Tristen leaned over to me, “Are you ok?”
I gave him a flat smile, “I would like to go home.”
“Do you feel ok?”
“Fine. Just tired.” I lied.
“Ok, we can go home.” He finished off his drink, as he stood holding his hand out for me.
On the way home, Tristen did most of the talking. I answered his questions, but didn’t return the cordial communication back. We got to our doors, awkwardly standing in between the two.
“Do you want to come over for some tea?” Tristen asked.
I folded my arms across my chest, “No, I’m really tired.”
He twisted his mouth, “What’s wrong? You’ve been weird since the club.”
I stared at him, debating if I needed to be honest, “You were just different around your friends.”
“How?”
“You just changed. That’s all.”
“Well that doesn’t tell me anything, and I find it kind of rude for you not to elaborate.”
I pursed my lips, “You were so sweet during dinner and ice cream. I really enjoyed myself, but I find it kind of rude that you called me a challenge. Is that all I am to you? A challenge? The fact that you got a chance with me because mine and Stefan’s life imploded?”
He raised his eyebrows, “Wow.”
“I’m sorry about the last part.” I tried to back track once I realized what I said.
“Nope. You said it. I’m second choice; I’ve known that from the beginning. I’ll let you go to sleep since you’re so tired.” He walked toward his door.
“Tristen, I’m sorry.”
“Goodnight Sophia.” He walked into his apartment, shutting the door.
“Ughhh.” I stormed toward my door, letting it slam behind me.
I kicked off my shoes, yanking my dangling earrings out of my ear. I struggled getting out of my dress, the zipper getting stuck, my frustration wasn’t helping. This was a disaster. I tried to put myself out there and it was a disaster.
I tossed myself onto my bed, shoving my face into the pillow. I screamed my annoyance out into the pillow, and then leaned up taking in a deep breath. My phone was staring at me from the nightstand. I sat up in my bra and panties, picking it up.
I scrolled to Stefan’s name. My heart was still his. I wanted to try. He was hurting, he ran. Olivia was right. He might be awake now if he’s still in London. I hit the call button, and pressed the phone to my ear.
It rang a few times, and then went to voicemail. His velvet voice told me to leave a message so I did.
“Hi, it’s me. I know you don’t want to talk to me. You’ve made that clear, but I thought maybe I can just talk, and you don’t respond. That’s still the same as not talking to me right?” I let out a small laugh. “I had a rough night. Actually most nights are rough. It’s been hard. Work is good. It’s actually the only thing going good right now. I hope you’re enjoying yourself over there. I guess I’ll let you go. Sorry if I woke you.” I stopped, then said what my heart felt, “I miss you, Stef.” Then I hung up.
I fell back on my bed, what did I just do?
Chapter Twenty Seven
Stefan
My head was pounding, my mouth felt like the Sahara desert. I sat up in my bed, looking around the room. I heard a noise outside of my room, and then remembered Jess was here. I picked up the duvet, realizing I was naked. Fuck.
I pulled on my boxers that were on the floor, and walked out of the room. Jess was dressed, making coffee.
“Good Morning, Sunshine.” She sang, as she poured two cups.
“Why are you so chipper?”
She smiled, “I slept great. How’d you sleep?”
“Did we?” I gestured to the bedroom.
She laughed, “You’re not that lucky. No we did not.” She pushed one of the cups of coffee in front of me.
I took a large sip, “Thank goodness.”
She shot me a look, “Don’t be rude.”
I placed my hand on my forehead, “My head is killing me. What time is it?”
“7AM.”
“Holy fuck, it’s too early for a hangover. I need to sleep this off for at least two more hours.” I started back toward my room.
She grabbed my arm, “No no no, you have to…”
My phone started vibrating on the counter. I must have left it out here last night. Jess walked over to pick it up. Her eyes looked worried.
“Who is it?” I took another sip of coffee.
“It’s..Um.”
“Well, who is it?”
She showed me the phone, “It’s Sophia.”
“What?” I set the cup down, taking the phone from her.
“What time is it there?” She asked. “2AM? Why is she awake?”
I sighed, “She must be drunk. She wouldn’t call me sober.”
“Are you going to answer it?”
I kept my eyes on her name as it vibrated in my hand, “No.”
“What if she needs you?”
“She doesn’t.” The phone stopped ringing. “See she doesn’t need me.” I set it back down on the counter, picking the cup of coffee up.
“Do you need medicine for your headache?” She asked, walking into the kitchen.
The phone sounded off my voicemail tone. We both stared down at the phone.
“Maybe you shouldn’t listen to that?” Jess said, stepping closer to the phone.
“You’re probably right. She’s probably just screaming at me again.” I wanted to hear her voice more than anything. I started back toward my room, stopping at the door. “Will you listen to it?”
“Really? Are you sure?”
I leaned on the doorframe, “Well if she’s yelling at me, you’ll find pleasure in it. If she’s crying, you’ll probably find pleasure in that too. So, it’s a small chance that you’ll get pissed by what she says.”
