by Gia Riley
Instead of pulling away, he slips the paper in the pocket of my jeans. “Just in case,” he repeats before turning and walking away in the opposite direction.
Shit. I have no idea how to explain this to Kipton. Slowly, I ease the phone back up to my ear. “Sorry about that.”
“Who the fuck is Jake?” Kipton barks in my ear.
His tone catches me off guard. I expected him to be upset, but he’s really pissed. I can’t say I blame him. I know what it’s like to be on the other end of the line—even if he doesn’t think I do. “He’s a guy from class. He let me borrow a pencil.”
“So, he thinks you’re his girl now? What did he want?”
“He tried to give me a piece of paper, but I said no. He tucked it into my pocket.”
“He touched you? Start talking, Sophie.”
I pull the piece of paper out of my pocket to unfold it. “It’s his phone number.”
Kipton growls into the phone, and I hate that he’s so angry about something I have no control over. “That motherfucker.” I’m positive he’s pacing back and forth, running his fingers through his hair like he always does when he’s pissed off or stressed.
“Calm down, Kipton. I told him about you.”
“He fucking touched you, Sophie. I don’t like that.”
“Only with the paper. It’s not a big deal. Please don’t be mad.”
I hear him huff in disagreement. It is a big deal to him. “Today it’s his number. What’s he going to try next week?”
“Nothing. I’ll ignore him.” I’ve dealt with far worse than Jake.
He curses under his breath. “Maybe I should leave now and send him a little reminder that you’re off limits. I’ll tell him exactly where he can shove his damn paper.”
“No. It’s over with.”
“It better be,” he grumbles. “I hate that I’m not there with you. If I was, he wouldn’t have tried shit with you today.”
“But you’re not. I finally get to see you tonight, and I don’t want you to be mad the whole time.”
“I’m sorry. I know it’s not your fault you’re fucking hot. It just works on my nerves when guys are such assholes.”
Laughing at how absurd he’s being, I shake my head and climb into my car. “Thanks, I guess. You’re mad because he’s in your territory. I get it. Just hurry and get here.”
“Okay. I have everything with me, so I’m leaving for your place straight from work.”
“Cara wants to go to the bar tonight. This new place, Shooter’s, is supposed to be awesome.”
“I don’t care where we go as long as I get you.”
“You can have me all you want, Kipton. I love you.”
“I want you, and I love you, too, but if that asshole shows up, I want you to point him out.”
He’s exhausting. “Kipton,” I beg. “Please let it go.”
“I am. I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay.”
I disconnect the call and lean my head against the headrest of my car. It’s only two o’clock in the afternoon and already this day has kicked my ass. I can only pray Jake will take no for an answer and leave me alone. There’s no doubt in my mind that if Kipton crosses paths with him, it won’t be pretty.
I put the key in the ignition, and toss the piece of paper with his number on it into my purse. Not a chance in hell, buddy.
BY THE TIME I GET to the grocery store, I walk from aisle to aisle struggling to remember everything I wanted to buy. Only when I’m positive I have all of Kipton’s favorites, I head to the checkout. The woman ahead of me is finishing up, so I start to unload my cart. My mind is focused on one thing and one thing only—Kipton.
“Wasn’t expecting to see you again today.”
I jump, sending the roll of paper towels in my hand to the floor. “You have to stop sneaking up on me, Jake.”
“I don’t know, Sophie. Call it a coincidence, but it seems like even the universe wants me to take you out.”
He makes me blush again, sending a wave of guilt to my brain, though I have nothing to feel guilty about. But it’s wrong, and I need to make this right. I don’t want him to have any reason to believe he has a chance with me. I reach inside my purse and hand the piece of paper with his number back to him. “You should probably keep this. My boyfriend wasn’t too thrilled.”
Instead of him accepting it, he reaches around me to grab a pack of gum from the display. His knuckles brush against my arm, surprising me. “You can just toss it. I didn’t mean to cause trouble for you.”
