by Oliva Lucas
She must be racked with guilt over her ankle. She picked up her cell, but couldn’t think of much to say. She tapped the desk with her finger, and began typing. “How’s the moon boot?” She hit send and curled her lip. Not her best work.
She looked at the screen waiting for a response, before turning it over. She sat back in her chair, and closed her eyes.
What was she doing? She liked Bella, but when she told her she was gay or bi or whatever picking up girls meant, she had felt her stomach twist into a knot.
What did that mean? She had flings with a few girls in college but nothing serious, and she had found girls attractive but never really wanted to jump their bones. Maybe she was just in a vulnerable place at the moment and overreacting to everything.
What she needed was a catch up with one of her friends to clear her head. She had arranged to meet up with Kirsty tonight, an old college friend, who was now living in San Diego. She had suggested meeting at 7pm at Jerry’s, a low-key bar in midtown, so she only had an hour to kill at work.
She let out a long sigh and flicked open the case file in front of her, determined to knock it off before she left the office.
◆◆◆
At 7pm, Sophie walked into Jerry’s and spotted her friend seated at a table. She already had a bottle of white on ice and two generous glasses poured. She was the best.
Kirsty jumped to her feet and waved her over eagerly.
“Soph! Oh, it’s been too long. Have missed you so!” They hugged for a solid minute. Her friend was a big hugger, even back in college.
She was a little person, a little over 5 feet, but full of personality, and she treasured the friendship they had shared with each other over the years despite the distance.
“Oh, this is for you. I know I missed your birthday last week.” Sophie handed Kirsty a bag.
Kirsty gave a small shriek as she poked inside. “You remembered! My god. Nothing more amazing than your home cooked apple pie. This will be devoured tonight. Actually, probably on the ride home. Looks absolutely amazing. Can’t wait to try it. Thank you! You shouldn’t have.” Kirsty pulled her in for another bear hug.
“My pleasure.” Sophie sat down on the stool. “So great to see you.”
“So, here grab a glass. Welcome first to San Diego.” Kirsty clinked Sophie’s glass with her own and took a sip of her wine. “So, how are you settling in my wonderful friend?”
“Well, have only been here a few days. Still surrounded by boxes. Give me one more week,” she laughed. “But so far so good. Told you about Matt and Ally, so that’s been sinking in.”
“I can imagine. What a dog. And what a trollop.”
“Yeah you can say that again.”
“You know Matt always said that I would never leave him. He had so many tickets on himself.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes crawling back when he is done with boring Ally-cat.”
“She is not boring Kirsty.”
“Uh-huh she is. She could never keep a guy longer than a month.”
“Do you mind if we skip them? Really want to end that chapter now that I am here.”
“Well, let’s talk about what we are going to do now that you are here. I’m looking for a bit of fun myself so why don’t we head out one night on a bit of a barhop.”
“Yeah not in the place for picking up but would like a night out on the town. Just to let my hair down.”
“I will organize for next week okay? Just leave it with me.”
“Perfect.”
“How’s your new place? Any hotties?”
“Yeah I love it. I feel strangely at home. Have a few friendly neighbors. And I have become pretty good friends with one of them. Bella. I practically broke her ankle when I ran into her. Anyway, we have been hanging out and she is fun. She is a journalist. And very pretty. She has a face for television.”
“Interesting. Any male hotties?”
Sophie felt her face flush a little after she realized she got sidetracked. “Oh yes, one Jack. He is hot but he knows it.” She rolled her eyes. “And not so sure there is much between his ears, if you know what I mean.”
“Soph! A distraction is a distraction. Who cares what’s between his ears, it’s what’s in his pants that matters! Bang his brains out and chat later. That’s what I used to do.”
Sophie laughed at how forward Kirsty was. “I remember. Just not in that place at the moment. But I have noted your advice.”
Sophie’s cell buzzed with a new message. It was Bella. “Moon boot is looking hot. You should probably sign it, you know.”
“What are you smiling about? Is it Jack?”
“No, no one. So, what night shall we head out?”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Bella was sitting at her table by the window finishing off an article on a corrupt lawyer of all things, when she saw Sophie walk through the courtyard. Ah, the irony of it all.
She saw Jack stroll over and she knew exactly what he was doing. She had seen him do it so many times before and he was smooth, disgustingly smooth. In fact, Bella should ask him for some tips. She was a novice compared to the maestro. He was that good.
She watched the two interact, although she couldn’t hear the conversation. Jack was animated and waving his arms around, while Sophie was throwing her head back laughing. Blatant flirting going, she grumbled. Probably time to draw the blinds. Bella needed to block out Sophie one way or another.
Her finger tapped the send button on her email as she shut down her laptop and hobbled over to the tv. She lay a plump, fluffy cushion face down on the couch and just as her bruised booty hovered over the top of it, a small knock came from her door.
Bella had the sudden urge to pretend she wasn’t home, but the light was on. Idiot. She huffed, hopped back over and turned the door knob.
It was Sophie.
“Hey Bella. Just wanted to check up on the patient?”
