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I shake my head again. She’s impossible. I can’t let myself argue with her about something so stupid. Nick is so much bigger than she is. He’s bigger than me, even. Maybe she’s strong of will, but her physical strength is nothing compared to his. If he wanted to do something sinister to her, he wouldn’t have any trouble at all. I know she knows it too, but for some reason, she’s being difficult. I lift my hands in defeat. “Fine, whatever.”
An available cab pulls up with impeccable timing and I step aside, gesturing for her to take it. “Go ahead. I’ll get the next one.”
She stares at me for another moment, sucking in a deep breath and then letting it out as slowly and evenly as she can. I think I see a hint of sadness in her eyes behind the veil of anger, but she blinks it away and reaches down to pick up her bag, and then she walks silently to the taxi. She pulls the door open, slides quickly inside, and slams it shut.
I stand motionless and mute on the sidewalk, watching the cab leave and disappear around the corner, and then I watch two more available ones stop at the curb and continue on too.
When the third one pulls up, I feel a presence next to me.
“You’re really the worst kind of buzz-kill, you know that?” Nick says flatly.
I don’t look at him.
“Is she gone?” he asks.
“Yes,” I reply, staring at the empty waiting cab.
“You’ve got a thing for her?”
“Nope,” I reply so easily I almost believe it myself.
“Then you’re gonna need to stop being such a damn cock-block.” He drops his voice an octave.
I laugh without humor, looking up at the fading blue sky. “You think that’s what I’m being? A cock-block?” I turn to him. “She’s not interested in you, man. Leave her be.”
He changes his stance to face me, looking down his nose. “I’ll do what I damn please. You have no say in what I do with her.”
I raise an eyebrow and puff out my chest, feeling an urge to protect her again. “I have a say in whether or not you continue to come onto her while she’s trying to push you away.”
He blinks in astonishment. “Oh really? When did you learn to read her mind?”
I shake my head. “You don’t need to read her mind to see the way she cringes at you.”
He takes a sudden step toward me, but I stand my ground, trying to raise my chin to his level.
“See though…” he sneers. “What you don’t get is that she knows exactly what she wants. I can see it in her eyes. She’s naïve, but she’s aching for a bit of…something.” He raises a malicious eyebrow. “Something that I will gladly deliver her. As soon as she admits it to herself.”
I run my tongue across my teeth, trying to compose the anger that’s boiling inside of me. I want to punch him, throw him down on the sidewalk right here. But he isn’t worth it. If I get all worked up like he wants me to be, he will have won. He doesn’t deserve that kind of satisfaction.
I push my bag further onto my shoulder instead and take a step away from him. “You’d better stay away from her.”
I begin to walk toward the cab, but Nick grabs my shoulder, spinning me back to him again. “Excuse me?” he hisses.
Ignoring the urge to throw my fist into his nose, I stare at him coolly. “You heard me.” My eyes meet his with an unwavering intensity. “You’ll lose your job real quick, otherwise.”
He pulls his brows into a scowl as he watches me retreat into the cab. I press my lips together tightly, nodding once more at his offended expression before I close the door.
I stare out the opposite window, breathing heavily as the car pulls away from the curb, leaving Nick behind. He is, by far, the most immature person placed in a professional role that I’ve come across in the industry. I hardly know how he’s moved up the ranks so quickly and become so well-respected in his department. Surely, Sophie is not his first target. How has he slipped by with this behavior on other projects?
Knowing how sweet and gentle Sophie is, my blood runs like ice imagining a situation where she couldn’t protect herself. I know she’s smart enough to recognize a dangerous environment and walk away from it when necessary, but she’s so kind to give everyone a chance, I worry her exit may come too late. Nick clearly already thinks he has her in his grip, both literally and figuratively. If she waits much longer, he might not let go.
Yet, maybe he’s ‘all bark and no bite.’ Maybe I took a step too far, thinking he’d actually hurt her. I probably don’t give Sophie enough credit either. Her will is stronger than most women I know, and she can produce a death glare that I’ve already witnessed first-hand. She’ll give him a piece of her mind if she really wants him to leave her alone. If she’s harsh enough, he’ll back off.
I watch the cars fly by outside the cab window. I know she wants to stand up for herself, and I respect her for that, but the problem is, I don’t trust him.
Not one bit.
NINETEEN
