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I pause at the far end of the hall, watching the exchange in silence. It’s easy to see how uncomfortable she is, and I don’t blame her. Nick is close to crossing a line.
He touches his free hand to her skirt and hooks his fingers under the edge, playing with it. “Why do you have to leave so soon?” he asks. “Stay here with me for a bit.”
She pushes his roaming hand away and finally manages to yank her wrist free. “I’ll see you in a while. I have to go home and change.” She straightens her skirt and takes another nervous step back. But he steps forward again, reaching for her waist this time. Sophie inhales a deep, agitated breath as she backs into the wall.
I scowl down the hall, watching the worrying exchange. He doesn’t let up. He’s closing in on her quickly and I can no longer stay silent. So I begin to walk toward them with purpose, making my presence known.
“Maybe you should let her go home now, Nick. You’ll see her tonight,” I say firmly.
They both snap their heads in my direction, having been completely unaware that I was watching.
Nick rolls his eyes, stepping back from her. “Leave us be, Lamont.”
I step between them and look down into Sophie’s nervous expression. “Come on, you can share a ride home with me.”
She holds my gaze in silence, but she doesn’t move.
Nick groans from behind me. “Can’t you see? She doesn’t want to go with you.”
I never let my eyes leave hers. “She’s going to ride with me.” I pause. “Come on, Soph.”
She peers over my shoulder at Nick briefly as if to gauge his reaction, and then she sighs and steps around me and away from him. I turn with her, and we walk the length of the hallway without another word.
“Thanks, man,” Nick calls after me, sarcasm heavy in his tone.
Neither of us respond, leaving him grumbling in our wake.
When we’ve exited the building and are on the curb, I turn to Sophie, shaking my head in disgust. “You should stay away from him.”
She pulls her bag from her shoulder and lets it drop to the ground with a thud, then glares at me. “What are you doing?”
I blink, completely bewildered. “Um, saving you from that situation.” I point back toward the theater.
She scoffs. “I don’t need saving, Kai. I was handling myself just fine.”
My mouth hangs slightly ajar. “It sure didn’t look that way to me. I figured you’d be glad for some help.”
She raises an eyebrow. “I never asked for your help.”
I sigh, rubbing my forehead. Of all the reactions she could have, this is the last one I was expecting. “I don’t like the way he looks at you. It’s not right.”
She crosses her arms. “Well, I don’t know what you think gives you the right to step in. You forfeited that right when you told me to leave you alone.”
I drop my head in defeat, shaking it slowly. “Are you really arguing with me about this?”
She pulls her arms in tighter. “Are you really assuming I can’t handle myself?”
I set my jaw and study her closely. “I see how you cringe every time he gets near you. He’s obviously making you uncomfortable. Why haven’t you reported him to George?”
“He’s just being friendly,” she retorts.
I grit my teeth. “We both know that’s not the truth.”
She stares at me. A muscle in her jaw twitches. “If you want me to leave you alone, then you need to leave me alone.”
I narrow my eyes. “You do realize I was just trying to help, right?”
She watches me with an expression of defiance, intent on standing her ground. “I don’t need you to save me, Kai.”