Bella smiled. “I am doing okay thanks. Just finished off an article and sent it to my editor. Who says you can’t achieve anything in a moon boot.”
“See I knew you were a star.” Sophie smiled, and clasped her hands together. “Fancy a nightcap by any chance?”
“Oh, sorry I don’t have any wine left.” Bella lied, remembering she had six bottles under the kitchen sink.
“That’s okay, I have whiskey at mine.” Sophie paused. “Do you drink whiskey?”
Bella gritted her teeth. “Oh sure. Yes I do, I mean. I am only having one though.” God did she have no willpower at all when it came to Sophie? Yes Sophie. Anything you want Sophie.
“I’ll bring it across.”
“It’s okay. I’ll come over. The walk will do me good. Good practice.” Bella grabbed her crutches and hopped over behind Sophie, and into her apartment.
She tried not to note the way that Sophie’s black pant suit hugged the curves of her body. Yes, she had not taken any notice at all.
Once inside, she propped her crutches up against the wall and hopped over to her couch. Her hopping skills were on point.
Bella glanced around, taking in the smartly furnished apartment. “You have made this place nice Sophie. Very chic. I love your couch by the way. Can we swap?” Bella smiled as she sunk into the leather cushions.
“Funny I was thinking the other day that yours was more comfortable than mine.” Sophie walked over to the fridge. “Oh, I finally did something with those apples. I made that apple pie. Let me get you a piece.”
“Oh great. I am not going to say no.”
After a brief moment, Sophie walked back over to her with apple pie and a whiskey on the rocks. A surefire way to win her heart.
Bella put the whiskey on the coffee table, and started to tuck into the pie with her fork. “So, the moment of truth has arrived.”
“I hope you like it.”
Bella let out a moan as she swallowed her first mouthful. “Oh my god. Now you are just showing off. This is absolutely amazing. How did you get the pastry so buttery and
the filling so tasty?”
“Years of practice cooking for my brothers. Standard meal was steak cooked by the boys, then dessert made by Sophie.”
“Well it’s truly amazing. I hope you invite me around more often.” Bella almost choked on the crumbs of her apple pie. She picked up her whiskey and took a sip, trying to drown out the words that had clumsily fallen out of her mouth.
Sophie was now facing her on the couch, and she suddenly felt quite exposed being so close to someone she was obviously attracted to. She tried to divert her eyes before settling on a vibrant piece of abstract art on the opposing wall. “I like that artwork. It’s very…. blue.” Oh, thank you for that kindergarten insight Bella. Clearly the whiskey was not helping.
Sophie laughed. “Nice description. My little brother Max did that actually. The only one in the family with a creative eye. My drawing never really progressed past stick figures.”
“And here I thought you were a jack of all trades… Lawyer, baker, wrestler…”
“I’ll have you know I am a deeply flawed individual.”
Bella sat back and smiled warmly at her. “I find that hard to believe.” She had never met anyone more perfect. “I was going to say if you ever get a chance, you should go check out the view from the rooftop. It looks out over the entire city and out to the Atlantic. It’s very pretty, particularly at night, when you see the colors of the city lights. Sometimes I go there to think. Obviously when both legs are working.” Bella frowned down at her patched-up foot.
“Sounds good. Maybe we could go up there some time.”
What was all this ‘we’ business? Bella had meant that Sophie should go up there alone, and suddenly Sophie and she were joined at the hip. “You worked late tonight? Or do you always finish so late?”
“This is nothing. I used to work to midnight but I think that was because I wasn’t happy with my life. I am aiming for a better work life balance here. I actually caught up with one of my college friends Kirsty and we had a drink in town. Nice not to feel alone.”
“You don’t strike me as the sort of person who is alone for long.” Bella quipped. “Oh, I didn’t mean it in a negative way.”
“No, that’s okay.” Sophie looked down and swirled her glass.
Bella flinched. “You’re an attractive woman, so I am sure you have many suitors.” Bella took a big gulp of her glass. “That’s what I meant.” This hole she had dug herself was getting bigger and bigger by the second.
Sophie got up and walked over to the window. Bella was worried she had possibly offended her.
“I may be a journalist, but it doesn’t mean my words always come out the way they are supposed to. Much better at writing. Obviously.” Bella tapped her glass to her head, as Sophie sat back down. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah sorry. I have a lot going through my mind.” Sophie put her drink down on the coffee table and turned to Bella. “You know, I would love to read one of your articles at some point in time. Maybe when you forgive me over your ankle.”
“I just submitted an article about a corrupt lawyer today.”
Sophie laughed out loud. Her face came to life when she smiled. “Well, there’s plenty of those around.”
“And you know, it may be a while until I forgive you.” Bella gave a small smile. Oh no, was she flirting with Sophie?
“I figured that.” A moment passed as they held each other’s gaze. Thankfully Sophie broke the silence by pulling her hair loose out of her ponytail.
“Sorry, it’s been giving me a headache all day.” She ran her fingers through her thick blonde hair and tucked it behind her ears.
“It suits you.”
Sophie paused and looked up.
