Until Then : Book 1 - Until Then Series

by Victoria Ashlee

  He pushed me back up against the wall. Not even two seconds later, someone’s fist connected to this side of his face. Almost knocking him off of his feet, releasing me from the wall. I reached for my side, as the pain from the blow to my ribs still lingered. I looked up, of all people to come to our rescue; Sam was rearing back for his next punch. The scum fell back again; Sam wrapped his arm around the guy’s neck dragging him toward the door. Sam’s two friends helped drag the other guys behind their friend into the alleyway.

  “Stay the hell out, or I’ll call the fucking cops.” Sam yelled, slamming the door shut, locking them out.

  “Are you ok?” I searched her body to see if they hurt her.

  “I’m fine.” She pushed my hands away. “It’s you who I'm worried about.” She touched my now sore neck.

  “Still getting into bar fights?” Sam said as he walked up, his friends passed us making their way back toward the crowd.

  “You really didn’t have to get involved.” I told him.

  He laughed, “It was you against all of them. I couldn’t leave you there.”

  “Yeah, you have a point.” I rubbed the front of my neck.

  “Yes, I can’t thank you enough.” Sophia gave him a half smile. Which I think even she was shocked.

  He looked down at her, perplexed by her interaction. “I’d do anything for Stef.”

  “I didn’t even know you were here.” I said.

  Sam slid his hands in his jacket pockets. “I saw you two walk in, but I didn’t want to bother you. I was on the other side of the bar when I saw that guy follow Sophia down here.”

  Sophia brushed her hair behind her ear. “Well I'm happy you were here.”

  “How are things with you?” I asked.

  “They’re good. Living in Brooklyn. Got a new job.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  Sam patted my arm. “I’m going to go find my friends.”

  “Sam,” Sophia said just before he walked away.

  He stopped, “Yeah?”

  “Thank you again.” She smiled.

  “It’s the least I can do.”

  We called an Uber to take us home. I didn’t want to have a chance of those degenerates still hanging around somewhere. Sophia nuzzled up on my shoulder falling asleep quickly on our ride home. The fact that Sam helped us tonight surprised me. We’ve been friends for years, but I've never known him to be helpful. I guess he was there when I was going through that dark time in my life, but sometimes I think he encouraged it. I couldn’t imagine if I had met Sophia during that time. I probably would have used her like the rest of them. Missing my only chance at resurfacing from the hell I was living. Until then, I didn’t know I could be free. She showed me that.

  Chapter Forty Three

  Sophia

  Wednesday morning I woke up to Stefan arriving home from his run. My eyes blinked open, and panic went through me.

  “I slept through my alarm!” I scrambled out of bed.

  He shut the door, giving me a sly smirk. “You can just call in sick.”

  I tried to reach around him for the handle. “No, I left early yesterday.”

  “That story works out even better.” He wrapped his arms around me, picking me up, hauling me toward the bed. “You can pretend to still be sick.”

  My laughter filled the room, as I tried to wiggle my way out of his arms. “Put me down.”

  He laid me down on the bed, leaning over top of me. “Here you go.”

  “Not what I meant.” I smiled. “Don’t you have work?”

  He leaned down toward me, his lips touching my neck. “I’m my own boss, remember?” I felt him smirk against my skin.

  I turned to face him, our lips almost touching, “Can I at least make breakfast?”

  “Are you sure you want to get out of bed?” He pressed himself up against me; clearly trying to entice me.

  I pushed him up, forcing him to roll over. I climbed on top of him, leaning down placing a kiss on his sensual lips. I grinded my hips slightly. “I’m sure.” I gave him a small laugh and climbed off of him.

  “Oh you think you're funny?” He threw a pillow hitting my butt.

  I stopped at the door, “You could help me make breakfast?”

  “Only if you don’t wear any pants.” He looked me up and down.

  I laughed, shimmying my sweat pants off, revealing my underwear, “Happy?”

  He smirked, “Very.”