I hold onto it, tucking it back in my purse instead of standing there awkwardly with it hanging in the air. “It’s okay. You didn’t know.”
“True, and I won’t feel like an ass forever, I promise. Although the ego is a little bruised.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” I laugh. Placing my groceries onto the belt, I can’t help my nerves as he watches me reach farther into the cart.
With only milk and gum in his hand, he sets them down before reaching in to help me. “Thanks, but you don’t have to.” I don’t need him doing me any more favors. I already owe him for the pencil.
“It’s no problem. Doing anything fun tonight?”
“My boyfriend is coming into town for the weekend.” I feel like I’m rubbing salt in his wound as the words leave my mouth.
“Ah, the boyfriend.” Again, he looks disappointed as he places the last of my groceries on the belt.
Before I can respond with yet another apology, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Immediately, it’s like I got caught with my hand in the cookie jar even though I’ve done nothing wrong.
“You’re popular today,” Jake says, as he watches me dig my phone out of my pocket. I glance at the text. A mixture of shock and anger fill me from head to toe.
Kipton: Go ahead to the bar without me. Got caught up at school. Explain later.
Is he kidding me?
I punch the button on my phone to dim the screen, not even bothering to reply to him. Stuffing the phone back into my pocket, I find my debit card to pay for the groceries. Swiping too quickly the first time, I run the card though the machine a second time. I punch at the buttons harder than necessary, entering my four digit pin number for the transaction to complete.
“Everything okay?” Jake asks.
“Change of plans. It’s nothing.” I shake off the cryptic text and try not to let it bother me, but it does. This is the second time plans changed last minute. Before I lose it entirely in the middle of the grocery store, I take a deep breath and convince myself he wouldn’t blow me off if he didn’t have a good reason. He better have a damn good reason.
“Okay. Enjoy your boyfriend.” He drags out the word boyfriend long enough to make me smile. “See you in class on Monday.”
“Thanks. Enjoy your weekend, Jake.”
Once I’m home, I barge into the apartment, my arms full of grocery bags. Cara rushes to help me, immediately picking up on my sour mood as I kick the door closed.
“I take it the test didn’t go well?”
“I did okay. It’s your brother that’s pissing me off.”
“Oh hell. What did the asshole do?”
I hold up my phone for her to read the text. Her eyes scan the words quickly. “Pfft. Call his pathetic ass or I will.”
“I will, but I was in the grocery store when I got it. Today is a total mess.”
Cara ushers me onto a stool at the kitchen island. “I’ll put the groceries away. Relax and call my brother.”
I try calling Kipton, but the call goes straight to voicemail. Whatever he’s doing and wherever he is, he doesn’t want to be bothered. “Voicemail,” I tell Cara. I plug my phone into the charger and help put the groceries away.
“Do you want me to try?” Cara asks from the stove where she’s busy stirring her mac and cheese—the one thing she knows how to cook without burning the house down.
“Nope.” I grab a bottle of wine from the fridge. “I have no idea wh
en he’s coming or if he’s coming at all.” I examine the wine bottle, trying to figure out how the corkscrew works. I’m new to the world of wine.
“Of course Kipton’s coming, Sophie. Don’t be crazy.” She dishes some of her mac and cheese into a bowl and sets it on the counter next to me. “Eat that if you’re planning on pre-gaming before the bar.”
Cautiously, I move the noodles around with my fork, looking for anything suspicious. Cara isn’t exactly at home in the kitchen. “Can you get the cork out of the wine, please.”
“Yes, but my food won’t kill you. Look, it’s delicious.” She takes a big bite and moans at its cheesy-goodness.
Lifting the fork to my mouth, I taste a sample. It’s not half bad. I wash it down with a big gulp of the Moscato she opened for me, savoring the sweetness. It’s exactly what I need to calm down after the chaotic day I’ve had.
“He will call, Sophie. It has to be work holding him up. What else could it be?”
I never told her about the girl.
“What stinks?” Drew asks as he joins us in the kitchen.
“Your woman is cooking again,” I tell him.