“Your hair out I mean.” Nothing was coming out of her mouth right.
“Thanks. Oh wait, I forgot one thing.” Sophie hopped to her feet, disappearing into the bedroom, before returning with a black marker in her hand. “I need to write on your boot, like in high school.”
“I was joking, but of course.” Bella peered over as she saw Sophie scribble.
When Sophie got to her feet, she read it. “From me to you Bella, Love Sophie x”
“Oh, thank you. This moon boot is a present from you. How thoughtful.” Bella covered her heart with her hands.
Sophie started laughing. “And people say that lawyers are unthoughtful.”
Bella took a final gulp of her whiskey. I wouldn’t say that at all.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Early Wednesday morning, and Bella was up with the birds again. She was going to a writer’s camp for two days. Actually, the timing couldn’t be any more perfect. She was becoming addicted to spending time with Sophie, so a little bit of distance from the straight girl was just what she needed.
The camp was supposed to free your mind and free your spirit, so you could get your creative juices flowing. There would only be a dozen writers so it would be a relative intimate setting. She was looking forward to the daily meditation. It was something she had tried, but wasn’t very good at.
The camp was apparently in a remote location, although the address had not been disclosed. In fact, the invite had been quite mysterious. All she knew was that she had to be waiting outside her apartment at 6am for a pick up.
There would be no cell or internet coverage either, which would be enough to scare the bejesus out of most. When she actually thought about it, it had all the makings of being kidnapped by a drug cartel, rather than a writer’s camp. It may have been in her best interest to let someone know that she was going.
Even if it was Sophie.
As Bella zipped up her bag and lifted it over her shoulder, she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She was looking forward to escaping her bubble and her mind for a few days.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Sophie had worked late the past two nights but was surprised when she didn’t see Bella’s light on either night. Maybe she wasn’t home.
She saw her walk by her front window at some ungodly hour yesterday morning. Maybe she had gone away. She had wanted to text her but didn’t want to seem over the top. Funny she didn’t mention it. Well she was absolutely obliterated. She could think of nothing but bed.
When she finally crawled into bed, she heard nothing at all coming from Bella’s apartment. No tv humming, no gentle snore. No double tap good night either.
Sophie groaned. She was missing her strangely intriguing and mysterious neighbor a little. Well, she just had to look over a set of papers one more time before she could call it a night. Now if only she could keep her eyes from closing.
◆◆◆
At 6am her alarm sounded off. Had she even fallen asleep? It appeared as though she had, as she woke with the set of papers still on her lap. Sophie had slept the whole night through and yet her head felt heavy. It felt like groundhog day.
She looked at her cell, and was surprised when she had multiple missed calls from Matt and a text asking if they could meet up to talk things through. Yeah when hell freezes over. He must have rocks in his head. Probably large boulders.
Well at least it was Friday, and after today she could kick back and do nothing if she wanted. Actually, she couldn’t. She just remembered Jack. She let out an audible groan.
Jack had cornered her in the courtyard a couple nights ago and asked her if she wanted to grab a drink, and a bite to eat. Well, he was a nice guy. She was hoping he didn’t think of it as a date.
She was trying to build a network of friends and at the moment she was probably a little too dependent on Bella. As soon as she had accepted his invitation though, she had regretted it.
Oh well Bella had seemingly forgotten all about her.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Bella was dropped off outside her apartment complex mid Friday afternoon. The writer’s camp had been thoroughly relaxing and she felt she was able to disengage from the world for the most part. Her mind had not been entirely revolving around Sophie for the last forty eight hours. Only partially. An
d that was a win in itself. Now all she needed was a long, hot shower.
The lodgings had been simple at best and she felt like she was covered in red dirt from head to toe. Even her teeth felt gritty.
Bella had decided it was best for her mental well being to distance herself from her attractive neighbor. Attachment would do neither of them good long term, particularly Bella who was prone to overly romantic notions and fell in love easily. She was also going to try to put herself out there a little more, and meet women. Plural. Lots of them. Leah and Abbie would be ecstatic.
George tippy-toed along the balcony edge as Bella walked up the stairs to her apartment. “Hi George. Did you miss me?” He let out a little meow.
She was going to Leah’s later to have a few drinks and get some insight on how she should meet girls. Step one. Lesson from an expert.
First things first though. Once inside, Bella ran to the shower, switching on the taps as she undressed and jumped in. She watched a sea of red dirt run from her body. Unbelievable. Where did all this dirt come from? They didn’t even venture outside. It was in every freaking crevice of her body. She scrubbed a little harder and let herself soak for an extended period of time.
The daily meditation at the retreat had done her wonders. Every inch of her body felt a degree of calmness and it was satisfying.
After drying herself, Bella put on some fresh blue jeans, and a crisp white button up shirt. She slipped on one black boot and her moon boot on the other foot, then looked at herself in the mirror.
Bella sighed loudly. She looked ridiculous and unbalanced, but this was as dressed up as she had been in a while. She may as well make the most of it. She quickly applied some mascara, lip balm, and a spritz of new perfume before she looked in the mirror.
Almost lady like.
