Chapter 21

Renata swirled her straw slowly inside the glass of juice as she waited for Nina to finish laughing at a joke the waiter had just cracked. They were sitting in a quiet corner of the restaurant, sunlight streaming through the large glass windows. Everything looked perfect, the music was soft, the food smelled delicious, and the waiters smiled at them like they had known them for a while. But Renata’s heart was heavy. She stared at Nina across the table. Nina wore a short silk dress, her blonde hair curled and shiny. She looked like she had stepped out of a fashion magazine, glowing with the kind of confidence Renata wished she still had. Taking a deep breath, Renata leaned forward. “Nina,” she said carefully, “there’s something I need to tell you. I think Santiago is cheating on me.” Nina had just taken a sip of her cocktail. The words hit her so hard that she choked, coughing so violently that the drink spilled down the front of her dress. “Oh my God!” Nina gasped, grabbing at the napk