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Rachel
What a fucking day.
I am currently in Sophie’s apartment taking a shower.
I rinse the soap suds from my hair watching the water run down the drain. My interaction with Bobby has me in a weird mood. Despite nothing having happened between us, I feel dirty, like I cannot get clean enough.
My interaction with Alessandro has me in an even weirder mood. I feel like my skin is tingly and my stomach is full of butterflies.
I step out of the shower, my hair wrapped in a towel, and get dressed in a warm black robe Sophie keeps ready for me for the nights I need to stay over. Then I make my way to the living room. She is already there, clad in her pajamas, waiting for me with two bowls of noodles.
“Smells delicious.”
She passes me my bowl, “An apology for my delay.”
“No problem, Soph.”
I thank her for her help deleting the security footage, but she doesn’t waste any time before asking the inevitable question. “Now, do you want to tell me what the hell happened?”
I let out a sigh, the events of the alleyway replaying in my mind. “Well, it all started when I left the cafe...”
I proceed to recount the entire story to Sophie, from the mysterious man in the cafe to the unexpected intervention of a very sexy stranger named Alessandro. She listens attentively, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern.
After I finish, she nods, her sharp blue eyes searching my face. “You really need to be more careful, Rachel.”
I give a half-hearted shrug, still processing the surreal events of the evening. “Yeah, I know. But I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. Plus, I had my gun with me. I had everything under control.”
Sophie takes a thoughtful bite of her noodles before speaking. “So, are you going to meet up with this Alessandro guy?”
I’m quick to shake my head, dismissing the idea. “Absolutely not. I don’t have time for any of that.”
Sophie leans back in her chair, her gaze fixed on me. “Maybe you should give him a chance, Rach.”
I let out a bitter laugh, not willing to entertain the thought. “Oh, Sophie, have you never learned? Men are never worth it.”
She studies me for a moment, understanding and a hint of sympathy in her eyes. “I get it, Rach. But not all of them are the same.”
I don’t respond, merely stirring my noodles in silence. The truth is, I’ve had my share of heartbreak and disappointment, and I’m not eager to add another name to that list.
Sophie finishes her noodles and places her bowl on the coffee table. “Look, I’m just saying, don’t let past experiences close you off completely. You never know when someone might surprise you. Those monsters that hurt your mom, those were mobsters. It is not like everyone functions with that code of ethics. I still believe there are decent men out there.”
I give her a small, appreciative smile, grateful for her unwavering friendship and her faith in that irredeemable gender. “Thanks, Soph. But for now, I think I’ll focus on the job. There’s still a lot to do.”
She nods, and we fall into a comfortable silence. As always, Sophie has a way of knowing when to push and when to let me be.
But deep down, in the back of my mind, the image of Alessandro lingers.
We settle down in front of the TV, and she puts on one of my favorite animations. It’s not her preferred choice, but she always indulges me in watching these shows. As the colorful characters start their adventures on the screen, I can’t help but smile at her thoughtfulness.
As the animated characters continue their antics, I think about the bond Sophie and I share. She’s my confidante, my partner in the pursuit of justice, and my closest friend. But I can’t escape the reality that my path might lead me to places she can’t follow. That one day, I will have leave her. The thought makes tears spring to my eyes.
I don’t cry for anyone, but the day I finally leave her for good, I know I will shed a few tears just for her.
I steal a glance at her, her eyes fixed on the TV, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the screen. “You’re staring,” she smirks.
“Sorry!” I turn my attention back to the screen, “Bad habit.”
“The worst,” she replies before smirking right back.
