Page 12 of The Longest Wait

She did hear Lucy quickly warn him. “Do not mess with Sofia.”

He only laughed, and then moved past them to introduce himself.

Sofia stood still once their eyes met.

If love at first sight was real, she was experiencing it. Alex wastall and she had to look up at him when he got close. His eyes werethe perfect brown, roguish, and filled with laugher. He had full lipsand a smile that made her heart flutter. His dark hair was shuffledaround his face.

Alex Copeland, this beautiful person, was the man of her dreams.

Chapter 4

“SORRY I HAVE been MIA lately.” Lucy sounded overwhelmedover the phone. “It’s been insane with work. I’m happy with theexpansion of my clients, but I have no free time. Not that beingbusy is an excuse to disappear for a few weeks. How are you?”

Sofia saved the coding she was working on. “Things are good.Honest, I have been busy too. Is everything okay on your end?You sound off.”

“I sound off because I have been running around like a crazyperson. I’m throwing Alex a welcome home party in two weeks,since he will have been away for a month. This is the longest he hasbeen on assignment. Since he moved to Philly, anyway. I thoughtit would be nice to show him how much he was missed.”

Sofia missed him as much as she missed the plague, but herfriend was stressed, so she didn’t mention it.

“The party is in two weeks, why are you running around now?”

“Because Tess is planning it. I made the mistake of telling herhow busy I have been with work, and she offered to help. She’s atyrant with planning.”

Sofia let out a laugh. “I don’t know why you sound surprised.”

“In fact, I think I’m doing more with her help.” Lucy huffed.

“Why would you ask Tess to help out?” Sofia was puzzledLucy even got herself into this situation. “How did you forgetthe nightmare of selling your apartment when you moved in withJack? She made a schedule for the construction team so they didn’tbother possible buyers. She also had you on a schedule that was sotight, you had to camp out at my place a few times. Or what aboutplanning your own wedding? Tess had weekly meetings which wasinsane. Ugh, I cringe at the memories of being stuck with her onprojects in college, and that was a lifetime ago.”

“She caught me at a weak moment.”

“I love Tess, but if you give her any opportunity to plan something, she will take extreme measures for the party to be perfect.Can I help with anything?”

Lucy giggled. “You think I would leave you responsible foranything that has to do with Alex? Absolutely not. Just make sureyou show up to his party.”

That was a fair assessment. Sofia wasn’t sure she trusted herselfto do something nice for him, regardless if Lucy asked.

THE INSIDE OF Lucy and Jack’s home was in full party mode.The decorations were a sleek color combination of varying grays,from the “Welcome Home Alex” banner to the balloons, napkins,and plates. This seemed like a lot of extra work for a person Sofiadidn’t think warranted the attention. Besides, it wasn’t like he waseven gone for that long. If she was in charge of this party it would’vebeen Eeyore themed, since Alex was like a walking rain cloud.

“Everyone is here.” Tess gleamed as she stood next to Sofia inthe living room, admiring her work.

Around thirty people were in attendance, which was shockingto Sofia. She was surprised this many people even liked Alex, letalone made a point to attend a party in his name. Perhaps becausehe was well connected in his industry, they felt required to come.Or maybe they felt bad for Lucy for having such a wanker ofan older brother, it was like people had to attend so her feelingsweren’t hurt.

Yes, that had to be it.

“Surprising to see that Alex has so many friends.” Sofia couldn’tpass the opportunity for the dig, even if he didn’t hear it.

Tess kept a close eye on everyone around her in effort to makesure the party abided to her timeline. “I need to change the musicto something slow tempo, maybe jazz. Yes, jazz would work. Iregret putting on Frank Sinatra since Alex doesn’t live in New Yorkanymore. Oh, I need to make sure all of the champagne holstershave full bottles in them. I don’t want someone looking to refilltheir glass and think there is nothing left to drink. That remindsme, I need to check on the bartender I hired. I need to make surehe doesn’t require anything else for the bar area. I should bringout more cookies for the table near the fireplace too. They seemto be a big hit.”

Tess was focused on the party, much to Sofia’s dismay, and shedidn’t hear her witty remark about Alex and his lack of friends. Shecould tell Tess was stressed though, so she had to do something tohelp, even if it was for Alex’s party.

“Let me go into the kitchen at grab the cookies,” Sofiaassured her.

Tess gave her a thankful hug and pulled her phone out toswitch the music. Once Miles Davis came through the speakers,off she went to the bartender. Sofia was impressed with how wellTess ran a party. Obviously, as a wedding planner, it came natural toher, but still, she was doing great. Maybe her crazy need to scheduleeverything was part of her method.

Sofia walked into the kitchen and stumbled upon Jack andLucy basically grinding against each in the corner.

“I would say get a room,” she said loudly to interrupt them,“but you live here. All the rooms are yours.”