Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
Sophia’s house is one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen, but it’s not a single house. It’s a duplex. Both doors, one on the left and one on the right, are white and charming. On one side, there’s a cute welcome sign while the other door remains bare.
I step onto the porch with Sophia’s gift in hand and examine the doorbells, only to find that both have ‘Lee’ written on them.
Does Sophia own both sides of the duplex? Or is one of them her parents’ place?
Which doorbell should I ring?
The whole situation fills me with anxiety, and I’m tempted to just turn around and head back home. It’s cold outside, and the wind cuts through my leather jacket. It looks like it might snow soon.
“Fuck it,” I mutter to myself, planning on texting Sophia that something came up or making up an excuse. Just as I’m about to walk away, heading back down the street toward the subway station, I hear car doors opening and closing.
Clay’s voice echoes through the air. “Kitten! Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”
I freeze in my tracks and turn around, spotting Clay and Xander a few steps away.
“The party’s this way,” Clay says, pointing to the door without the welcome sign.
I walk over to them and nod to Xander, who holds two champagne bottles in one hand and dips his chin to me in greeting.
Clay wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me close to his side. “Look at us, spending a Sunday together like the best friends we are,” he says with a smirk.
I simply huff in response. Xander walks up to the door before us and opens it, and as we walk in, we’re greeted by muffled music and laughter.
“We’re home!” Clay yells while Xander helps me take off my backpack and jacket.
As soon as I have it off, Clay nudges me down the hallway to a big open kitchen and living room, where some people are sitting on an oversized U-shaped couch and others sit on bar stools at the kitchen island where Sophia and Josh are standing.
There are only maybe ten people here, but I am already uncomfortable and steeling myself.
The house is open and beautiful, though.
“Look what the cat dragged in! A little kitten,” Clay says, smirking down at me. I glare at him. “Oh, don’t be a mean little kitty. We are here to party,” he says, reaching out to boop my nose, but I take a step to the side.
“I am not as mean as I could be right now. You should be grateful for that,” I warn in a soft tone, not wanting others to overhear it, but I hear a chuckle behind me.
When I turn, Josh is smiling down at me with his stupid dimples. “Hey, so glad you could make it,” he says, pulling me into a hug.
I am so stunned I freeze against his chest, my cheek pressed against his soft, gray sweater. He smells like a mix of cinnamon and other spices. It is delicious.
He swipes his hand down the back of my head along my hair before he releases me, stepping back just as Sophia comes sweeping in and nearly crushes me. “You came! Yes! Now the party can start,” she exclaims, happily giggling.
“Happy Birthday,” I say shyly, and she smiles at me.
“Happy Birthday to you too. I hope you’re down for cake because I baked a lot.”
“Sure,” I say, already realizing that I won’t escape without at least trying some of her cakes.
Taking a quick look around, I notice that the rest of the people have already resumed their conversations.
Only Xander, Josh, Clay, and Sophia are focused on me, so I seize the opportunity and hand my present to Sophia.
“This is for you. It’s just something silly and small, but yeah.
Thank you for inviting me,” I whisper in a rush.
Sophia beams at me. “Can I open it?”
“Sure,” I say, but before the word is fully out of my mouth, she’s already tearing off the newspaper wrapping. When she discovers the cardboard box with the tea bags on it, she looks up at me and grins.
“Did you draw them?” I nod. “This is so fucking cool.” She opens the box and reaches in to grab the mug. Pulling it out and looking at it, she throws her head back and laughs.
“What is it?” Clay asks, curious.
Sophia holds out the mug to him.
Xander glances at it, then meets my gaze. His lips curl in amusement before he dips his chin at me, and that alone makes me blush.
“Kitten is an artist. Look at that,” Clay comments.
“That’s awesome. You’re good,” Josh comments, smiling at me.
“It’s nothing,” I defuse. “But I thought you could never have enough mugs.”
“Oh, that’s for sure,” Sophia agrees, grabbing me again and pulling me into a tight hug. “Thank you so much. I love it,” she whispers while still holding me tightly. “I’ve got something for you too.”
My eyes widen. “No, Sophia, my birthday was last week. That’s not—”
She shoves an envelope into my hands and grins. “Open it.”
I bite my lip but gently open the envelope, making sure not to rip anything. As I take out the card, I see that it’s a coupon for getting my nails done. I’ve never done that before, but I know it can be expensive.
“Sophia, I…” I begin, feeling overwhelmed.
“I thought we could make a whole day out of it. Get some tea, get our nails done, maybe go out for a few drinks and dinner after. So, it’s not just a coupon. It’s like a gift for a day with me, all expenses covered,” she explains, her smile warm.
“That’s too much,” I say, looking down at the envelope.
No one has ever given me such an expensive present. We weren’t as poor as we are now when my parents were still alive, but there would have never been enough money to spare for something like this.
“No, it’s not. Honestly, it’s mostly selfish because I want to have such a day with you. Look at it like a present I made for myself, and I just roped you into it,” she says, trying to reassure me.
I bite my lip, torn. I don’t want to be rude, but this is too much. I can’t simply accept it. It feels like she’s spending way too much money on me.
Did the guys tell her about how I was searching my backpack for dollar bills the other night?
A big, warm hand lands on my shoulder, and I look up into understanding gray eyes. “It’s not for you. It’s for her. You can take it and make her happy. Say, ‘thank you,’ ” Xander whispers into my ear.
I nod ever so slightly and manage to say, “Thank you.”
Sophia squeals with joy and hugs me again, twirling us around as she swings left and right. But even in that moment, my gaze drifts over her shoulder to Xander.
Why is it that letting him take control makes my life so much easier?
It’s as if my anxiety evaporates, and my soul feels safe when he takes the reins.
Clay grabs Xander’s head and brings it down to his lips, kissing him. They smile at each other when they pull back, and I’m reminded that I have to get rid of this little crush as quickly as possible.
Xander and Clay engage Sophia in a conversation, leaving me standing next to Josh, who appears nervous. “You okay?” I ask as he is usually the calmest of all.
“Sure, well, I have something for you too,” he says, rubbing his neck.
I furrow my brows. “You do?”
He smiles and places a hand on my lower back, guiding me to the other end of the living room. There, on a hutch, I notice two vases filled with flowers—one with lilies and the other with an assortment of flowers in various colors.
He takes the vase with the different flowers and offers it to me. I take it, gazing down at the stunning arrangement. Having so many different flowers together shouldn’t work, but it’s a harmonious burst of colors and undeniably beautiful.
“It’s twenty-two stems for your twenty-second birthday. I didn’t know what your favorite flowers are, but I thought, why should you have to choose when I can give you all of them?” he explains, his dimples nearly melting me.
Why is he so handsome?
Why are all of them so handsome?
And now he’s considerate and kind too, buying me flowers? No one has bought me flowers before, and this incredibly sweet gesture is the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever been given. I bite my lip, my nose tingling and my eyes welling up.
“You don’t like them,” Josh states, noticing my reaction.
My eyes shoot up to meet his sorrowful gaze. “No! I love them. Thank you,” I say, gently touching a pink rose with my fingertips.
“You’re into roses? I need to know so I can buy you the right ones next time.” He grins.
My heart flutters. Next time? “No, my favorite flowers are these. If you want to buy me flowers, please let them be exactly like this,” I whisper.
“All right, just twenty-three stems next year.” He chuckles, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear that had fallen into my face.
Can it be? Is he flirting with me?
We share a brief moment of locked gazes until Clay interrupts, yelling, “Cake!”