Chapter 13
13
Sophie
“ H ey, babe. Do you know if I left a bag in the car? I can’t find the condiments anywhere.” That’s because I tucked them under the back seat so they wouldn’t slide out and roll around everywhere.
“Yep, they’re in the back. I’ll go grab them.” I grab his key and head out to the garage but pause my hand on the knob when I hear a strained voice coming from the other side of the door.
“You better behave this weekend or I’m going to ground this stubborn ass of yours.”
It sounds like Lukas and Torre are fighting again. I’m guessing with everyone coming into town this weekend, he’s worried she’ll sneak some alcohol and have a drunk fest. Torrin really doesn’t have an affinity for drinking, so he doesn’t need to worry.
“I’m always a good girl,” Torrin answers, sounding winded. She must be exasperated over him constantly assuming she’s going to get herself into trouble.
“Is that so? You’re being bad right now. Our parents are about to show up and look at you acting like a little slut.”
What the hell? How dare Lukas speak to her like that. Torrin is not acting like a slut. She may be in a skirt, but it doesn’t look slutty. I go to open the door, but it doesn’t budge. They must be right on the other side.
“Hey, guys! I need to get something from Travis’s car so can someone let me into the garage?”
I hear Lukas’s cursed whispers, then what sounds like a moan from Torrin. I’m about to shove open the door and break up whatever the fuck is going on, but the doorbell sounds in the background and I hear Travis call for me. “Babe! Can you please get that? I’m making the burger patties and my hands are covered in meat.”
I reluctantly leave the dueling duo and rush to open the front door. I’m going to have to have a talk with Lukas later and tell him he can’t speak to his sister like that. She is not a slut. I open the door and find Willow with a big football cake in her hands, and Brennon standing right at her back.
“Willow, did you make that?” I look down at the spectacular cake, admiring how perfect it looks. Her attention to detail is amazing.
“Yes.” She smiles, her word smooth.
“It’s awesome.”
“Thank you. I love baking cakes.” And I love that she isn’t nervous with me anymore. It makes me feel like I’m someone she truly trusts. When we first met, her speech was stuttered, but now she only struggles when we’re in large crowds or when she’s worried about something. I’m glad she isn’t nervous now.
“Come on in. I’m so excited to meet everyone.” Their friends from high school have come into town for the game, and it will be fun to finally put names with faces.
I step to the side and Brennon leans into me for a hug. “Hey, girl. Let me introduce you to my buddies.” He turns to the door and, one by one, huge guys walk in. “Soph, this is Ryeson.”
Ryeson tips his head, holding out his hand for a shake. He looks exactly as Willow described: tall, dark, handsome, and intimidating. But I know from what they’ve told me that even though he’s quiet and has a resting brooding face, he’s a sweetheart.
“Nice to meet you, Sophie.”
“Same.” I smile up at him.
The next guy to enter has to be Baylor. Blue eyes and a smooth smile. He’s just as big as Ryeson. And just as hot. Talk about one seriously hot couple.
“I’m Baylor.” He pulls me in for a hug. “Nice to finally meet you, sopapilla.”
I shoot Willow a smirk. Her and her silly nicknames. She calls Travis the terminator. But that’s exactly what he is on the football field. And I’m a sopapilla because she thinks I’m as sweet as the dessert.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Baylor.”
I shift back, looking toward the door, ready to greet the next friend coming in. When my eyes connect with the girl who haunts my dreams, an icy chill runs down my spine.
“Sophie?”
The memories nearly drown me as I stare at the one I betrayed.
“Do you two know each other?” Brennon’s voice is like a distant echo to the dreaded feelings consuming my thoughts. The horrified look in her eyes. The pain as the tears ran down her cheeks. It all comes barreling in and I’m struggling to breathe. I think I’m having a panic attack.
“Baby.” Strong arms wrap around my waist, holding me upright. “Baby, look at me.” He’s right in front of my face now, but I can’t see past the pain. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry, Sophie.” There’s her voice again. “Please don’t be afraid of me.” Afraid…afraid… The word spins around in my mind, dizzying me with confusion. I don’t know why I’d be afraid of her. She never hurt me. I’m the one who betrayed her.
“Presley,” another deep voice rings in my mind. This one unrecognizable. “What’s going on, babe?”
“Sophie, please.” Her pleading voice has me looking up. The tears in her eyes remind me of the hurt I caused.
“I’m sorry, Presley. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” The words come out stuttered and breathless.
She shakes her head. The tears in her eyes slipping free. “No. Please don’t apologize. I’m the one who’s sorry for never standing up for you. I should’ve stopped him. I should’ve told someone. I’m so sorry. God, I’ve been wanting to tell you that for so long. I can’t believe you’re here.”
