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“Love you too.” And I did. Maggie was the mother I needed and the confidante I’d always had growing up. I did love her and I loved Stone too, but was it the right kind of love?
And was it worth risking everything?StoneThe crackling air inside The Bread Box told me right away that avoiding Sophie today would be an impossible task. I quickly scanned the bakery and found her, looking casually beautiful in jeans and a flowing tank top that showed off her curves. Her blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and even with half a dozen customers between us, I could feel the brightness of her smile as she chatted with Mara.
Not a care in the world.
That wasn’t fair, and I knew I even as I thought came to me. Sophie wasn’t supposed to be sad without me, I didn’t want that for her. Hell, I never wanted her to spend one day of her life in sadness. Still, it hurt to know that my absence from her life wasn’t as devastating as hers was from mine. I felt the hole in my life viscerally. But now, seeing with my own two eyes that my absence made no significant impact on her life, solidified my plan to move on.
Somehow.
Some way.
With someone else.
There were no candidates, no women who interested me the way Sophie did, but I had to do this. I needed to get out and spend time with women who weren’t Sophie, women who didn’t know I was madly in love with my best friend. Women who just might be able to help me forget that sad fact.
The line moved fairly quickly, and before I knew it I was at the front of the line staring into Mara’s expectant face.
“What’ll it be?” Her gaze slid to the left where Sophie had just picked up her coffee and back to me with a gentle smile.
“French roast, black. A cheesy croissant and a custard doughnut, thanks.” I ignored Mara’s sympathetic look and paid for my order, then stepped aside and buried my face in my phone to avoid any unwanted conversations. With anyone.
“Order up!”
“Thanks.” I grabbed the cup and bag with the familiar logo and made my way towards the exit. And fresh air.
“Stone.” Sophie’s voice cut through the chatter of the busy bakery and it felt as if all movement and all conversation stopped. Waiting to see if I would run to her as I always did or if I would snub her in front of the biggest gossips in town.
My hand was poised just above the push bar when I heard her voice, and I let out a low sigh and turned slowly with a smile. Luckily, Sophie was just a few feet from the door, so there wouldn’t be a big production of me walking over to her.
“Hey Soph. What’s up?”
“Not much, just grabbing a quick breakfast snack while I work out some kinks,” she said and pointed to her laptop with a dim smile. “How are you?”
“Good. Been busy going over things to see if the Tulip location is going to work for another Stone Cold Fitness.” This was a painfully boring conversation. It wasn’t two people engaging in small talk, we were lifelong friends. Or we used to be. “How did the mixer go?”
Sophie blinked her big brown eyes up at me, her brows dipped in confusion. “Maggie didn’t tell you?”
I shrugged. “Only that she met a few nice boys she wouldn’t mind letting twirl her around the dance floor.” I rolled my eyes and she let out a pretty little laugh. It was a laugh I didn’t realize I missed until this moment.
“Well she looked very beautiful and seemed to have a good time.” She flashed a bland smile that I didn’t like as much. “It was a good night, and I owe you a thank-you for giving me the kick in the pants I needed.”
“Don’t thank me, I was just trying to make Ma happy.” But I was happy to see it worked out for her.
“Thank you, anyway Stone.”
“You’re welcome.” And we were back to the stilted conversation that bored me to tears, and I hated it. But I told myself that in a month or two, when I was dating someone else, things would get back to normal. “Anyway, I should probably get going.”
“You haven’t forgotten about Eva and Oliver’s engagement party, have you?”
“It’s on my calendar because Oliver made us all sync it. Complete with annoying reminders and everything.” I wasn’t looking forward to it, given how strained things were between me and Sophie, but I loved a good party and I was happy my friend had gotten the girl of his dreams.
“Good. Do you plan on bringing a date?”
Was she serious? I waited a moment to see if this was her way of asking if we could go together, as friends. The way she usually did when these kinds of events rolled around, but this time Sophie said nothing.
