Page 40 of Safe Place

Is this why she rushed off after class? I replay the way she grabbed her bag, the way she didn't meet my eyes, and something ugly and irrational starts to take shape in my chest. Did Holden get in touch already? Is he waiting for her shift to end right now?

Before I can process what I’m doing, I’m in the elevator on my way down, and by the time I hit the lobby, my jaw is tight enough to crack a tooth. I step into the cafe, and there she is—right where I hoped she wouldn’t be. Sitting at a corner table, laughing. Laughing. Her non-judgy notebook is open in front of her, and Holden Sinclair is leaning in, looking at her like she’s the only person in the damn cafe.

I cross the room before my brain has a chance to talk me out of it, pull out a chair next to Sophie, and sit. My arm goes casually over the back of her chair, possessive as hell, but I don’t move it.

“Hey, Sophie. I was wondering when you’d be off. Hey, Holden.” My voice sounds way too casual, and I immediately wonder what the hell is wrong with me.

Sophie’s head snaps toward me, brown eyes wide. She quickly shuts her little notebook, like I just caught her writing state secrets.

“Micah. Hi. Holden came to see me at work, and we were just catching up,” she says, her voice higher than usual.

Holden, polite and irritatingly unbothered, offers me a grin and a handshake. “Micah, good to see you again, man.”

“Likewise.” It comes off colder than I’d intended.

I shake his hand, tight enough to make it obvious, then look back at Sophie.

And before my brain can stop my mouth, I say, “Baby, did you eat?”

Her entire face freezes. “Uh, what?”

“Did you eat?” I repeat, like this is a totally normal thing for me to ask in public.

“Um, yeah,” she says slowly, glancing between me and Holden like I’ve grown a second head. “I had a sandwich from the fridge over there.” She points toward the display case by the register, her confusion obvious.

“That’s not food, babe. You can’t be surviving off those sandwiches. I told you that.” I say, doubling down because apparently, I’ve lost all sense of self-preservation.

“You told me that?” she echoes, cheeks flushing.

“Yeah,” I say firmly, nodding like an idiot. “I’ll pick you up after your shift. Dinner will be ready at my place, okay?”

“Dinner?” she asks, still staring at me like I’ve just proposed marriage in the middle of the cafe.

“Yes, baby.” I stand, then force a smile to Holden. “Holden. Good seeing you. We should catch up sometime. With Wyatt and Grant. We’re all at The Haven next door.”

Then I walk out before I can make it worse, my heart hammering. My face feels like it’s on fire, and I can’t even bring myself to turn around to see their reactions.

Fuck. Me.

“Hahaha—you said what?” Grant is literally doubled over, wheezing, and then actually drops to the floor, laughing so hard he has to hold his stomach.

“Shut the hell up,” I snap, running a hand through my hair.

“What a cock-block move,” Wyatt chimes in, leaning back on the couch, way too entertained. “What if she actually likes him? Holden’s a great guy.”

“She doesn’t like him,” I snap immediately. “She can’t.”

Wyatt raises a brow. “You still could’ve given her the choice. Since when are you this hotheaded?”

“He’s always been hotheaded—just never because of a girl,” Grant answers for me.

“Poor Holden's probably devastated,” Wyatt adds.

“He barely knows her,” I say flatly. “He’s a big boy. He’ll survive.”

Grant wipes tears from his eyes, smiling like an idiot. “Sophie’s a cute girl, though. Honestly, if you two didn’t show up matching that day in class, I would’ve gone for her.”

I whip my head toward him. “Absolutely not. You stay the fuck away from her, West.”