“Hmm, this is true.” She picked the phone up. “Ok.” She placed the phone to her ear.
I stared at her waiting for her reaction. She had no emotion. The voicemail only lasted about 45 seconds, and then she set the phone down.
“Well? What did she say?”
She smiled, “She says she hates you and she hopes you’re living a horrible life. Now go shower.”
I glared at her, “No she did not.”
“She did so.”
“She wouldn’t say that.”
She held the phone out for me, “Listen to it yourself if you don’t believe me.”
“Fine.” I grabbed the phone, placing it to my ear.
“Hi, it’s me.” Her sweet voice said into the phone. My heart stung. “I know you don’t want to talk to me.” That’s the thing. I do want to talk to you. “You’ve made that clear, but I thought maybe I can just talk, and you don’t respond. That’s still the same as not talking to me right?” I laughed when she did. “I had a rough night. Actually most nights are rough. It’s been hard. Work is good. It’s actually the only thing going good right now. I hope you’re enjoying yourself over there.” I’m not. “I guess I’ll let you go. Sorry if I woke you.” The phone silenced, and then she spoke again, “I miss you, Stef.” I ran my hand through my hair. I miss you too, little one. The voicemail ended.
I dropped the phone from my ear. “Why would you make me listen to that?”
She crossed her arms in front of her chest, “Because she still cares, and you needed to hear it.”
“That was agonizing, Jess. You don’t get it. I can’t be with her!”
She waved me off, “Go take a shower, you’re making my mission a lot harder than it needs to be.”
“You’re here on a pointless mission! I’m not going back to the states any time soon.”
She hopped on my kitchen counter, and then picked up her coffee, “First off, you will return to the states in the next few months, and you will at least get closure with her. This sad version of you is quite pathetic.”
I clenched my jaw, walking into my room, slamming the door behind
me. Why the hell did I think it was a good idea to let her into my flat? She’s acting like more of a pain in the ass. I know I said I wanted company, but I wasn’t expecting the universe to drop her on my doorstep.
Sophia
Getting over someone is a lot harder than the romance novels let you believe. I was laying in the middle of my empty living room, with my hands wrapped around my coffee mug that was sitting on my chest. The gold light fixture kept my attention for the most part. It was 9AM. Stefan had been awake for hours by now. He didn’t respond to my call last night. Part of me regretted it, part of me felt some form of therapy. I just needed to talk. He’s seen me at my worst, and talking to him makes sense in my head.
“Soph, are you awake?” I heard Tristen’s voice on the other side of my door. It’s too early for this.
“No. Sophia died from being a complete bitch last night.” I yelled back.
“Can I come in?”
“Use your key, I’m stuck on the floor.”
A few seconds later I heard the lock turn, and the door opened. Tristen walked in wearing jeans and a green shirt. He looked down at me as he tried to stifle a laugh.
I glared at him, “What?”
“How are you stuck on the floor?”
“I’m laying in my dignity that I dropped on the floor last night, hoping that it’ll attach itself back to me.”
He laughed as he sat down next to me, “I’m sorry I was a dick last night.”
I turned my head to face him, “I’m sorry I was a bitch.”
“You’re not a challenge. I mean you are challenging, but not in the sense of the way it sounded.”
“That’s a weird way to apologize.”
“I just mean that Stefan dated you first, and I’ve liked you from the get go. That’s a pretty big hoop to jump through.”
I sighed looking back up at the light fixture, “I’m sure the hoop was on fire too.”
He smirked, “I might have been burned a few times.”
“You weren’t second choice.”
He looked down at me, “Wasn’t I?”
“I just met you at a time in my life that I was taken. It doesn't make you second choice.”
“Hmm ok I’ll take it.”
“Where do we go from here?”
He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees, “Start back as friends?”
“Friends? I can do that.”
He smiled, “Good.”
“Did you know that there are 37 light bulbs on that light fixture?”
He looked up, “What? Have you been counting those?”
“Possibly. It was helping me find my dignity.”
He laughed, “You never lost your dignity. You were just cranky.”
I eyed him, “Calling a girl cranky is not a wise choice of words.”
“Do you want to go look for furniture today?” He asked as he stood.
I huffed as I sat up, “I guess so.”
“You can’t live on your empty floor forever.” He held his hand out to help me stand.
“Ok fine, we will go look for furniture.” I took his hand.
After I showered and dressed, I walked across the hall to Tristen’s apartment. I knocked twice and he opened the door.
“You ready?” He smiled, checking his pockets for his wallet.
“I am.”
He walked out, turning to lock his door, “I called Keira, she’s going to meet us.”
“Ok.” I hadn’t seen Keira since she gave me the key to the storage unit, and I had a full on meltdown. She out of everyone reminded me of Stefan the most. They’re such good friends and I’m sure she’s talked to him multiple times since he’s been gone.
“Let’s go.” Tristen said as he started for the elevator.
We met Keira at a swanky furniture shop in Soho. I knew walking in, that I couldn’t afford anything in this store. She was admiring a table set, when we walked up to her.
Tristen walked up behind her, “Boo!”
