Page 3 of Pursued

“Thanks for the escort and the laughs, Rowdy.”

“Just doin’ my job, Sophia. You shouldn’t walk all alone at night though. Next time you should call me. I’ll always come for you.”

Placing my hand on his arm, I smile up into his kind eyes. “I appreciate that. Thank you for being such a great friend. I should get inside. Be safe out there, Rowdy.”

Before I can turn the handle, the door flies open and Morgan stands there, a burrito in her hand and smirk on her face.

“Don’t,” I warn. “Bye, Rowdy.”

The door closes and, around a mouthful of food, my bestie says, “See. Always around. I saved you some food. We’re about to turn onBelow Deckso get your grub and meet us in the living room.”

Doing as instructed, I toss my pack on the floor with the rest and slip off my shoes before padding into the kitchen for some sustenance. While making my plate and pouring something to drink, I hear the familiar opening music of our favorite reality show and all the chaos of the day fades.

I happily enjoy my food and am entertained by the commentary of my friends. The current debate is which deckhand is the hottest. It’s a silly conversation since we know by the end of the season we’ll have hated each of them at least once. The show goes to commercial and Maribel pops up from the floor with a frown on her face.

“I thought we had no secrets, Soph. I mean, we all know about Morgan’s erogenous zones for goodness sake.”

“Don’t mock me. I can’t help it if I’m sensitive in places you’re too conservative to try.”

Popcorn flies from the floor but misses Morgan by a mile.

“We have no secrets. You know I have a mad crush on Captain Lee even if I don’t have daddy issues. I don’t like grape jelly. And most importantly, I really do think you can pull off the color orange.”

“Thank you. I don’t get the Captain Lee thing but appreciate you supporting my love of the left-behind color. You’re holding out on us if those are any indication.”

I follow Maribel’s gesture and my eyes widen. “Whoa. Those are beautiful.”

“They are, which is why I have to know who sent them.”

Confusion must be all over my face because Morgan groans and jumps from her seat in a huff. I accept the card she hands me when she flops back on the couch, causing me to bounce a little.

Sophia.

That’s it. A blank card with my name. No note and no signature. Weird.

“Huh, there’s no signature. Probably from my parents. They have been trying to convince me to move back home. This screams Gloria Brooks.”

“Well, that’s disappointing.” Maribel sighs dramatically and turns her attention back to the television.

I flip the card around in my hand, my eyes on the television but my mind elsewhere. What a weird freaking day.

Chapter 3

Sophia

Morgan dramatically sniffs the blooms that have been sitting on my dresser for three days. I have to admit, the arrangement is gorgeous. It isn’t a run-of-the-mill pre-made design from a local shop; these are obviously from the flower mart. It’s a bouquet I would have chosen myself.

“I didn’t know people still had secret admirers. It’s so retro.”

Leaning down, I scoop water into my mouth and spit it out before wiping my face with a hand towel. “They’re flowers not like someone is passing me notes in secret.”

“Wouldn’t it be cool if they did? I mean, not unsigned. That screams serial killer if you ask me.”

“It’s flowers, Morgan. Besides, they really could be from my parents.”

With a smile on her face, she throws herself on my bed, her feet barely touching the floor. I do the same and rest my hands on my stomach. We lie like this for a few minutes, the silence comfortable. Exhaustion is something you become accustomed to in college but today feels like most days of freshman year.

“How was your date with Chaz?”

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