It doesn’t feel fake.
I feel like I should drive to Montgomery right now and wait outside for him, like he did her. I don’t like knowing that she was forced to deal with him at all, and alone makes it worse.
“I shouldn’t have allowed him to get to me,” Sophie confesses. “I can’t understand why he even cares. When we were actually together he barely knew I was there, but now, I can’t seem to get away from him.”
“Realized what he’s lost,” I tell her and she rolls her eyes. “You don’t see it.” I know I should shut up but I can’t. “Baby you are beautiful and so kind.” Her eyes go wide with my endearment, but I don’t let it stop me. “Your love and affection for others, howcompassionate you are, it’s always amazed me. You see the good in everything no matter how bad it is. And that, it’s contagious. Whenever you are around, all of us, we can’t help but feel better.”
“You do know that fake dating doesn’t really mean you have to give the sweet supportive feel better talks too. Especially when it’s only us here,” she adds with a smile and I slide my hand around, cupping the back of her neck.
“This isn’t a game, Sophie,” I say and she quickly closes her mouth, pressing her lips together tightly. “This is me, being one hundred percent honest with you. You have always been the one in the group that is like the bright shining light. You make sure everyone knows they are great, that they are strong and can and will always come out the other side on top. But what I want to know is when are you going to realize you deserve the world and that you too, are strong and courageous.”
She shrugs, her eyes filling with tears and she attempts to look away only I hold her steady.
“Now again I’m gonna ask, do I need to take a drive and have a chat with Ryan?”
“No,” she assures me.
“Okay.” I let go but don’t step back, not quite ready to distance myself from her. I don’t know what the hell is happening, but part of me wants to pull her in and hold her close. I get why she’s felt nervous, because right now I feel like a anxious fool. The lines are blurring and like I said, the objective isn’t as clear anymore.
Clearing my throat I lift my hand to run it through my hair when my fingers itch to touch her.
“One more question,” I say and she arches her brow, waiting for me to continue. “I’m just curious. How exactly do wild monkeys screw?”
Her eyes widen, she opens her mouth to speak then closes it quickly, only to repeat the movement a few times. I try to hold back my laughter but watching her stumbling over how to respond is too fun to watch.
This time I do reach out, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her in close to me. My chest vibrates with laughter as I hug her while she fights me.
Instantly I am surrounded by the scent of flowers and I use my position to my benefit. Burying my nose in her hair I breathe in the scent and decide it’s now my new favorite smell. Somehow this game we started out playing was turning on me.
“I’m going to kill Kendall,” she mumbles and her words are muffled as she buries her face in my chest.
It strikes me how much I like having her in my arms.
It also hits me that I am playing a dangerous game.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Sophie
“Another round,”Kendall yells out, holding her hand in the air. The waitress gives us a nod, indicating she’s got us before heading back to the bar. “Where is Lexi?” She notices one of us is missing and we all start looking around, seeing her at the end of the bar, tucked back in a quiet corner with her phone pressed to her ear.
“She got a phone call,” Sutton says. “Camryn is having her first sleepover at a friend’s house and I think momma bear is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She’s been checking her phone every few minutes and texting all night. When her phone rang she picked it up so fast and took off, I’ve been watching to make sure it all seems okay.”
“And?” I ask, fully invested.
“Well, considering she has been smiling and laughing since she’s been over there, I’d say it’s going good.”
“Awe,” I say with a pout. “That is so cute and so sad all at the same time. We need to be working harder to distract her.”
“She gets even more emotional when she drinks,” Sutton reminds us and I’m reminded of all the times Lex was in meltdown mode over the smallest things after we’d pumped her full of tequila or rum. She cried one time for eleven minutes and forty-seven seconds after Kendall told her how a guy at the shop lost his dog after thirteen years.
“So alcohol may not be the best form of distraction, unless we want tears,” Sutton says with a laugh.
“I don’t think alcohol is the solution.” She points toward the door. “If it isn’t the perfect distraction right there, I don’t know what is,” Adley hoots, before pushing back from the table and practically skipping across the bar.
Rory, Brantley, and Marshall enter, walking in our direction. Within seconds the door opens once more and right behind them is the second half of their six man crew, Bennett, Aaron, and Finn.
It’s been a couple days since I’ve seen him after the forced confession of my humiliating words. Something I still need to properly thank Kendall for. I was thinking of hair and her shampoo, but I’m still thinking.
