Page 56 of The Longest Wait

She opened the door, still talking to him on her phone.“Promise?”

He pulled her phone from her and tossed it to the couch as hewalked in. “Promise.”

They kissed, touching each other, grasping to get their clothesoff, in a desperate need to have each other. It was always like thiswith Sofia. This need he couldn’t shake off. Fuck, he never wantedit to end.

NOT HAVING ALEX around made Sofia’s life quiet. His schedulewas intense, so they didn’t have much time to touch base with eachother. The only plus side: Alex was true to his word and left herwith more than enough memories while he was gone.

He knew how to leave a lady wanting more.

Sofia had a dinner date planned with Lucy and Tess. She metthem at Daltons, and Sofia ordered them a bottle of wine to share.Lucy checked her phone and smiled before her cheeks reddened.She was probably texting Jack and Sofia was envious she couldn’tdo the same thing with Alex away.

To her dismay, she missed him. A lot. It wasn’t just for the bestorgasms of her life either. This relationship thing was new to her,and she wasn’t sure she liked it. She didn’t enjoy the pit she had inthe bottom of her stomach. She was certain it wouldn’t leave untilhe returned.

“Who was you sexting?” Sofia knew the answer, but needed adistraction from thinking of Alex.

“Jack, obviously.” She smiled. “I’m making multiple promisesfor missing dinner tonight.”

Sofia was going to ask what Jack was making because Lucydidn’t cook, when Tess arrived with a smile.

“Is your smile because you’re happy to see us?” she asked.

Tess didn’t break her grin. “I had a quick drink with Douglasbefore I met you both. He’s absolutely perfect.”

“Perfect for us to not meet him?” Lucy was nervous for herfriend and this boyfriend they have yet to be introduced to.

“I promise, you guys will meet him. I have a strict foundationI follow when it comes to a relationship. You both know that.”

“It’s a bit extreme,” Lucy said while Sofia stayed silent.

Something felt hypocritical of her to say Tess was required tointroduce them to her boyfriend, when Sofia was all mums theword about Alex.

“Perhaps for some people, but not for me. Anyway, I don’tthink mixing friends is successful until after three months ofdating. Nothing is worse than having a breakupand mutual friendsneed to pick a side.” Tess was adamant about it.

There were obviously worse things in the world than a badbreakup.

Either way, Sofia was still silent. What if that happened withher and Alex? If they stopped seeing each other and their friendshad to pick sides, it would be crushing. Not only would she loseAlex, but friends as well.

“If you’re serious about him, don’t you think you should let usmeet him?” Lucy was stuck on this.

Tess wasn’t about to budge. “We just started to be”—shepaused before lowering her voice—“intimate. It isn’t the time tomeet friends.”

“It’s been over a month and you just slept with him?” Sofiafinally spoke up.

“Keep your voice down!” The always poised Tess demanded.“And it takes time. You can’t just jump into bed with someone.That’s not the way to build a relationship.”

“Gee, thanks,” Lucy snarked back.

Tess grimaced. “You don’t get it. You and Jack are different. Youtwo have this overly passionate relationship that most people onlydream of. I’m realistic enough to know passion doesn’t happen foreveryone. In my industry, I see most of the successful marriagescome from finding a partner that meshes well with you. It isn’tabout this desire to not keep your hands off each other.”

“Don’t you want that?” Lucy asked. “I don’t understand howsomeone who loves love is willing to have something that doesn’tcompare to anything but a fairytale.”

“Because my version of a fairytale is based on statistics thatwill make my marriage work,” Tess explained. “Not everyone is aslucky as you.”

“Have you ever thought of following your heart?” Popped outof Sofia’s mouth.

Tess swept her perfect blond hair behind her ear. “This comingfrom a woman who has never had a boyfriend?”

“She could if she wanted too,” Lucy defended her. “She’s waiting for a guy that gives her the passion you say doesn’t exist.”