“I didn’t hear the smoke detector go off while I was in the shower.”
Cara punches him in the stomach and he pretends it actually hurt. “No macaroni and cheese for assholes.”
He pouts pathetically. “Sorry, baby. Please, feed me.”
“Oh, I’ll feed you,” she teases. “Do you want some of this, or maybe some of this?”
I turn my head when she starts sucking on his neck. “Guys, sitting right here.”
“Sorry, Sophie. Where’s Kipton?” Drew questions. “Shouldn’t he be here by now?
Question of the hour. “Hell if I know.” I hold up my wine, and give a big cheers to Drew.
“I’ll call his late ass, hang on.”
I watch Drew dial Kipton’s number. He pulls the phone away from his ear, staring at the display in confusion. “I must have the wrong number programmed into my phone.”
“Why?” Cara and I question in unison.
“Some chick answered.”
My stomach drops to the floor. It’s her.
Cara’s eyes widen in surprise. She glances at the number on Drew’s phone. “That’s my brother’s number. Call her back, Drew. Ask her who she is.”
Drew dials, but cautiously looks to me for permission. He’s walking a very fine line, and I’m sure I look like I just saw a ghost. “Hang up,” I whisper. “Hang up!” I yell in a panic. But it’s too late, and I can’t handle the truth. Not now—probably not ever.
“Where’s my boy, Kipton?” Drew asks. “Who?”
He pulls the phone away from his ear. “She says her name is Alisa.”
Cara stands up so fast her stool tips over on its side. “Give me the phone!” She snatches it out of Drew’s hand. “What the fuck are you doing, Alisa?”
I sit in shock, watching Cara unleash her inner beast. Knowing the name means something to her scares me even more—and her reaction to Alisa being within a five mile radius of Kipton petrifies me. I knew he lied to me for a reason.
And now that I know I have reason to worry, I grab the entire bottle of wine off the kitchen counter and take it to my room where I can be alone. I don’t want to hear any details. I don’t even want to see Kipton. Not if he’s cheating on me.
But I’m only left alone for a minute. Cara opens my bedroom door and shoves the phone in my face. “The bitch wants to talk to you.”
Liquid courage wins. I take the phone out of her hand, and cautiously bring it to my ear. “Hello?”
“Is this Sophie?” She asks sweetly in her bubble gum voice. I want to rip her teeth out.
“Yeah. What do you want from me?” She already has my boyfriend. I don’t have much else.
“He told me about you at Lums Pond last weekend,” she admits. All the sweetness is gone from her voice. It’s replaced with defeat.
“How sweet of him,” I grumble. “He didn’t tell me anything about you.” I have so many questions for her, but it kills me to give her any satisfaction. She can’t know how much I’m hurting. That’s only for me to hold onto.
“Why do you have his phone?” I take another long swig of wine from the bottle to prepare myself for her answer.
“I’m waiting for my boyfriend. Troy’s the athletic trainer with the team. We both know Kipton from high school.”
“Oh,” is the only thing I can come up with. While that explains why she was at the cabin with him, he still lied. And it pisses me off. “Alisa, I’ve been through a lot, and I don’t want to be fucked with. You can tell him I called, or you can pretend I didn’t. I don’t give a shit one way or another thanks to this bottle of wine I’m drinking. Do you know why I’m drinking it?”
“No,” she responds.
“Because I love him—and he’s there with you.”
“I’ll tell him you called. He will want to know.”
“That’s questionable, but if you’re telling me the truth, thanks.” I hang up, somewhat relieved that she’s not waiting specifically for Kipton, yet confused about the entire exchange. I have no idea what kind of game she’s playing. And I’m as jealous as Kipton was earlier.
Cara peeks her head in my room. “Are you okay, Sophie?”
“This helps.” I hold up the bottle of wine I’m destroying all on my own. “Who the hell is Alisa?”
Cara looks me straight in my eyes with absolute certainty. “His ex.”
“SHE’S A BITCH. YOU HAVE nothing to worry about. Kipton wouldn’t get back with Alisa even if she was the last girl on the planet.”
