Chapter 27
Davis
Flying with Sophie had been a revelation. She was cool and competent; it was easy to see that the skill and joy she showed in the classroom extended to piloting Bee-gonia. Sophie in her element was awe-inspiring.
We spent the rest of the day together, and I followed her back to her place for the night. She seemed reluctant to stay at the farm with Jo in residence, and I could understand. We weren't exactly stealthy together, and I didn't want her to hold back.
Sophie's vocal appreciation for my oral talents might go down in history as one of my favorite things in life, now that I'd discovered her.
Maybe it was wrong to be proud of making her scream when I prided myself on restraint and responsibility, but I couldn't bring myself to feel anything but smug.
I liked that I turned her on and affected her so strongly. It was only fair, since she did the same to me. I was not as loud, but no less appreciative. The woman had skills.
But there was Jo knowing we were having sex, and her more-or-less having to witness it.
Quiet sexcapades at home would probably be fine.
After all, we were all adults. But rubbing Jo's face in the fact that we were getting busy one room over didn't sit right with me.
I doubted it'd work for her either. Living together hadn't been a problem when neither of us had much of a social life, but with Sophie in my bed, things had changed.
On Sunday, Jo's amused expression as I pulled a mug from the cabinet and poured myself a cup of coffee prompted me to consider bringing it up. She'd already fixed herself a cup and was dressed for the day, no doubt headed out to check her tanks when she finished her coffee.
"Good morning. Is this what passes for a walk of shame these days?" She gestured to me, still dressed in yesterday's clothes.
"Nah, we're not doing that anymore. This is my trek of triumph."
Jo winced. "I don't need details. You're still my brother."
"Yeah. About that…"
"You want to know if you can bring Sophie back here?" Jo guessed, watching me as she sipped.
I nodded, scratching my head.
"We're friends. You know I'm fine with you and Sophie dating," she said.
"We're very…loud," I warned.
Jo snickered. "You? Loud?"
"When Sophie and I are together? Yeah."
For the first time, Jo looked taken aback. "I guess I can make myself scarce…"
I shook my head. "It's your home too. I'm not trying to kick you out."
"You're just worried it'll be awkward."
"Yeah."
She shrugged. "I guess there's always music to cover. Noise canceling headphones, maybe?"
I scrubbed my face with my hands. "None of that seems sustainable."
For the first time, I’d truly shocked Jo. She sat, mouth open, and blinked.
"Oh. You're thinking long-term." She paused, considering.
The smile that broke over her face, true pleasure in my happiness, helped ease some of the guilt that was cresting inside me.
I didn't want to abandon Jo. We were partners and family.
We understood each other in a way no one else on earth could.
Our shared history and shared lives made it difficult to imagine a time where we weren't close.
"I'm happy for you, Davis. I love Sophie, and I love you. I know we haven't talked about it, but I didn't expect that we'd live together forever. Maybe it's time to talk about moving out."
"But Dad deeded the house to both of us," I protested, unsure why I was objecting, but at the same time uncomfortable taking advantage of Jo's generosity.
"That doesn't mean one of us can't buy the other out."
Moving seemed like a big fucking deal. Maybe not something we were ready for.
Would Sophie even stick around long-term?
The shadow of fear stilled me. I hadn't told her I loved her. She hadn't broached it either. Rushing into a commitment when I didn’t know her true feelings scared me. And the last person I wanted to hurt if things between Sophie and me went south was Jo. She’d already lived through both our parents’ divorce and my last fuck-up. She deserved better.
"I don't want to force you out," I lamented.
Jo snorted. "Who says it's going to be me who leaves?"
"I just thought…"
"What, that I wanted to move out of the only home I've known?" She shook her head. "Good thing for you, it's true. I've been thinking for a while now about a fresh start. Maybe this is my sign that it's time."
"Let's not do anything hasty," I cautioned. "I haven't even asked Sophie to spend the night yet, let alone live with me."
Jo arched her brows. "But the fact that we're even talking about this tells me a lot. Old Davis would not have even broached the subject."
"I don't know what you're talking about," I protested.
"Sure," she said, mocking me. "A month ago, you would have avoided me and avoided the question, hermitting away. I've seen more of you since you started dating Sophie than I have in the last year living with you. You might not be able to see it, but she glows around you, and you… blossom."
"Men don't blossom," I said darkly, not wanting to admit she was right.
I was planning a future with Sophie. The more I got to know her, the less I worried that I’d lose her. At least not to another lifestyle, or because she resented the farm – losing her to my own incompetence or inability to talk about my feelings might be another matter.
"Shelve the sexist sass and listen. You bend toward her like the sun. It's freaking adorable. I'd be worried, if I didn't know Sophie's heart is as pure as they come. You found a good one, Davis. Don't blow it."
Jo's observations sat uncomfortably across my shoulders at first, like an ill-fitting coat. But the more I considered her words, the more I realized they were true. I had changed. For the better. And it was thanks to Sophie.
Telling her how I felt was swiftly moving up my list of priorities.
Right after I figured out how. Used to being a man of few words, the idea of baring my heart to her was scarier than our first balloon ride.
But Sophie had made that easy, her confidence infectious. Could she work her magic this time too?
Jo watched me process, the hint of a smirk tilting her lips.
"I'll leave you to wash off your triumph and start your day. Let me know when you want to admit that I'm right."
She might have been accurate about me soaking up Sophie like she was my sole source of Vitamin D, but she didn't have to be smug about it.
Yet I couldn't find it in my heart to get mad.
Jo had probably saved me days of thrashing around on my own.
She knew us both well, and if she said we were made for each other, I wanted to believe her.
And the more I rolled her words around, the more certain I became.
I loved Sophie. And we had a future together.
It was as simple as that—I just had to claim it.
Restless without Sophie to keep me company, I settled on chores to fill my day and headed out to the barn after my shower.
Shadow wrapped around my ankles, eager for attention, and I stopped to scritch his ears.
Frick and Frack tumbled by, chasing one another in an endless race, and I retreated into the calm of my office.
The kitten barn was relatively quiet. Dorito had been adopted by a young family during the week, bringing my tiny brood to five.
Princess Buttercup gave me an annoyed meow when I nudged her off my office chair, but I ignored her complaints, focusing on my email and invoices.
Staying focused on work should have been easy. I'd spent my Sundays at my desk countless times in the past. But I couldn't stop glancing at my phone, hoping for a text from Sophie.
At lunchtime, I gave up and reached for my phone.
Davis: Wanna taste the rainbow tonight?
I waited impatiently for a response, giving up any pretense of paying attention to my turkey sandwich. The only thing I was hungry for was Sophie.
Sophie: Is that your way of saying my favorite unicorn is horny for me?
Chuckling, I shook my head, fingers flying as I texted her back.
Davis: SO HORNY.
Sophie: You can’t see it, but this is my shocked face…
Sophie: I had no idea you were such a perv.
Davis: Only for you, B.
Sophie: In that case, I’ll see you at my place later. 6?
I tapped out a quick yes before tossing my phone aside, eager to finish work so I could shower and change for our date.