
no one lingered.
    When Elaine came, kissing each of Sophia's
cheeks, Sophia became shy. Coquettish. Leah thought she recognized
the chemistry between them and wandered away, swallowing the bile
that rose in her throat. Ward and Adam had already left. She went
to the bar and talked to everyone there, and then when she'd run
out of new faces she went back to say goodnight to Sophia.
    Sophia gave Leah a wan smile, looking tired.
"I'm ready to go, too."
    "Timing," Leah said, "is everything."
    "I read that somewhere," Sophia said as they
strolled toward the doors.
    "Where do you live?" Leah asked.
    "The Days Inn."
    The Days Inn was four blocks in the other
direction from her house, and through the worst part of their bad
neighborhood. Come home with me, Leah wanted to say, thinking it
was too soon for any bold statements. And yet, the opportunity was
here. "Come home with me," Leah said, and as Sophia demurred,
added, "Adam will drive you home from there."
    "It's only four blocks. Isn't your place
like, twice as far?"
    "Further away from the crack dealers, though.
It's midnight, and it's Friday, and I'm not going to walk you
home."
    The fear that flashed through Sophia's
expression made Leah feel cruel. "Please. Live a little. See our
amazing rental."
    Sophia scanned the crowd, presumably for
someone else. She shrugged and said, "I'd ask John, but his car
smells like pot."
    "I assure you that Adam's does not."
    "That's good to hear."
    "He only smokes inside the house."
    Sophia snorted.
    Leah put her hand on Sophia's back and, at
Sophia's acquiescence, led her out into the night. The walk was too
short. Conversation started and then they were climbing the steps
to the dark house. Adam's bedroom window had shown no light, so
Leah apologetically let Sophia into the kitchen and said she would
look for the keys.
    She deduced they were in Adam's room and
pushed her ear against his door. She heard grunting coming from
inside and hoarse, urgent cries. She rolled her eyes and descended
the stairs. Sophia had settled at the kitchen table and, though
Variety was open before her, had her head on her elbow and seemed
mostly asleep.
    "Sophia," Leah said, touching her arm.
    "Hm?"
    "Adam's got someone upstairs. I think you
should stay here tonight."
    "Hm."
    "On the couch."
    "It's only ten blocks," Sophia said.
    "It'll be a nicer walk on a sunny
morning."
    "I can't impose."
    "It's a leather couch," Leah said.
    "I don't even know you," Sophia said
sleepily. She straightened up to rub her eyes and squeeze the
bridge of her nose. She wore an evening gown and her hair had
fallen and her makeup was gone from her cheeks, and smeared under
her eyes.
    "Get to know me over breakfast," Leah
said.
    Sophia's lips curved into a smile. "Where's
the couch?"
    "This way." Leah tugged at her hands. Sophia
stood. Leah pulled her into the living room. Sophia opened her
eyes. She saw the piano, the bookcases,