I stare at the wall, oddly fascinated by the tape left stuck to the paint by the last tenant. Clearly the wine has gone to my head. It’s the only reason I’m not going completely crazy. “You know, I got asked out today.”
Cara sits down on the floor next to me where I’m propped against the side of my bed with my feet stretched out in front of me.
“Who asked you out?”
“Jake.” I can still remember the deep timbre of his voice as he spoke. It makes me shiver. I wasn’t overly attracted to him, but there was something so mysterious about the way he carried himself that intrigued me in the strangest way. Not enough to do anything about it, but enough to know that I need to keep my distance.
“I hope you told him to go screw himself.”
“Honestly, I felt so guilty about the whole thing. All I could think about was Kipton being disappointed with me for the entire exchange. And now I find out he’s spending time with his ex-girlfriend. The irony.”
“He’s not spending time with her, Sophie. She may have his phone in her possession, but you will always have his heart.”
I turn my head away from the tape on the wall, and stare at Cara. “You sound like a Hallmark card.”
“Are you drunk? Where’s the wine?”
I reach for the bottle sitting next to me. “Here, I saved you some.”
Cara inspects the inside of the bottle. What she’s looking for I have no idea. “There’s like a sip left in here. Did you drink the whole thing?”
“No. I spilled a little on my shirt. See.” I pull the fabric of my T-shirt away from my body so she can see the stain from the wine.
“You lush.”
“I need a shower. If your brother calls, tell him to meet us at the bar.” I grab my pink bath towel off the hook on the back of my door. But as I move my fingers across the pink fibers, I think of Kipton’s towel obsession, and toss it in a heap in the corner. I take the purple one instead.
I’m already half undressed and stepping into the shower when the bathroom door opens. Climbing the rest of the way in, I pull the curtain closed and turn on the water. The warm flow cascades over my sore muscles. It may soothe by body, but it does nothing to calm the turmoil in my heart. Tonight could potentially be the beginning of the end for Kipton or I—or simply one giant misunderstanding. Either way, it stings like a bitch.
“Humor me for a minute, but this Jake guy, do you like him?” Cara asks from her perch on top of the vanity.
“Of course not. I’m with Kipton.” I dip my head under the spray to wet my hair before lathering soap into the tangled strands.
“Things are okay with you and my brother, right?”
If that’s not a loaded question. We definitely have a lot to talk about once he gets here. “Things are fine. Different now that I’m here and he’s there, but good as can be I guess.”
“I’ll pull that tramps hair out for you if I have to.”
There’s still some soap in my hair, but I pull back the curtain and peek my head out, the cold air from the air conditioning vent giving me instant goosebumps. “Do you know something I don’t?”
“No. Of course not. I’m worried about you though. You have enough stress.”
I take a minute to rinse my hair and the soap from my body before I respond. Turning the water off, I grab my towel off the bar hanging next to the shower. “I’m not in trouble. If I was, I know to ask for help. Between my therapist and all of you, I have enough ears to listen should I need someone.”
“You’re sure? You can tell me anything. No matter what.”
“I know I can. And, I will if I need to. Right now, Kipton and I are the ones who need to talk.”
She picks at her cherry-red nail polish with a sullen look on her face. “Okay. I’m sorry. I just don’t want you to be sick over any of this.”
I reach around Cara to wipe the condensation off the mirror so I can see myself as I brush my hair. “Over Alisa you mean?”
“I have no reason to assume she’s a problem. She was upfront with you about dating Troy.”
“Then let’s go to Shooter’s as planned. We can drill Kipton when he gets here. Until then, we enjoy our night. You in?”
“I’m always in!” She hops off the vanity, clapping in excitement. “I’ll shower and be done in thirty minutes.”
“Now I know you’re full of shit.”
She’s never taken less than an hour to get ready in her life. It’s usually closer to two from start to finish. Which is why she shocks the hell out of me when she’s standing in the living room ready to go in record time.