  I began pulling eggs, and other breakfast items from the refrigerator. Stefan leaned against the kitchen island sipping his juice. “I think you missed something on the bottom shelf.”

  “What? Where?” I started to look, and then realized how sneaky he was. “Stefan Edwards, you are a perv.”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “You just have a mighty fine back side, that's all.”

  I rolled my eyes at him, “I’ll put my pants back on if it’s too distracting.”

  “Nope, I'm good.” He laughed, and started to walk over to the table.

  I set the eggs down on the counter. “Whoa, where are you going?”

  “To sit down. Is that ok?”

  I pulled him toward the stove, “No, you are helping me cook.” I put the pot in his hand.

  “Why?”

  I pulled an egg out from the carton, “I’m going to show you how to poach an egg.”

  “Why would you do that?” He laughed, setting the pot down.

  “On our first real date I asked you if there was anything you can’t do, and you said poach an egg.” I picked the pot back up, and began filling it with water.

  “I can poach an egg.” He said boastfully.

  “Oh can you? Show me then.” I set the pot carefully on the stove.

  He turned the stove on, allowing the water to start boiling. While I pulled out a few pieces of bread to make toast. I reached around him for an avocado, and eyed him with a small laugh, as he stood waiting for the water to boil.

  I started cutting the avocado, “Keira wants us to have an engagement party.”

  “Really?”

  “A small one at the house, Friday. If that’s ok?”

  He smiled, “Sure.”

  I watched him pick up an egg and crack it straight into the water. The impact caused a small splash, and I covered my mouth to stop me from laughing. He leaned over the pot as he watched his egg float around.

  He picked up a spoon, stirring the water, “I think I made egg soup.”

  “Yes, I think you have.” I smiled, taking a bite of toast.

  He looked over at me, “Fine show me how to poach an egg.”

  It was a little satisfying proving him wrong. He’s pretty cute when he gets frustrated. I cracked an egg into a big spoon, “Take this.”

  He looked at me strangely, taking the spoon. I wrapped my hand over his and guided him slowly lowering the egg into the boiling water. “Now we let it sit for 4 minutes.”

  “Ok, that was easier than I thought.” He set the spoon off to the side.

  I giggled, “You were over thinking it.”

  “This coming from the over thinker in our relationship.”

  We finished breakfast; he was pretty pleased with how his second try at poaching eggs came out. I washed the dishes, placing them in the dishwasher. I grabbed my glass off of the table. Stefan walked up behind me, I felt his fingers rub against the side of my hips. He took the glass from my hands, placing it on the island behind us.

  I turned around, “What are you doing?”

  He moved closer to me, “Nothing.”

  He leaned into me, continuing to rub the side of my legs. His hands cupped under my butt picking me up, setting me down on the table. I placed my hands on his chest, as he stepped between my legs. He pulled me into a kiss, leaning forward causing me to lie down. As he pushed my shirt up over my chest, he had me. He took me there on the table in the most delicate way. The peak though, that was electrifying.

  Thursday morning started out grey. It was expected to snow d
uring the next few days. This morning I actually made it to work. I don’t know how Stefan convinced me to stay home yesterday. If I wasn’t dating Stefan, they probably would have fired me by now. Cam was right about one thing, they do treat me differently due to my relationship with the Edwards family.

  When I exited the elevator onto our floor, Cam was leaning on the front desk talking to the pretty blonde that took my place. He glanced at me, immediately turning back around when he realized it was me.

  I set my things down on my desk, took a sip of my iced coffee, and my computer lit up. I leaned back in the chair as I waited for it to turn on fully. My mind kept running around about the engagement party. I had to get a few things on the way home today. Leo and Keira come home tomorrow, and the party is tomorrow night. Which didn’t give me much time to plan everything.

  Cam appeared in my doorway, clearly not wanting to talk to me. “Ms. Franklin is requesting you and I to her office.”

  I looked up at him, but he walked off before I could say anything.

