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Sophie nods as if she understands, her cheeks reddening.
I tilt her chin so our eyes lock. “When I said before that I had no interest in dating after Emma, I meant it. Didn’t look at women, had no desire to move on, didn’t feel like I deserved to. That was, until I met you.”
She blinks and looks at me with sad eyes. “Really?”
“You lit something inside me that I can’t explain. I met chicks at bars, but I didn’t take any of them home, or to bar bathrooms…” I tease. “But you were different, and even though I couldn’t get you off my mind, I also knew I wasn’t ready to date. I didn’t want to be with another woman until I met you. Soph, you ruined me.” I flash her a wink as I wrap my arms around her waist.
“I think Serena likes you in more than just a friend kind of way,” she tells me, her cheeks flushing. “So I just wanted to ask if there was something more there than your shared history.”
“The only history Serena and I have revolves around trying to get her sister help. We’ve only ever been friends, and that’s all we’ll ever be. I can promise you that.”
“Do you think she’s on the same page now?”
“Well, she’s aware that I’m head over heels in love with you. That’s all she needs to know.” I shrug, confident Serena wouldn’t interfere with a relationship that makes me this damn happy. “She’s so career driven, she’ll probably end up with someone in the same field.”
“I’m kinda surprised Liam didn’t try to score with her once she moved in,” Sophie says, laughing.
I snort, nodding. “You and me both. But Liam’s smart enough to know you don’t shit where you eat. Sleeping with someone who lives with you would be his definition of stupid.”
“Why doesn’t he want to date?” she asks, emptying the noodles into the boiling pot of water. “I know he travels for work a lot, but has he ever dated for real?”
“Nope, not since I’ve known him. From what I gather, he doesn’t want a relationship because he doesn’t trust himself not to hurt the other person. He’s jaded when it comes to that stuff.” I stand behind her and wrap my arms around her. “He has issues. Eventually, the right girl will come along and change him. And he’ll marry her in a heartbeat.”
“I sure hope so. I’d like to see him happy with someone.” Sophie smiles. “When he’s ready to settle down, that is,” she adds.
“You might be waiting a while.” I chuckle.
“Oh, that reminds me of something. Does Liam gamble?”
“Like poker? He did in college but mostly for beer. Why?” I furrow my brows, then reach into the cabinet and grab two plates. After setting them down on the counter, I grab us both a drink.
“Well, I was doing his laundry, and when I checked his pockets, I found a receipt and a poker chip from a casino in Vegas. I just found it weird because he never mentioned going there to either of us.” Sophie turns down the burner before stirring the pasta.
“He must’ve been there for work or something.” I shrug. “Was it for a lot?”
“Yeah, sixteen grand,” she says, and I spit out my beer. I took a drink at the wrong time.
“What? Really? Holy shit. That’s definitely something he’d be way too happy and brag about.” I grab a napkin to wipe the beer off my shirt.
“So it’s weird, right? Do you think I should ask him?”
“I don’t know. Maybe say something when you give him the chip back, but without it coming off like you’re being nosy.” I smirk, knowing Sophie will want to pry anyway.
She thinks about it for a moment, pursing her lips back and forth, then smirks. “Yeah, I think I can do that.” She fists my shirt, pulling my lips to hers. “And then you’re going to tell me about your day while we eat.”
I can’t even hold back the grin that forms because my girl knows how to read me so damn well.
Chapter Twenty
Sophie
“So now that your fall concert is finished and you’re not stressing about rehearsal, you think I can take you on that official first date?” Mason asks me over breakfast. “I mean, it’s only about three months overdue. Plus, you did introduce me as your boyfriend to your director, which is pretty serious if you ask me.” He’s being playful and is in high spirits this morning, which I adore.
I smirk, taking a sip of my coffee. After the performance last weekend, Mason surprised me with a gorgeous bouquet of roses and looked so damn handsome in his suit and tie. I kissed him, and of course, we weren’t alone, so I introduced him to the other violinists and our director. Now Mason looks at me as though he’s won the lottery, but I’m clearly the lucky one.
