Chapter 16 Sophie
SOPHIE
When I wake up for good, it’s nearing eight am and the shower is going. I look around the room, noting that Benny isn’t in bed, so he must be the one in the shower.
Elijah is still cuddling me and Matthew is in bed, scrolling on his phone.
“These pictures from last night are sick,” he says with a grin. “Look.” He shows me some guest-posted photos of all of us in our attire, dancing, and we look like we truly are having the time of our lives.
My phone rings and I move to grab it from the nightstand, but it’s not there. It keeps ringing and I get out of bed, chasing down the sound to the bathroom. I open the door without thinking and grab it, answering it before it can go to voicemail.
“Good morning, Ms. Martin.”
I tense, realizing it’s Monday. It’s Stella & Sons.
My job offer.
“Good morning,” I say, my head still pounding, my body still sore—if not more—from my overexertion.
“We’re calling because you requested a follow-up today about the staff writer position.”
“Right,” I say, trying to get my bearings.
“Have you given any more thought to whether or not you would like to take this position?”
The question is simple, and I think about Keaton’s words.
“Don’t even think about coming back to work.”
And then Raegan’s words fill my psyche too.
“It’s the perfect position at the perfect time.”
Sam seemed to think it was a good idea too, and I know with the fallout of my engagement and the fact that I don’t have an apartment anymore since I was living with Keaton…
I can always quit if it doesn’t work out, right? I should at least give it a shot. Traveling all over the country to write about all these amazing businesses might be just the thing I need. And with as good as I feel right now, with how things are looking up, I know it’s the right decision.
“Yes, I have. I’d love to take the position.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” she says, and I smile because it feels like a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders. “You mentioned that you’re traveling back from your vacation today, right?”
“Yes,” I say, my smile genuine.
“Would you be able to come in tomorrow so we can get your paperwork sorted and set you up for onboarding? Any time is good for us, I know how jet lag and flying back home can be. I’d like to get you out there on the scene as soon as possible since Dela is set to go live next month.”
“Absolutely, I’ll be there tomorrow. Thank you so much!”
Once the phone goes dead, I squeal with excitement.
“New job?” Benny asks, stepping out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist.
“Yeah. A really good one too,” I say with a grin.
He smirks. “Cool.”
“Going to get to travel all across the country.”
His expression falls. “A lot?”
“Yeah, isn’t that great?” I ask, heading for the shower.
“So…you won’t be coming home?”
I stop at the shower, turning to look at him. “To Cherrywood, you mean? No. Seattle is my home. I mean, I’ll probably list Sam as a residence point, but—”
“So you’re leaving,” he says, his eyes darkening.
“I mean, yes, we’re leaving in a few hours—”
“You’re leaving us,” he says, his voice dark and angry.
It reminds me of Keaton, when we’d argue, and instinctively I react to his tone, feeling the need to defend myself.
“I’m not, I’m just—”
“Hey, everything okay in here?” Elijah comes to the door, standing there in his boxers, looking worried.
“No,” Benny says, his voice venomous. “Sophie is leaving us.”
“What?” Elijah asks as Matthew comes up beside him dressed in his briefs.
“Who’s leaving what now?” Matthew asks, and their gazes fixate on me.
“Go ahead, Soph. Tell them about your great job traveling the fucking globe. About how you just decided to up and fucking leave.”
“Benny—”
“Is that true?” Matthew asks. “You got a job traveling?’
Elijah furrows his eyebrows. “I thought you had a job.”
“I did, but Keaton—”
“So this is about Keaton?” Benny bites out.
“No, it’s about me!” I argue. “This has nothing to do with Keaton, but—” I huff.
“I applied for this job months ago. Keaton thought it was a great idea, and I wanted to separate myself from the company so people wouldn’t—” I shake my head.
“And with our breakup, I’m pretty sure I’m fired now from H & H, since his dad owns the company, and this opportunity is too good to pass up.
