Page 29 of The Longest Wait

There was this façade of animosity between them, when thetruth was, there was actually respect and a high level of trust. Everything he briefly told her about his scars, she wouldn’t share withsomeone else. He had faith in her that she would keep his secrets,like he would with hers. If she turned to him and said last nightdidn’t mean anything to her, he wasn’t going to let her go easily.

Not this time.

As always with Sofia, she wasn’t going to make it easy. Whileshe didn’t move, emotionally she was backing away. The emotionalwall was worst and he had to figure out how to get over it.

He wasn’t backing down. “You think, after last night, thisis over?”

“Alex, we would never end well,” Sofia explained with no heartbehind it. He could tell as each second passed, she was closing up.

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“Look at our past, it took ten years for us to actually have a conversation with each other again. I don’t want to go through anotherten years of hating each other. All the pent-up aggression has takena toll, not only on us, but on our circle of friends.”

Her phone rang again. She held it up, showing Lucy calling.He took the phone out of her hand and put it in his backpocket. Sofia kicked him, thankfully it was a light, in the shins.“Give me my phone back!”

“After we have a conversation.”

“What else do we have to say? We had fun last night and thatwas it. I didn’t think I had to give you the ‘let’s be friends’ speech.”Sofia’s words were meant to be sassy, but she didn’t look at himwhile she said it.

Every brick he took down from the wall between them lastnight, she was putting right back into place.

“Do you want to be friends?” Okay, so that was far from whathe wanted. But, she was slipping through his fingers and he woulddo anything to keep her close. Friendship was better than the combative nature they had before; the animosity was brutal.

She was quick and grabbed her phone from him when it rangagain. “Why have you been calling nonstop ,” she said to his sisterwhen she answered her phone.

They were still standing close enough to each other that hecould hear Lucy’s voice.

“If you’re still at some guy’s house, I would be shocked. Yourcardinal rule: No morning sex, and to get out when you can. Infact, I think you refuse to sleepover with any man you sleep with.”

Alex had an uncomfortable feeling at the insinuation of Sofiabeing with someone else. Someone else who wasn’t him. He hadno right to it, especially after her directness of last night beingnothing more than sex. He instead focused on the other part ofLucy’s comment. Sofia didn’t do morning sex. She didn’t executeher habitual plan because she slept over and had morning sex withhim. Eagerly, they ravished each other this morning.

Closing the gap between them, Alex put his mouth on herother ear not occupied by her phone. “I think you love morningsex,” he whispered before taking a slight nibble.

She tried to wiggle away, but he was stronger. He lifted her tosit on his kitchen table, with him standing between her legs. Hishands wandered over her body before landing on her hips andyanking her closer to him. His mouth kissing promises along hercollar bone.

“Wait, are you still at some guy’s house?” Lucy’s voicewas puzzled.

“Long story.” She almost moaned while she dropped her sandwich and moved her head away from his, so he couldn’t grazeover her neck with his mouth. She needed to regain some control.“What is this SOS call about?”

“Hmm…” Lucy didn’t seem eager to drop the conversation ofwho she was with, but did anyway. “I was stalking you because I’mhaving a tech issue and I need it fixed, like yesterday. I’m workingon a site, but can’t put links on for future sales. When I try toupdate it, everything disappears. Please, please, please…can youcome over and help me?”

“Of course. I will be there in twenty.”

“Perfect,” Lucy cheered. “I was close to a mental breakdownover this. Jack and I both tried to update it, but nothing worked.Whenever you’re ready to leave consulting, you can come full timewith me.”

“Not going to happen,” Sofia reminded her for the millionth time.

His sister laughed. “I know, I know. See you soon.”

Sofia got off the phone and stared at Alex. “You can’t trap mehere all day. I need to help Lucy.”

“I heard.” He didn’t step away from her. “Why won’t you workwith her full time?”

“I like the freedom of consulting. I fear if I tied myself to onejob, I would get bored and bail. I couldn’t do that to Lucy,” Sofiaadmitted what was holding her back.

He moved back to give her room to jump down from the table.He wasn’t ready for her to leave, but she already had checked out.Still, he couldn’t let go of not knowing where they stood.

“What do you and I do from here?”