Page 48 of The Longest Wait

“You don’t think you’re overreacting?” Alex didn’t see what shewas so bent out of shape over. “I was going to ask you either way.”

She pushed at his chest. “Did you even stop to consider maybeI would’ve appreciated an invite where it seemed like you actuallywanted me there? You asked because it left me no choice but to sayyes. I will go to this stupid party. But only as friends. I’m so overthis back and forth crap between us.”

“Friends is better than nothing,” he said with minimal excitement.

She waltzed away from him and spoke without even turningaround, “You have no idea what you’re in for. You’re nothing buta friend to me. It will never be more.”

Screw this. They have been more then friends ever since theymet. Problem was, neither one of them ever admitted it. That wasabout to change.

“Sure, Sofia,” Alex knocked back.

She could say whatever she wanted. Claim they were friends allnight long. It only fueled the fire to change her mind.

Chapter 15

THE TRAIN RIDE to New York the following weekend was tense.Sofia was silent, which he assumed was a testament to her ability tohold on to anger. She was still mad about how Alex sneakily askedher to go with him. She was making a bigger deal then what waswarranted over his mediocre invite. When he attempted to put hisarm around Sofia, she swatted him away from her.

Her annoyance continued, as she was full of smiles and flirtylaughs with anyone who glanced her way while on the two-hourtrain ride. This even included someone’s dog she found ‘absolutelyadorable.’ However, when it came to Alex, it was like he was aghost. She kept avoiding him at all costs, until he finally brokedown when they were in the lobby of the hotel.

“Do you plan on ignoring me the entire time we’re in NewYork?” Alex was two seconds from losing it and having a full tantrum in the middle of the plush lobby. Sofia had the concierge eating outof her palm, but she still refused to glance in his direction.

She had her mime act down tight—she refused to speak.“You can pretend you’re pissed all you want, but you got outof going to the Warriors game tonight. On top of it, you got anew dress you didn’t have to pay for. Why are you acting like aspoiled brat?”

Sofia picked up the magazine on the table in the lounge area

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of the hotel, still disregarding him. As each second passed, Alex felthis patience slipping away. “You’re pissed because the room isn’tready?” He thought he would try another angle. Perhaps this wasall because she had to wait.

He was trying anything.

Eventually, Sofia looked at him or glared to be more accurate.“You want to know why I’m acting like a spoiled brat? You prettymuch backed me into a corner when you asked me to go to thisparty with you. You knew damn well I wouldn’t say no in front ofLucy because she is already sensitive to our hit or miss interactionswith each other. And I know you paid for my dress only to getunder my skin. When I confronted you later that night, you didn’tbother to apologize. Then you announce this was an overnighttrip—without any concern I may or may not have had other plans.”

“Did you have plans this weekend?”

“That’s not the point.”

“It is when you’re making a big deal about it.”

“You didn’t even book an additional room. We have to share aroom!” Sofia continued her rant, ignoring his point about her nothaving plans. This was a great example of how high maintenanceshe was.

“You don’t know that for sure. The whole reason we’re waitingin the lobby is because the front desk is checking to see if they haveany additional rooms left.”

Which was bullshit.

A weekend trip with Sofia and not sharing a room; it was hisown version of hell. With her acting like he was the devil himself,he had no choice but to see if the hotel had another room for her.She wanted nothing to do with him. All because he asked her tobe his date in front of Lucy. It didn’t make sense.

“Mr. Copeland.” The front desk clerk came over. “Your room isready. We were unable to upgrade to a suite or book another room,as they are already reserved. I apologize for the inconvenience.” Shehanded him the keys, told them where to go, and walked off. Sofiaheaded to the elevator, not waiting for Alex.

If she kept this up, it was going to be a long night. A workevent, masquerading as an engagement party, was already gettingunder his skin. Sofia was supposed to calm him down, not amphim up.

They walked into their hotel room and it had a king bed, nottwo doubles. This was not looking good for him. Alex looked overat Sofia and anger radiated off her. The bed situation was the finalstraw for her.

She slammed her suitcase down. “In your old age, I hope yourback will be comfortable on the floor.”

Alex grimaced. It was such a mistake, inviting her to come tothis party with him. His gut was normally on point, but this timehe was wrong. He never should has asked her to be with him,regardless of the way he did it. She was adding to his stress level.

“If it means you’ll behave tonight, I’ll sleep anywhere.”