  I followed a few feet behind him into her office. Five giant boxes filled with files greeted us when we walked in. Cam had his arms folded. Why does he have to be in a horrible mood? I felt a little bad from how I acted the other day. I was just hurt by what he did. Stefan wasn’t too happy about it either. Why the hell did I tell him? I made it worse, so much worse.

  Ms. Franklin walked around her desk, and placed her hands on top of the boxes. “You two will go through these today, and organize them.”

  “I can do it alone.” Cam said.

  “No, you will do it together.” She walked over to her chair, and sat back down.

  Cam sighed and picked up a box. “Fine. Let’s go to my office. It has more space.”

  The first thirty minutes of getting organized was agonizing. Neither one of us would speak. We both got settled on the floor, and each picked a box. I couldn’t stand the silence anymore.

  “Are you ok?” I finally asked.

  He looked up at me. “Can we just get through this without talking?”

  I shrank three sizes from his defensive response. “Ok.”

  Another hour of silence passed. There were a lot of annoying sighs from both of us. A lot.

  “Soph…” Cam set down a file. “I’m sorry I'm being a dick.”

  I leaned against his bookshelf, “You kind of are.”

  He stared at the floor, picking at the corner of a file. “I just...I don’t know. What you said the other day, about staying away from you, it hurt.”

  “What you did was not ok, Cam.”

  “I know, and I'm sorry. I just don’t want to watch him use you.”

  Concern crossed my face. “He’s not using me.”

  “He will. He does it to every girl.”

  I sat up, he was starting to get on my nerves. “Cameron, just because you have feelings for me, doesn’t mean you get to shit on my relationship.”

  “So, you would rather me let you act stupid?”

  I stood up, looking down at him. “First, you don’t let me do anything. Second, you’re the one who was a jerk by keeping things from me.”

  “Oh and him not telling you about the multiple girls he’s slept with or Jess isn’t keeping anything from you? Your relationship is a joke.”

  I was shocked when the words left his mouth. I felt anger rising in me, and I stormed out of his office. I was over today, and dealing with him. He can finish by himself, I didn’t care what Ms. Franklin said.

  Friday came, and that’s when everything changed.

  Chapter Forty Four

  Sophia

  Friday after work I rushed to the nearest grocery store to get a few things of cheese. Keira loves a good cheese board, but what girl doesn’t? Keira and Leo arrived home this morning; I’ve barely been able to talk to her. She was dying to tell me all about their trip.

  When I got home, I walked into the kitchen to start preparing the food. I hung the decorations up last night, with the help of a reluctant Stefan. I bribed him with food, and booty grabbing. It worked like a charm.

  My eyes were suddenly covered; I dropped the knife on the cutting board.

  “Surprise!” Keira jumped from behind me. “Look, look!” She held out her left hand.

  “It’s so beautiful!” I took her hand, admiring her ring.

  “Everything looks so great; you are the best best friend a girl could ask for.” She wrapped her arms around me.

  I bopped a floating balloon that was hanging over our heads. “It was nothing, Stefan helped.”

  “Well it is beautiful.” She pulled out a chair at the island. “What did you do all week? Leo and Stefan will be here in a little while.”

  “Um, well Stefan and I made up, and we made up again, and again.” I was trying to hold back an awkward laugh.

  “I think he loves you.” She leaned on her arm.

  I stop mid chop of the cheese. “You what? No. He doesn’t.”

  Keira picked a piece of fruit off of the cheese board. “Mhmm whatever you say. Don’t listen to the engaged girl.” She rolled her eyes.

  “You and Leo have been together for a few years.” I started organizing the board.

  She walked over next to me, picking off the board. “Yes, but Stefan is the romantic type. You think he just has a piano, and books for no reason?”

  I picked the board up, walking it over to the table. “One I’ve never seen him actually play his piano more than a few keys, and two just because he has books, doesn’t mean he loves me.”

  “Ok fine, you win. How was the rest of the week?”

