Chapter 13 Sophie
SOPHIE
“You seem happy,” Raegan says, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Huh?” I shake my head as I realize I must’ve zoned out while I was stirring my iced coffee.
“Well, happier, I guess. Just saying you’ve been smiling all morning,” she says with a grin.
“Here’s your refill,” Elijah says as he plops down in the chair next to Raegan and me.
“Thanks,” I say as Matthew and Benny chat in the corner with Sam.
Lucy, Natalie, and Tiffany finally come down the hall to the lobby, and I realize we’ll have to leave soon if we want to get a start on our spa day since tomorrow is the wedding and tonight, we’re partying bachelor slash bachelorette style at one of the clubs nearby.
“So who is it?” she asks, leaning in to whisper so the others won’t hear her.
“No one,” I say.
She smiles. “Bullshit, you haven’t smiled like that in ages.”
I can’t help but grin. Because she’s right, I am happy.
Ever since last night. Since Elijah and I had our…kiss of understanding, since Matthew and I admitted our feelings and pursued them, since Benny broke me and put me back together. I feel like a million bucks.
And today at breakfast, after spending the morning making out in the shower with Benny, I felt like maybe things were actually working out.
When Elijah and Matthew showed up to our room, they seemed better too.
Though it was still awkward, because all three of my brother’s best men, who I have accepted I do have feelings for, were in the same room.
But then Matthew broke the weirdness and started talking about a rematch of cornhole later, saying that Benny and I could team up and he would team up with Elijah.
And suddenly, things felt…good. Familiar, even.
Like the old days when we could just hang out and have fun…
“I still can’t believe you’re getting married tomorrow,” I say to Raegan as I sip my fresh iced coffee.
“I know. We’re going to be sisters!” she squeals.
Elijah shifts closer to me and instinctively, I do the same. He gives me a grin.
Things have been different between us since we had our moment last night. Since he told me he loved me. Since he kissed me.
It feels like we’ve turned a new leaf, and though it’s not perfect or anything, it feels like we’re on our way to better things.
I’m not stupid enough to think we could go back to the way things were—and I don’t know that I would ever want to go back to the way things were.
Where I hid my feelings and jealousy-scrolled through his social media.
Where I bottled up the feelings I had for him.
I haven’t said the words back to him, but I think he knows. I can’t help but stare at him, at his perfect side profile. His perfectly styled hair. His warm smile. The way he sits with ease, leaning into me like I’m just as magnetic to him as he is to me.
But I fight to look away, because Matthew and Benny show up to tell us it’s time to head out. The guys are headed on some zip line excursion and we’re heading out to the spa to get our treatments done ahead of the ceremony tomorrow.
So I grab my purse and say my goodbyes. I hug Elijah, reminding myself not to linger too long. Especially because Raegan looks like she’s trying to figure out exactly the source of my sudden shift in mood.
Matthew hugs me, quickly slipping a kiss on my neck which makes me jump because Benny is right there! And so are Elijah and Raegan…
Matthew pulls away, winking at me, and then I look at Benny who just rolls his eyes. He doesn’t move to hug me. Instead he just says, “Be a good girl and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Raegan laughs. “How much trouble can we get into at the spa, Ben?”
He shrugs. “I’m sure Sophia would find a way to cause a ruckus. It’s what she’s good at.”
Elijah lets out a sigh. “Come on, let’s go or we’re going to be late.”
Benny grins at me. “God forbid we miss the bus.”
I wave them off, following Raegan and the other bridesmaids toward our Uber.
All day at the spa, I can’t stop smiling because my phone keeps going off. Elijah and Mattew keep texting me in a group chat someone titled The Three Musketeers, but there’s four of us in the chat.
Me and the guys.
Honestly, the whole thing smells of Matthew, but that only makes me grin more.
Benny doesn’t say anything, and most of the thread is Matthew sending photos of the forest and the guys looking cute as hell in their harnesses and whatnot, but still.
It’s fun to see them having fun too. I send a selfie of me in my robe, which elicits a text back from all three of them, including Benny.
I laugh when Benny tells them to fuck off and stop being perverts.
I’m pretty sure Benny is the one I have to be worried about.
Not that he’s a pervert, because he’s not by a long shot, but he is intense. And I have the feeling that as open as he is to whatever is going on with us—all of us—he’s not going to give up control so easily.