She jumped swatting his arm, “You dick.”
“Pay more attention to your surroundings.”
She rolled her eyes, and then looked at me, “Hi Soph.” She brought me into a hug.”
“Hey.” I smiled.
She pulled back, “So, we’re here to buy you some furniture?”
I shot Tristen a look, “It would appear so, I only agreed so that Tristen would stop pestering me about it.”
She laughed, “He is quite annoying some days.”
Tristen walked around the table Keira was looking at, “I take offence to that.”
“Offence was definitely intended.” Keira giggled.
We moseyed around the store for a bit. Everything was beautiful, but the price tags made me sick to my stomach. I smiled, and agreed when they would point out something that they liked. Tristen was across the store looking at a very long tan sofa.
Keira walked up next to me, “So, how are you?”
“I’m fine.” I said half heartedly. I knew whatever I said would possibly go back to Stefan.
“You’re lying to me.”
I turned to face her, “Look I love you, but it’s hard with you. You’re one of Stefan’s closest friends. I don’t know how to act or feel right now.”
She took my hand, “I’m your friend too, Soph.”
I gave her a half smile, “I know you are, but it’s just hard.”
“I know, but I’m here for you too.”
I sighed, “I called him last night.”
“You did what?”
I gave her a look and pretended to look at a chair next to us, “After I went on a date with Tristen.”
She gasped, “Wait what? I don’t understand.” She grabbed my arm, turning me to face her.
“I went on a date with Tristen that ended weird, and I was feeling...I don’t know what I was feeling, but I called Stefan. I think there’s part of me holding on to something, but there’s nothing there.”
“Shit. That’s a lot.” She was holding her hand on her chest, “Did he answer?”
“No, I left a voicemail though. Which was probably the worst decision of my life.”
“Why is it a bad decision?”
I looked at her, “We both know he’s never going to call me back, and I just set my feelings up to get let down once again.”
She stood there thinking, “Tristen is a good guy, Soph. But I don’t know if he’s the guy for you.”
“Why do you say that?”
She shrugged her shoulders, “Just a feeling.”
“I’m tired of feelings.” I plopped down into the chair.
Tristen glided up to us, “Soph that tan sofa is really nice.”
I looked up at both of them, “You both know I can’t afford anything in here, right?”
“I was already planning on buying the furniture for you.”
“Tristen, I can’t let you do that.”
“Why? It’s my apartment, just pretend it came furnished. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
I rolled my eyes, laughing. “You’re a pain.”
“I try my best. Now will you come look at this table?” He pointed across the room.
Keira and I laughed as we followed him.
Chapter Twenty Eight
Stefan
Jess has been in London for a week. Her company was unwanted, but it was nice having someone around to talk to. I probably would have continued to live at the bar if she hadn't shown up. Jess was staying at a posh hotel down the road. She checked on me every night, making sure I wasn’t drowning my sorrows. The first two nights were the worst, I cursed her out to the point of her slapping me in the face. We fight now more like brother and sister than ex’s.
We were at lunch at a restaurant in Notting Hill. Jess dragged me shopping with her. She played the pity card because she doesn’t come to London as much anymore since our families aren’t speaking.
Jess pushed her salad around on her plate, “Do you think our Mom’s will ever speak a
gain?”
I shrugged my shoulders, “I don’t know. Your father was doing a deal with the devil and he didn’t even realize it.”
“They were pretty freaked when everything came out about your Dad.”
I took a bite of a fry, “Just because he gave me life, doesn’t make me his son. I stopped feeling that way a long time ago.”
“How long do you think they will be in jail for?”
“I don’t know, I hope they go for max time.”
“What are you going to do when they get out?”
“I don’t know. Hopefully I’m untouchable by then and my Mum is remarried.”
She rolled her eyes, “Your Mom is a doozy. She’s still seeing Vincent, right?”
I blew out a breath, “Who knows. It would never work between them. She’ll move on, and hopefully find someone else.”
She laughed, “Your Dad is going to shit himself when she hits him with divorce papers in jail.”
I smirked, “Yeah, probably. I think she saw this as her only out. She was afraid of him.”
“After what they did to Sophia, I’d be afraid too.”
I looked out the window, “Yeah.”
“I’ll be right back. I’m going to the bathroom.” Jess stood, and walked toward the back of the restaurant.
My phone started vibrating. I pulled it from my pocket. It was Keira.
“Hi, Keira.”
“Hey my favorite British boy. How’s London?”
“Fine.”
“What are you doing?” She asked chirpily, I heard a honk from a car in the background.
“I’m at lunch. The real question is, what are you doing?”
“I’m headed to work. It’s hard to catch you with the time difference.”
“I thought you were going to quit that job, by orders from Leo’s Mom, and join the rich housewife life?”
She laughed, “Not anytime soon. You know I can’t sit still for too long.”
“Have you seen Sophia by chance?” I asked.
“Actually I went furniture shopping with her last weekend.”
“Why does she need furniture?”
Until Him: Book 3 - Until Then Series Page 18