I don’t understand why she’s apologizing. It’s me. I’m the one who needs to apologize.
“I never blamed you, Presley. You’re not the one who hurt me. You never said one mean thing. Though, you had every right to.” Out of everyone at that school, she was the only one who had the right to call me a whore and make me pay for what I’d done, but she didn’t.
“No. I should’ve stuck up for you.” She takes my hands. “I knew you weren’t to blame for what happened. I knew he lied and manipulated you into sleeping with him. But I didn’t want to believe he could do that to me. I thought he loved me, but he’s just a cheating asshole.”
I can’t describe the shift as her words settle over me, but the gravity of my pain is no longer pulling me down. Travis has been slowly gluing me back together, but hearing Presley’s words heals the wound that’s been gaping for so long.
“Can I give you a hug, Sophie?” She doesn’t even have to ask. I cling to her and the sobs wrack my body. Her arms wrap tighter around me, and I lean into her strength, drawing from her kindness. And it settles. The incessant pain. The broken fragments knitting back together.
“Baby.” Travis’s voice is at my back. I know he’s concerned, but he doesn’t need to be. I shift back, looking toward the boy I’m in love with, knowing that he’s worried.
“I’m okay.” I nod. “More than okay.”
He tips his chin, pulling me into his chest. “I’ve always got you, babe.”
I know he does, and that’s the reason I love him so much.
“I love you.” I smile up at him.
“What’d we miss?” I hear Torrin’s voice. “And why is my girl crying?” She comes rushing over.
I wipe my eyes. “Torre, I’d like you to meet Presley. Presley, this is Torrin. And the big brute behind her is her brother Lukas.” I never know whether I’m supposed to introduce them as step-siblings or not, but they’re so close, it doesn’t seem necessary. Though, I’m still pissed at what he said about my girl.
“ The Presley?” Torre looks to me, and I nod. “It’s nice to meet you. I um…” She looks nervous. “I’ve heard um…so much about you.”
“And I’ve heard so much about you guys from Willow.” Presley smiles. “This is my boyfriend, Kyler.”
Finally, I take a look at the guy who’s been standing at her back, concerned for his girl. He’s really handsome. Much better looking than Maddock. And I’m so relieved that she’s moved on. She deserved better. And it looks like she found it.
“It’s nice to meet you, Kyler.” I smile up at him. “This is my boyfriend, Travis.”
The guys greet each other, and the awkwardness slowly starts to dissipate.
“You guys want to come in? I’m just about to grill up some burgers,” Travis offers.
Everyone makes their way into the house, and while they’re busy getting acquainted, going out back to the grill, Presley and I take as seat in the living room, getting caught up on everything that’s happened since we were locked in the walls of hell. It’s crazy to think that all this time I’d assumed she was still with Maddock. It turns out she’s not friends with any of them anymore. She saw through all their bullshit and transferred schools. She wanted out too.
“Hey, babe.” I turn to the sound of Travis’s voice. “Would you mind coming with me for just a sec?”
I look to Presley, and she nods. “Go. We have all weekend to catch up. I need to go check in with Kyler, anyway.”
Travis leads me back to his room and shuts the door. He turns and wraps me right in his arms. “I just needed to make sure you were good, baby. That was a lot to take without warning, and you handled it so well. I’m proud of you, babe.”
I’m proud of me too. I didn’t succumb to the panic, and I was able to say the things I’ve wanted to say for so long.
“I can’t describe it, Travis. But I feel like that was the missing piece. I feel like I can move on with my life now and let the past go.” I’m not na?ve to the fact that it will always be a part of me, the scars still imprinted in my memory, but they aren’t as dark, and the weight of it doesn’t feel so heavy anymore.
“That makes me really happy to hear, babe. Not that I would’ve let your past stand in our way, but I’m glad you got the closure you needed with her.”
I am too. Until seeing her, I never realized how much I needed it.
“I love you,” I say, looking up at my gorgeous man. If I hadn’t met him, I’d still be the broken flower, hoping for my roots to grow strong so I wouldn’t wither away in my depression. But now I’m blossoming right under his love, feeling like I can conquer the world.
“I hope you love me, because I’m going to marry you one day.”
My entire body grows warm from the impact of his words. That’s twice in one day that I’ve been hit with the feeling of elation.
“Is that so?” I raise my brow, teasing him a little. “That’s a pretty big assumption, Mr. Hunt.”
He tugs me closer. His warm eyes driving the sincerity in with every single word. “It’s not an assumption, pretty girl. It’s a promise.” And knowing that he stands on honesty, I know it’s the truth.