Page 61 of The Longest Wait

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“I’m ignoring your negativity. Tess plans to be Lady Liberty.”Alex could see that. “Does nothing shock me anymore?”Lucy continued, “And Sofia is going as Wonder Woman.”“I thought the winner was best costume; these all sound lame

as hell.”

“I know what you’d dress up as—a party pooper.”Alex didn’t disagree, but it was true. Their costume ideas were

lame. “Since you’re not researching for a creative costume, whatare you doing today?”

“Tonight, Jack and I are going to Baltimore for a restaurant’sopening I worked on. But before we leave, I need to check on Sofia.”

Check on her? Why? This put Alex on red alert. “Did something happen?”

Lucy’s voice seemed worrisome. “She hasn’t been herself lately.”

“Why?”

His sister paused and he started to pace. What the hell waswrong with Sofia?

Lucy finally spoke, “She hasn’t mentioned a single hook-upin months. It’s like she’s secretly dating someone or something.”

It was always Sofia’s ridiculous demand to not tell their friends,but he still felt deflated. “Why would she date someone and nottell you?”

Lucy was agitated. “I don’t know, Alex, that’s why I’m goingover to her apartment now. And I only have like thirty minutes todo it before I have to hustle back to my place to get ready.”

Alex and Lucy got off the phone, and he saw this as an opportunity. Perhaps Sofia would share the news to Lucy they’re dating.He waited an hour before he left his house to see Sofia. Okay, healso texted Jack to see if he needed any help with the remodel intheir basement, just to confirm that Jack and Lucy left for Baltimore. Not because he didn’t want Lucy to see him, but because hewas selfish and wanted Sofia to himself.

SOFIA WAS SURPRISED to have another visitor at her apartment. Two unannounced people to come over never happened. Shelooked through the peephole and smiled. From the same familytoo. She opened the door and Alex lifted his lips to a sexy-ass halfgrin. Sofia pulled him to her and kissed him.

Alex pulled away, with his hands still cupping her face. “I canput surprise visits in the acceptable box?”

Sofia dragged him in. Honest, anything involving Alex showing up was in the acceptable box, but she wasn’t telling him that.“Depends on the reason for the surprise visit. Please tell me thisone is to ravage me.”

He smirked. “You’re insatiable.”

“You can’t keep up? Must be your age.”

Alex tightened his grip on her wrist. “It’s six years, Sofia.”

She wiggled out of his grasp. Sad to end the potential forplaytime because she was curious what brought him over withoutinvitation. “What brings you over without asking? The Copelandsiblings seem to think they can show up whenever they want.”

Alex stared her down. “I was well aware Lucy was coming over.”

Sofia lifted an eyebrow , but said nothing. This was news toher. She waited for him to provide more detail.

“You know Lucy and I still keep up our monthly calls. It’s ouronly brother-sister time we get anymore. When we talked, she toldme she was coming over,” he explained.

Sofia gave him a challenging look. “Apparently, my lack ofrandom sex concerns her.” Alex clenched his jaw, as if it stung tohear. “What did you tell her?”

She shrugged. “I told her one-night stands don’t have the sameallure at thirty-one that they used to.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes, that’s it. I mean, she asked some more questions, butthat’s the gist of it.”

Why the hell was he pushing this?”

He had yet to sit down. A few more minutes and Sofia was suresteam was about to blow out of his ears.