I swipe out of the thread, noting that I’ve had no new texts from anyone outside of the group or family. Nothing from Keaton. The man who supposedly loved me enough to want to marry me.
Raegan plops down next to me. “So…you give any more thought to that job?”
I look at her with one raised eyebrow. “Should have known my brother would spill the beans,” I say.
She shrugs. “You know the rule. ‘Don’t tell anyone’ excludes all significant others.”
I roll my eyes. “Uh-huh.”
She nudges me. “So…dream job?”
“I don’t know. It’s kind of a big commitment. Traveling and stuff sounds great, it really does…and I wouldn’t need an apartment anymore, technically, since the company would be paying me to stay in these places for work, so…”
“So what’s holding you back?”
I think about her question as she goes on.
“I mean, it’s not like you have a fiancé or partner to worry about. You’re a single woman. You can do whatever you want without having to answer to anyone. It’s the perfect opportunity at the perfect time.”
“I guess you’re right.”
She smiles as she leans back in the chaise next to me, her smile bright and warm. “I know I’m right.”
I lean my head on her plush, robed shoulder. “My brother’s lucky to have you,” I say genuinely. “And so am I.”
She leans her head against mine.
“Have your parents arrived yet?” I ask.
She nods. “Yeah, they got in about an hour ago. They’ll be joining us for dinner.” I nod as she hands me some cucumbers for my eyes. “We should probably relax a little before the pedicure.”
“Probably,” I say as I take them from her hands.
And as I drift off to a hazy nap, I dream of weddings, and best men in hot tuxedos, and traveling. I dream of the life I never thought I could have.
The ride back to the hotel isn’t long, but I’ve never felt better.
We’ve got an hour or so to get ready for dinner—the rehearsal dinner—and then it’s party time.
Though, honestly, I feel like we’ve been closing down the bar and club here every night, so I don’t know how exactly we can top what we’ve done already, but I digress. This is about Sam and Raegan, not me.
I’ll gladly put on my dance shoes and show up to party for them.
Besides, I know the guys will be there, and while maybe that should make me feel on the spot or worried, it doesn’t.
We haven’t exactly talked about what we’re doing, and no one’s outwardly said anything.
But they all know Keaton and I are done, and have agreed to keep my secret until after this wedding, when I plan to tell my mom and dad.
Maybe from a hotel paid for by my new employer…
Not to mention, Matthew kissed me in front of Benny and Elijah earlier. And Elijah knew I needed to talk to Benny, and Benny knew how I felt about Matthew and Elijah, so…
I’m not questioning anything. Not right now. I don’t know if this—whatever this is—is going to last. If it’s just circumstantial. Some post-breakup rebound thing times three, or if it’s just a when in the Virgin Islands type thing, but whatever it is, I know one thing is for sure.
I feel better when I’m with them. I feel like me.
“There’s our princess,” Benny says, pulling my attention as I walk through the doors, and my heart skips a beat.
All three of them stand there, at the bar, dressed in their slacks and fancy button-downs.
Benny of course is decked out in all black because I’m not entirely sure he owns another color, and offsetting him is Matthew who’s wearing a bright pink button-down with neon green ferns.
Elijah is on the other side in a silk button-down that’s dark blue, almost the color of Benny’s eyes.
The three of them look stunning.
“Hey,” I say, almost breathless. “Dinner’s not for another hour or so—”
“Eli wanted to give you your gift before dinner,” Matthew says cooly.
“What? My gift?”
Elijah huffs out a sigh as he smacks Matthew. “Do you know the definition of surprise?”
Matthew smiles at me, licking his lips. “Yeah, but pissing you off is so much more fun.”
Benny chuckles. “I think that’s something I actually agree with you on, Matty.”
Elijah shakes his head as I chuckle.
“Surrounded by idiots,” Elijah says as he procures a small box from his pocket.
A small black velvet box. My heart stops as heat floods my cheeks and panic rushes through my veins.
No. That can’t be what I think it is…
He gently offers it to me. “Go ahead. Open it.”
I gingerly take the box from his hand, my heart in my throat. I open it and my eyes widen. There in the center is an opalescent seashell, decorated by two diamonds.
“Oh my God, Elijah…” I say, stunned by its beauty.
Elijah pulls the shell out, and it dangles from a chain.
Benny plucks the box from my hand and snaps it shut. “Turn around,” he instructs, and immediately my insides remember his commanding tone last night when he said those words.
And what followed afterward.
I turn without question and he chuckles. “Good girl.”