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This week was about improving his image, not ruining it further by taking advantage of Sophie. Or worse, hurting her.
Chapter Six
Sophie stood a ways back from the crowd and swayed back and forth to the beachy tunes, unable to stop her body from moving to the uplifting beat. Honor’s shoulder brushed hers when they leaned opposite ways, and the constant reminder of friendship kept Sophie warm as the sun dipped behind the horizon.
Her very first concert right on the beach, and it was amazing. Cool sand underneath her bare feet, waves undulating in the background, palm trees swaying, hundreds of people dancing, long strings of white lights crisscrossing over the audience…she’d dreamed this, and now it was real.
The local band playing tonight slowed it down, and Sophie watched couples relax their tempo and wrap their arms around each other. Honor sighed.
Sophie did, too, her thoughts spiraling back to Zane and their time together in the ocean that morning. How he’d looked at her like she was a mermaid or something. Like he’d never seen her kind before and enjoyed it. He’d put his hand on her lower back when they left his mom’s house. Opened the car door for her. Stopped at a tiny little candy store and insisted on buying her a bag of old-fashioned taffy, which he adorably ate more than half of on the drive back.
“You’re thinking about him again,” Honor said.
“What?” Sophie turned her head.
“Don’t play dumb with me, girlfriend. You’ve been Zaned.”
“I’ve been what?” And why did it sound like she’d been lumped into a very large group? She pulled down the hem of her dress, a sudden breeze having picked up the thin fabric.
“Zaned. Haven’t you seen the shirts? It basically means you’re smitten with Zane Hollander, surf god.”
Of course she wasn’t anything unique. She was just another one of his groupies. Breaking her rule not to get too personal with him because she couldn’t help herself.
“Umm…” Sophie said.
“I’m happy you are.” Honor nudged her. “He’s the best Mr. Right Now ever.”
“He is, isn’t he?” So what if it was all in her head? She didn’t want to tell Honor their definitions were poles apart.
“Hey.”
Sophie jumped at the deep, sexy voice behind her. Zane had said he might see her tonight, but she’d refused to get her hopes up.
He came into view looking sexy as ever in a collared short-sleeve shirt and shorts. Bryce was with him.
“Hi,” she said.
“Bryce?” Honor said.
“Honor?” he answered, just as surprised.
“You two know each other?” Sophie took them both in, their eyes wide and stuck on each other.
“Yes.” Honor’s breathless response had Bryce stepping closer.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
“I live here.”
“Wow. It’s good to see you again.”
Honor nodded, and curiosity filled Sophie. She’d seen Honor around guys, and her friend did not get tongue-tied. Then Honor’s hand slipped into hers and squeezed, and more than curiosity pestered Sophie. Concern did, too. She was about to make an excuse for them to be on their way so she could find out what was going on when Honor spoke up.
“I was just saying good-bye to Sophie,” Honor said. “I’m meeting some friends. I’ll, uh, catch you guys later.” She let go of Sophie, spun around, and took off down the boardwalk, the evening shade swallowing her.
Bryce watched her go before his cell phone buzzed. “It’s Danny.” He stepped away, leaving her alone with Zane.
“Do you know what that was about?” Sophie asked.