Raegan and Sam agree that it’s a great opportunity. ”
“Oh, I see. It’s about you, but you told your brother and your sister-in-law and you didn’t think to bring it up to us, because what the fuck do we matter? Right?” Benny scoffs. “We’re just the assholes fucking you.”
“Benny!” Elijah jumps in. “That’s uncalled for.”
Matthew’s eyebrows furrow. “You’ll be home, though, sometimes, right?” he asks, and my heart breaks.
“Not in Cherrywood,” Benny says, brushing past me.
“Home is Seattle, Matty,” I say.
Matthew frowns, and the heartbreak in his gaze is evident. “Oh.”
“Matthew…”
“I…need some air,” he says. He walks away and I step toward him, but Elijah blocks me.
“Were you even going to tell us? Or were you going to go home and just never speak to us again?” Elijah says, his voice sad.
“It’s not like that!” I say as tears come to my eyes.
“Then prove it,” Benny snaps as I hear the door shut behind Matthew.
“Benny…please, don’t do this,” I beg him. Because I know exactly what he’s going to say.
“Don’t take the job, Soph. Come home with us. With your family.”
“Do not ask me to choose between my career and you,” I say. “Don’t put me in that position.”
Benny growls. “If you really fucking loved us it wouldn’t even be an option!”
Elijah steps in, pushing him back. “Back off, Benny.”
“No.” Benny pushes him off. “She says she loves you, right? Tells you when your cock’s buried in her how much she fucking loves you, but how long did you go without speaking to her? Because she left?”
Elijah stiffens, and I see his face go slack.
“That’s not fair, Benny, you don’t know—”
“Just go, Sophie,” he snaps. “Leave. It’s what you’re good at.”
He pushes past me and tears come to my eyes without warning. Elijah looks back at me with tears of his own, and like the idiot I am, I run to him. To those warm, comforting arms that always know how to fix me.
But Elijah doesn’t open his arms for me. He steps away, staring at me with a mixture of pain and fear.
“Elijah, please.” I move toward him again, and he moves away.
No. No, no, no…
“I think you should get showered and packed. We have a plane to catch,” he says, and with that, he leaves me.
I run out of the bathroom, noting that Benny’s already dressed and throwing his things in his suitcase. Elijah’s getting dressed.
“Please, Elijah.” I look at Benny. “Benjamin.”
Neither of them look at me, and the warmth I once felt turns to ice.
“I’m going to find Matthew,” is all Elijah says.
Benny nods. He grabs his suitcase and looks at me. “Stay as long as you like. Or leave. Either way, room’s paid up and you got what you wanted.”
I run toward them as they head for the door, but Elijah evades me, Benny leaving without a second glance.
“Elijah, please…talk to me, please…”
He stands still, looking at me with tears in his eyes. “Why should I?” I hear the sadness in his voice. “You didn’t seem to want my opinion on this, or you would have told me.”
“It’s not like that, Elijah, I—”
“I thought things were going to be different this time. Thought we were on the same page, but I guess we never were.” And with that, he leaves me alone in the hotel room.
I fall to my knees and let the sobbing commence.
I knew this would happen. Somewhere deep down, inside the fire, I knew I would get burned.
I turn the shower on, hoping the hot water will wash away the pain and heartache. My tears mix with the water, and I let myself cry. I let myself cry for the first time in days as it all comes crashing down on me at once.
I try to wash the memories away too, but they aren’t so easy to erase.
Matthew and his bright smile, his soft kisses and infectious laughter. His eagerness to please me and make me smile.
Elijah and his warm arms, his open heart and his tender touch. His ability to always know how to soothe the storms inside of me and make everything better.
And Benny…
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to erase Benny and his wicked tongue or his gentle hold when no one else is around. I’ll never be able to forget his intense stare and challenging bite. The way he pushes me like no one else.
I think he’ll be tattooed on my skin, on my heart, forever.
I go through the motions as I clean myself up, brush and dry my hair. Get dressed. I pack my things and get lost in the folding, organizing. When I check my phone, I see I’ve got a text from my mom asking if I want to ride with her to the airport.
