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“Move on, but don’t hop in the sack with someone right away. Make moves to get over Sophie but make them slowly. Deliberately. You can’t wait around for her to deal with her crap, it’s not fair to you.”
“Is that what you’re doing?”
“Hell no,” he laughed and shook his head before taking a long sip of black coffee. “The difference is that I’m a big part of her baggage. Sophie’s, I’m sure, has to do with her screwed up family, and there’s nothing you can do about that.” Xander’s expression turned serious again. “Besides a woman doesn’t make the sacrifice she did for me, if she didn’t love me. I have hope, but I’m treading carefully.”
I nodded at his advice and took a big bite of the chocolate bear claw on the plate. Xander was right about one thing, Sophie’s family issues were a big reason for her reluctance to get involved with anyone. She never went on more than a handful of dates with any guy, and despite owning a matchmaking agency, she didn’t seem to believe in love. Sophie believed in compatibility, it’s why she created an algorithm and labelled it love.
“Do you think this is all one sided?”
Xander barked out a laugh that drew a scowl from Mara as she reappeared and he winked. Her gaze narrowed and she turned away. “No, I don’t. You guys have been circling each other since high school. But none of that matters until she deals with her shit.”
“And what are you planning to do about your mystery woman?”
Xander flashed a smile and sat back. “Me? I’m playing the long game.”
I snorted a laugh of my own. “I thought that’s what I was doing.”
“Yeah, but your girl’s in denial, mine is very clear that she wants nothing to do with me. Despite what her heart says. And her beautiful eyes.” Xander drained his coffee and stood. “I gotta go scare a few rookies man. You good?”
I nodded and waved him off. “Yeah, I’m good. Thanks for the advice.”
“Anytime.” He waited at the door until he had Mara’s attention and gave her a little wave, which she ignored. “Later gators.”
That bear claw only made me hungrier, so I paid Mara for the pastries and headed over to Pilgrim Pizza House to pick up dinner. A small part of me wondered if I should send one to Sophie’s, but that wasn’t distance, was it?
No.
Since it was Friday night, the place was packed with teenagers, couples and old folks, taking advantage of the two for one slices. “A large everything, extra cheese and meat. Oh, and those barbecue popper things too. Thanks.”
“Fifteen minutes,” the blushing high school girl said with a smile and handed me a receipt.
I waited by the little alcove that obscured the spot thanks to all the game day signs, coupons and special offers, until the cashier called my number. “Thanks.” I turned and ran, almost literally, into Eva and Oliver. “Hey guys.”
Eva’s keen eyes took in every detail, and I was sure she knew everything within five seconds. “Sophie’s letting you buy food for movie night? She must be more tired than she said.”
I shrugged. “I wouldn’t know, she’s busy.” My tone was brusque, I knew it and Oliver did too, but Eva was unfazed. “I’m turning in early tonight. You all have a good night.” I made my escape before Eva could start the interrogation.
It wasn’t movie night with my best girl, but pizza, barbecue chicken and beer wasn’t bad for a movie night for one.
For tonight, it was enough.
Tomorrow was a new day.SophieFive days.
I hadn’t seen or spoken to Stone in five days. We hadn’t gone that long without speaking to each other since the summer we were sixteen and he spent two weeks at football camp in Oklahoma. He’d only called once the first week and then sent me a postcard every day during the second week. Sure, the letters were short and uninteresting, but he was thinking of me, and that meant something to me.
This time was different. I knew it, and more importantly, I could feel it in every single day that we didn’t talk. Didn’t text. Didn’t send a silly meme on social media. Stone had been mad when he left. Really mad. So mad that he refused to respond when I reached out, other than to say he was busy.
Busy, as if that was an excuse to ignore your best friend.
What he meant was he was too busy to deal with me, which hurt. A lot. That wasn’t the Stone I knew. The guy I knew wouldn’t simply fly off the handle because I’d forgotten about movie night, and he certainly wouldn’t leave and ignore me for a week.
What the hell was he even doing that he was too busy to even return a text message, or simply send me a thumbs up when I was only trying to brighten his day? Eva said she and Oliver had run into him at Pilgrim Pizza House last week and that he seemed weird, but that was all she said.
