My abs clench involuntarily. Can’t cope? What the hell’s going on?
“Everything okay?” Ryan pipes up. “Looks like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
“It’s the client.” My heart hammers against my ribs. I have a bad feeling about this.
“Did she reject the plan?”
I shake my head and put the phone down, plastering a fake smile on my face. “No, no. Don’t worry.”
From the pointed look Ryan gives me, it’s clear he sees right through me. “I can tell you’re worried. What’s going on?”
A sigh escapes my lungs. “I don’t know …” I debate calling her.
Maybe I should.
Or is that stepping over the line?
But what if something really is wrong?
“I’m calling her.”
Ryan frowns but doesn’t argue as I dial Sophie’s number. It rings, and I can hardly breathe in between each tone.
When it reaches her voicemail, I exhale through my clenched teeth. Fuck. What is going on?
“Will?” My actual name slips from Ryan’s lips, even though we’re at the office. A concerned look is etched into his warm eyes.
“I think something’s wrong.” I stand in one fluid motion, my entire body fuelled with a charge of electricity. “I think I should go and make sure she’s fine.”
“You’re a consultant, not a dad,” Ryan calls out right before I reach for the door. I stop in my tracks. “Remember,” he adds, “she’s not your only client.”
“I know.” I spin to face him. I know he’s not going to stop me. He trusts my judgement. “It’s just a quick visit. I’ve got it under control.”
Under the surface, I’m panicking. Not knowing what’s going on with Sophie is making my mind go wild with all sorts of crazy scenarios. Her house is on fire. Julian got hurt. Matt said or did something to upset her.
A tendril of rage curls around my ribs at the thought of Matt, but I keep it in check. Ryan gives me a small nod. “Okay.” I’ve got his blessing.
I book it faster than I should, making a few risky moves with my car that I wouldn’t do otherwise, even as it starts to rain. All I can think of is Sophie. By the time I pull into her driveway, my hands are nearly stuck to the steering wheel after gripping it so tightly.
I don’t waste a second and rush to her door, knocking like a madman, hardly feeling the cold bite of the rain soaking through my hair and jacket. Time stops as I wait. An eternity passes—or maybe it’s one second. Then, footsteps echo from inside, inching closer.
The door opens, and my heart sinks straight to the bottom of my chest.
CHAPTER 15
SOPHIE
“Will?” The word wheezes out of me. “What are you doing here?” The ends of my fingers tingle with nervousness. He’s the last person I expected to see.
“I got worried when you didn’t respond.” He scans my face in a hurry. His black eyes cloud over with concern. “Sophie, you look terrible.”
“Thanks,” I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “You’ve got a way of making a woman feel great about herself.”
He shakes his head, stepping forward. “No, I mean—you look sick.”
“Wow, your powers of observation are astounding,” I snap back, but the effort sends a wave of nausea through me. Why am I trying so hard to clap back? I need to save my energy. I don’t always need to try to one-up him.
“Look, the girls are sick too, and I …” I trail off, my energy waning. The girls need me, but just standing here is draining what little strength I have left.
