“Nothing,” I tell him with a shake of my head. After I get into the backseat, he asks me where I want to go now. “Home,” I tell him. “I just want to go home.”
CHAPTER 6
VICTORIA
I ONLY ALLOW myself one day to sulk before I’m ready to get back to my old life and routine and forget all about the boy who owned my heart and the man who ultimately broke it.
The moment I step intoHelen’s Books and Brews, I hear a familiar squeal of delight coming from behind the counter.
Sophie practically tackles me like a linebacker before I even make it completely inside. “Oh my god, girl, I missed you so much!”
After she hugs me so tightly I think I’m going to pass out, she runs towards the front counter, throwing over her shoulder, “I’ll get our usual!”
I walk to a nearby table and take a seat. Closing my eyes, I breathe in the familiar scent of books and coffee. God, I’ve missed this place.
I didn’t realize I was so contently settled into a routine of running in the park and then enjoying Sophie’s company almost every day until I wasn’t able to do it any longer. This is my first step in getting back to my normal life.
The next step is to volunteer at the soup kitchen again. I’ve already talked to Sue, and she’s anxious to have me back when I’m good and ready. She made it clear how much everyone misses me, and it’s a great feeling to know at least some people miss me when I’m not present in their lives.
A few minutes later, Sophie is bringing over our drinks and two freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.
I take a bite of the cookie, humming my approval with a big grin on my face. “No one bakes cookies like you,” I tell her after I’m done chewing.
Sophie reaches across the table and takes my hand. “How are you feeling? When I heard about the accident…” Her voice trails off as she chokes up and tears fill her eyes.
Sophie, along with the rest of the world, thinks I was in a horrific car accident with my father. Even the doctors and nurses at the hospital were forced to sign confidentiality agreements that they wouldn’t breathe a word about the gunshot wounds or what happened to my father and me. And, of course, they were given a hefty sum of money to keep mum about the subject as well.
Like my father would say, you can buy anything oranyonewith enough money.
“I’m okay, really,” I tell her. “The physical therapy has really been helping.”
Sophie lets go of my hand and sits back in her seat. “Well, I mean, you look great for all that you’ve been through.”
“Thanks,” I say with a small smile.
“And your dad? He’s okay too?”
“He’s…fine,” I manage to tell her. It’s a miracle he’s even alive right now, but I don’t even know how I feel about that. Part of me wishes he were dead because of the horrific things he did to the Rossi family…and probably lots of other families. I’m sure I was kept in the dark about a lot of things growing up and that I don’t even truly know the man I share my genes with.
The things that he could be capable of…or has already done keep me up at night.
“He’s still in the hospital,” I offer finally.
She gives me a nod and doesn’t say anything else, perhaps sensing I don’t want to talk about the sensitive subject. “Well, I’m so glad you came in to see me. I’ve missed you so much. It hasn’t been the same around here.”
We fall into a comfortable conversation about the bookstore and what’s been happening with Sophie’s life.
And by the time I have to leave, I’m much happier than I was before I walked in here.
“Don’t be a stranger,” Sophie tells me with a hug.
I hug her back. “Hopefully I’ll be back to my routine in no time and running in the park every morning again.”
“Well, don’t forget to stop in for a treat after thetorture,” she jokes, waving me off as I leave.
As I settle into the backseat of the sedan and Marco closes the door, I can’t help but smile. Time with Sophie really did me some good. Now, if I can just get my life back to normal, how it was before Damon came into my life like a wrecking ball, I know everything will be okay.
My happiness is short-lived, however, when we get stuck in traffic on the way home. Marco grumbles from the front seat and begins to fiddle with the radio.Material Girlby Madonna comes on, and he stops flicking through the channels and starts bobbing his head to the tune.
