Page 24 of The Longest Wait

Alex tousled Lucy’s hair like she was a kid. “What plans do youtwo recent college graduates have for the summer?”

Lucy whined. “My job starts in two weeks. Goodbye relaxingsummer, hello Communications Specialist.”

Alex tugged on his sister’s ponytail. “I know what you’re doingthis summer, little sis.” His attention then went to Sofia. “What is theannoying third of your group doing?”

There it was.

The typical reaction Alex rendered to Sofia. She was accustomed toit at this point. Four years had passed and nothing has changed. Shehated that he only thought of her as a little sister. It wasn’t like she wasa kid anymore, after all, she was a college graduate.

Lucy rolled her eyes. “You have the honor of having two littlesisters because Sofia is staying with us this summer. Don’t you wishyour roommate didn’t move to California?”

Alex’s jaw dropped like he was shocked, but he covered it upquickly. “I’m guessing that was the reason she sent the flowers?”

Sofia saw that she had an advantage point and gave him a smilethat made most men putty in her hand. “Looks like you’ll have aninteresting summer.”

Chapter 8

TEN YEARS AGO wasn’t worth a discussion to Sofia. If she backedaway from Alex now, he would make a big deal about her avoidinghim or being unable to act civil. Besides, when did they ever backdown from each other? She wasn’t going to start now.

“I’m willing to sit, drink my drink, and play nice,” Sofiapaused, “under the guise we don’t talk about the past.”

Sofia hadn’t had a memory with Alex that didn’t include themeither ignoring each other or tossing hurtful comments. One nightwould be a much-needed intermission to the game they played.

“Our past or everything in the past?”

Alex, with his dark chocolate eyes, questioned her. If there wassomething about Alex she begrudgedly loved, it was his eyes. Theywere large, like his sister’s, but had this caramel brown thing goingon that was captivating. She swore his eyes twinkled.

“Everything. It will be the only way I can enjoy my wine andnot argue.”

“I can agree to that, as long as a rampant game of Trivia Nightdoesn’t ensue at the bar. You know how much I hate to lose.”Alex was casual like them spending time together without fightingwas normal.

They sat in silence. Perhaps this was the only way they couldmanage a night together if they stuck to the rules of no fightingand no speaking of the past. Sofia racked her brain. There had tobe something they could talk about that wouldn’t cause WorldWar III.

“Do you like living in Philadelphia?”

“Yep.”

Well, his response wasn’t great, but it was better than asnide remark.

“You doing anything for Valentine’s Day?”

Alex finished his beer and started another. It was meant forDominic, but he left with Carla. “Nope.”

Great.

She agreed to play nice and all Alex could muster were oneword answers. Shame, really. From the moment they sat down,she was looking forward to spending time with him. Secretly, toconfirm if the sparks she had all those years ago were actually real.

“Of all of the places you have seen…” She was trying. “Wherewas your favorite place to visit?”

He didn’t respond right away. This was either good because hewas thinking of an answer. Or it was bad, and he preferred theykeep up their silent streak.

His ran his hand through his shaggy brown hair. “Most of mytraveling has been because of work, not pleasure. When I’m onlocation, I don’t typically have time to take in anything other thanwhat I’m there to photograph. But, I have always loved Barcelona.”

She remembered his pictures from the trip. “Running of thebull. You won an award for that one.”

Alex’s eyes widened with surprise. “I didn’t know you followedmy career.”

Shit. Shit. Shit.