“Good morning!” Sophia sing-songs.
A scream leaves me, and I drop my phone directly on my face. I flip the comforter off my head and offer her a sheepish smile as I scooch into a sitting position. “Uh, good morning.”
“Did I scare you?” She laughs when I nod. “Sorry. I’m abnormally cheerful in the morning. Even my mother complains about it.”
I can’t imagine that. Mrs. Harrington is the sweetest woman I’ve ever met.
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” I rub the bridge of my nose where I just took an iPhone to the face.
“How did you sleep?” Sophia chirps.
I push my hair away from my eyes. “Pretty great, actually. Your bed is so soft.”
“Better than the mattress in the dorm rooms, right?” Sophia rests her hand on her mouth to cover the yawn. “I don’t know why I think I should return to my room there.”
“I don’t know, either.”
She falls back against the pile of pillows beneath her head, pulling her own phone off the nightstand. She must check her notifications, because the next words out of her mouth are, “There’s a party tonight. I almost forgot.”
I remain quiet, because that wasn’t exactly an invitation. For all that Sophia is happy to hang with me at her house, she might not want me shadowing her at Freddie’s party. She doesn’t know Connor already invited me.
“You should stay here, and we can get ready together and then go. It’s at Freddie’s,” Sophia explains. “You want to go, right? It’ll be a great way to get to know everyone.”
The icy cynicism around my heart melts a little.
“Yeah, um … Connor just asked me to go with him.” I wince, bracing myself for a reaction.
“Seriously?” She sits up straight, her eyes wide. “He askedyouto go with him?”
“He called it a horrible party.” I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but he did ask first. And she’s been nothing but a good friend to me since the moment I met her. “Will it be awful?”
“Dreadful. But also … fun.” She slowly shakes her head. “I’m just surprised he asked you.”
Irritation and insecurity battle for dominance. I try to hide both when I ask, “Why?”
Sophia’s voice and smile are gentle. “Because Connor doesn’t ask any girl anywhere. Even before everything that happened, he kept mostly to himself.”
Her revelation is way too reassuring.
“Don’t I remember you saying something about how broken boys aren’t your thing?” Her words aren’t accusatory. In fact, she taps an index finger against her chin in exaggerated thoughtfulness. It feels more like a sweet reminder because she’s worried about me, and I appreciate that.
More than she’ll ever realize.
I shrug helplessly. I can’t say anything to defend my choices. I mean, look at him. I had no idea I was such a sucker for a handsome face.
“But … the dimples?” I say, shrugging like I’m helpless in the face of their hot-guy power.
Sophia snorts a laugh but nods like she totally gets it. “Well, this should be interesting. Come on, then. Let’s go downstairsand get some breakfast. I’m sure my mum has made a feast for us.” Sophia hops out of bed, and I do the same, surprised when she links her arm through mine and leads me out of the bedroom.
I could get used to this—having a best friend and hanging out at her house all weekend. I just hope when everything comes out, Sophia doesn’t hate me for all my lies.
That would break my heart.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The Pembroke estate is massive, with a long, curving road leading to the house that cuts through acres and acres of rolling green hills. Connor was thoughtful enough to offer to take both me and Sophia to the party in the rideshare he booked. I didn’t even have to ask. Is it possible that chivalry isn’t actually dead?
He’s quiet during the drive, content to let Sophia share stories about parties of the past. And while she’s full of good gossip that I enjoy hearing, part of me stays tuned into Connor.
