“I do follow your exploits, you know,” Fifi says with a knowing smile. “But I haven’t heard much about you lately.”
“I’ll be doing the FluxFuel race in the spring,” I tell her.
“You heard back?” Sophie seems surprised. I did tell her about wanting to enter the race, but never shared why it was so important.
Maybe because it’s stopped being so important.
“Last week. It must have been when I was away, or I would have told you.”
“You don’t have to tell me,” Sophie says quietly, reaching for another cookie.
But I want to. I want to tell Sophie all the things. But after our kiss, things aren’t as easy as they used to be, and I think that’s my fault.
I know it’s my fault.
The kiss was a surprise, and although it was a good one, I didn’t deal with it very well.
And having her father almost walk in on us was not expected either.
It’s been over a week and I still see her every day. We still take walks, managing to make it outside on a sunny day. She reads her books, and I watch last year’s inaugural FluxFuel race on YouTube.
I’m supposed to have a meeting with King Magnus later this week, after putting it off for days. The king is going to ask if I’m taking the position he offered me, and that means I have to decide how long I’m going to be staying in Battle Harbour.
And that brings me back to Sophie, because wanting to stay in Laandia has everything to do with her.
I want to kiss herall the time, but I don’t know how to talk about what’s going on between us, so I pretend it’s nothing. And then, as a punishment, I won’t give in to the need to kiss her. I keep things as friends, and even try to cool that, so it’s becoming awkward between us at times.
This is not fun.
If anyone tried to explain this was how they were feeling, I’d laugh and tell them they were a hot mess.
I’m not laughing at myself.
Now that Fifi is here, quickly inserting herself into my bubble with Sophie, things are about to change again and I can’t imagine it will be for the better.
“I heard Fenella is here too,” Fifi says as she finishes her second cup of tea. “How fun! You really must take me to see her new club. I’ve seen all the pictures. She looks sohappyhere.”
“She is.” There’s a note of firmness in Sophie’s voice that’s new. “She’s very happy with Silas.”
Fifi laughs. “You need more than a man to make you happy, and I would have thought Fenella knows that, especially after everything she’s been through. I’m glad she’s become such a businesswoman to keep her occupied while she’s here. It seems a tadquaintfor someone like her. And you,” she adds, looking pointedly at me.
“It’s not too bad,” I say casually. Sophie doesn’t say anything.
“When can you take me to see her place?” Fifi asks.
“We can go tonight. She’ll love to see you again. We’ll…” I trail off as Sophie shifts.
Sophie.
She sits quietly as Fifi and I catch up, not saying much, but watching it all.
Sophie, with the broken foot who hasn’t been to Battle Harbour in weeks. “Maybe not tonight,” I backpedal.
“Of course tonight,” Sophie says. “Fern is a friend of Fenella’s, and she’ll want to see her. They do the special cocktails on Mondays,” she reminds me.
“But we were going to…”
“I’m not going anywhere, and don’t feel you have to babysit me.” There’s not even an edge in her voice. Either Sophie is nice enough not to let on that she’s disappointed that I’m about to bail on her—