  I went onto telling her about Cam, who confessed his sort of feelings for me. I told her about both my arguments with him, and how I told Stefan. She had the same reaction I did. I made it so much worse. She was also surprised that Sam helped Stefan and I the night at the bar. She gave me a worried look.

  We heard the front door open, Stefan and Leo’s voices filled the house.

  “We’re in the kitchen.” Keira yelled out to them

  The boys walked in carrying a few items that I requested for them to pick up. Stefan tried to insist on having a party planner do all of this for me, but I refused. I told him that this was more personal and sentimental.

  “Soph, you should do this for a living. This looks great!” Leo set a bag on the counter.

  I walked over to hug him. “Thank you and congrats. Thanks for marrying my friend.”

  “She’s pretty great.” Leo wrapped his arm around Keira and kissed her cheek.

  Stefan opened the wine refrigerator, placing the bottle I requested in it, “I blew up the balloons, don’t I get credit?”

  “Do you want to be a party planner?” Leo mocked.

  Stefan shot him a look, “Fuck off.”

  Keira and I finished getting ready in her room. I zipped up my black high-waisted pants, and tucked in my black and white striped shirt. Paired with a, you guessed it, red lip. Keira put on a white sheer top, with black pleather pants.

  A few people had already arrived when we got downstairs. Faces I didn’t know. Keira invited everyone; I still didn’t know all of their friends yet. Stefan and Leo had already started drinking. Keira pulled out two glasses and poured us some wine.

  “Are you ok?” I whispered to Stefan.

  He looked down at me, and placed a small kiss on my lips. “Fine why?”

  “You just haven’t talked to me that much since you got home.” I took the glass that Keira placed in front of me.

  Stefan slid his hand in my back pocket, moving me closer to him. “You’ve been getting ready, little one.”

  I smiled, and pressed my lips to the wineglass.

  The amount of people that arrived in the next two hours was a lot to say the least. I didn’t even know they had this many friends. I moved through the crowd to find Keira, I was finally able to sit down on the armrest of the sofa, while they played a card game on the coffee table. The door opened once again, and I turned to see who it was. The
redheaded nightmare that entered was the last person I wanted to see tonight.

  I leaned down near Keira’s ear. “Jess is here.”

  “She was not invited.” She scrunched her eyebrows together.

  We both turned to look back toward the front door, but she had already disappeared through the crowd.

  “If she starts anything, I might fight her. I may be marrying a Van Doren but I’m still from Brooklyn.” Keira took a sip of her drink.

  A while later we were back in the kitchen leaning over the island picking at the now almost empty cheeseboard that had been moved off of the table. Keira had been running around all night showing everyone her ring, and telling them the magical story of how Leo proposed on top of a snowy outlook in the mountains.

  I looked over as Stefan entered the kitchen behind Leo. I stood up from leaning over the island, smiling as Stefan approached me.

  He gave me a lazy smile, “Hello, my sweet girl.” He set his drink down, taking me in his arms.

  “Are you drunk?” I laughed, and intertwined my fingers with his.

  He started to slow dance with me in the middle of the kitchen. “No.” He smiled, as he pressed his forehead to mine. I could smell the whiskey on his breath. I had never seen him like this before.

  He took my hand, and spun me around, pulling me back toward him. “You are mine.” He whispered in my ear.

  “I am yours.” I smiled, and pressed my lips to his.

  Keira and I had been sitting downstairs for a while talking to a few of her friends. It started to snow outside, so the house was crowded. She was pointing out who was going to be at their wedding, and telling me who was going to be all the drama during the whole process. Leo made his way downstairs with some of his friends to play pool. I felt a little bad about Cam not being here. It’s not exactly how I wanted things to go, but I think space was the best thing right now. The last time I saw Stefan was about an hour ago, I sat up looking around the room for him.

  I stood up, and picked up my glass. “I’m going to go find Stefan.” I told Keira.

  She looked up at me and nodded. Then continued with her conversation.