Page 23 of The Longest Wait

“It is starting to lose its appeal.” Sofia seemed bored.

Alex guided them to a small table farther away from the noisein the bar. “Not for me. I can’t remember the last time we actuallytalked. Not since ten years ago.”

Ten years ago, when everything changed.

Chapter 7

ten Years ago

SOFIA AND LUCY walked into Lucy’s house, still on the high fromtheir college graduation from two weeks prior. Crossing the threshold ofno more day drinking, late nights studying sessions, and bar hopping.It was the end of their college era.

Lucy already landed a summer internship in DC, where she wasan assistant to a marketing executive for an insurance company. Sofiadidn’t start work at a technology rotational program until the fall,so she was tagging along with her friend to stay for the summer. Herparents were traveling, and she didn’t have a place to go back to.

“Thank you so much for letting me stay here. As soon as yourparents get back from vacation, they are getting the biggest hugs ever,”Sofia said as she trailed Lucy, dragging her luggage behind her.

Lucy brushed it off since it was no big deal. “You staying here isgoing to be so much fun. Last fall semester was such a drag because Tesslived in the library, and you didn’t turn twenty-one until November.Now I get to make up for lost time.”

“Boohoo ,” Sofia mocked. “You had fun at all of the bars while Iplayed Snood, alone, in our apartment.”

Lucy winced. “Fair. Bars are much more fun that a computer game.”

“For you,” Sofia reminded her. She was all about games, whetherthey were the computer or video assortment. “Thanks again though,for letting me crash.”

“When my parents first moved to Virginia, I was pissed.”

“I remember,” Sofia told her. “I thought you were going to disownthem our sophomore year.”

Lucy nodded. “Now we have a pool, and we’re close to the beach.It’s going to be our best summer yet!”

Of course, it was going to be fun. Lucy and her always had thegreatest time together. Fun with her friend or not, Sofia still wished herparents weren’t trapezing around the world. It would have been niceto spend the summer with them. They also rented their family houseout to a friend. After graduation, going home sounded ideal. There wassomething about sleeping in your own bed, right? Staying with Lucythough, it wasn’t a bad option. Lucy’s family had become like a secondfamily to her, so she was grateful they were welcoming her into theirhome for the summer.

“You have seriously thanked me a million times,” Lucy continuedwith slight exaggeration. “And you made Tony, Alex, and me look likereject children because all my mom could talk about was the hugebouquet of flowers you send her last week.”

“And you aren’t her kid like we are,” Alex said nonchalantly as heconfidently strode into the kitchen through the back door.

Sofia took one look at Alex and her world felt off kilter. Ever sinceshe met him her freshmen year, she had always wanted to be aroundhim. She had to play it off, especially once Lucy confided that all ofher high school girlfriends had a crush on him. Whenever Lucy wasn’taround, Sofia always tried to make an impression on him.

Not that he ever took notice of her. Alex was older than them,and it always seemed like he had something better to do. Which neverincluded hanging around them. When she could shake details out ofLucy, he was either going to events that seemed way cooler than akegger or he was going on adventures significantly better than sneakinginto the bar when she was underage. Alex was not only more exciting,but he was so handsome, it was embarrassing. He had dark hair thatalways fell perfectly mused on his head, a toned body, and brown eyesthat sparkled.

He pulled orange juice out of the refrigerator and drank from it.

“Eww,” Lucy said while smacking his back. “You better not dothat all summer. Sofia and I don’t want your germs.”

Sofia didn’t comment. Alex and his germs didn’t sound like a badidea at all. In fact, she was ready to sign up for them.

All he did was laugh at his sister. “How will you two survivewithout the third musketeer?”

Sofia shot her chin up. She wasn’t a child determined for him tosee her as an adult. “Tess is participating in Habitat for Humanitythis summer.”

“I should’ve guessed that.”

Lucy added, “But we do have a scheduled Sunday call every week.It reminded me of when you went to college and I lost it.”

Alex smiled at the memory. “You were such a brat. It was like:How dare I go to college and get an education.”

“Tease all you want, but you never missed a call.”

Sofia could attest to that. She also looked forward to the calls theycontinued to have weekly. It was always after those calls when Lucywould dish on her brother.