I text her back: That sounds good.
On my way down to the lobby, I run into Raegan who looks like she’s really on cloud nine. But then again, she and my brother are staying here a few extra days to do honeymoon stuff, so I’m sure she really is excited to just soak up the sun with her husband.
My brother.
“Hey,” she says with a smile. “Home so soon, huh?”
I nod, trying to hold back my tears. “Yeah, this time tomorrow I’ll be back in Seattle. Signing papers for my new job.”
Raegan grins. “You took the job? That’s great!”
She hugs me and I can’t help the tears that fall.
“Congratulations! You must be so excited!”
I nod, wiping my tears.
“I’m so happy for you, Soph.”
That makes one person.
“Thanks,” I say.
“Text me when you get in, okay?”
I nod. “Of course.”
The ride to the airport is awkward. Too quiet.
Mom asks, “Are you okay, sweetheart? You seem a little…not like yourself.”
I shrug. “Tired. Hungover. Sad to be leaving Paradise.”
It’s not a complete lie. I am tired and slightly hungover. And I am sad to be leaving this beautiful place. And what it holds.
I know these memories will be hard to forget, but I need to forget them.
I should never have kissed Elijah.
Should never have let Benny seduce me.
And I sure as hell should never have taken Matthew’s virginity.
Maybe I’m an asshole too. Maybe I don’t deserve love, because clearly I can’t handle it.
“I got a new job, by the way,” I say, trying to change the subject.
“Well, I suppose it’s just as well. You need to get as far away from that Keaton as possible.”
“I thought you loved Keaton,” I drawl sarcastically. “Because he was so perfect.”
My mother sets her hand on my thigh. “I just want you to be happy, Sophia.” Her genuine softness is not lost on me.
My father meets my teary gaze. “No one’s perfect, honey. That’s the thing about love.” He looks at my mom with a soft smile. “You just have to keep choosing each other even in those not perfect moments.”
My mom gives him a sweet smile in return. “Well, some of us are quite close to perfect.”
I watch as he looks back at her with adoration, his gaze reminding me an awful lot of Matthew’s.
I have to look away to fight the urge to let my thoughts wander.
When we get to the airport, I see the guys in line at TSA. My mom and dad stay by my side, talking about mundane things like which cafe has the best cinnamon rolls in the terminal based on some article someone wrote online.
I watch the three of them, wondering if they know I’m here. If they do, they don’t look at me. They just stick together like a pack of wolves.
I walk my parents to their gate, my gaze finding the boys again immediately. Benny ignores me, Elijah glances my way, but looks away quickly.
But Matthew…
His gaze lingers.
My mother hugs me, pulling my attention. “Have a safe flight, baby,” she says.
My dad adds, “Please call us when you get home.”
“I will,” I promise them.
Matthew’s sad expression hurts my heart.
He gives me a soft wave, and the tears threaten to fall all over again.
I wave back at him, and then I see Elijah get up.
He takes two steps, and I know I need to get out of here or I will break down in front of them, and I can’t do that.
I need to do this. I need to go home and start this job and I need to see this through. For myself.
I take off for my gate, and none of them follow me.
Though part of me wishes they would.
After two connecting flights and over a day’s worth of travel, when I get back to Seattle, I call Melissa and ask if I can crash at her place until I can arrange to get my things from Keaton’s.
I tell her everything over takeout and a few glasses of wine. About Keaton cheating, showing up unannounced days later…about the guys…about Keaton basically firing me when I rejected him.
“Shit,” she says as she drains her wine. “Well, you know you can stay here until you get your affairs in order.”
“Thank you,” I tell her.
She smiles. “I know it’s all chaos right now, but you know…everything happens for a reason.”
I sip my wine. “Yeah, of course.”
When it’s nearing ten pm, Melissa shuts off the light and heads for her room, leaving me on the couch. I pull the blanket up to my chin and breathe deep, praying that she’s right.
That the best is yet to come.