Page 62 of The Longest Wait

He glared at her. “You had the perfect opportunity to tell herabout us and you decided against it?”

Why was it impossible for him to get it; she needed time.Didn’t they just fight about this yesterday? It was like a bad songon repeat.

What had to be the tenth time, she told him, “I need time.”

Alex started to pace. “I’m losing my patience.”

That was funny. “You consider how you were acting before asyou being patient? I tell you I need time and every other day, youdemand I tell everyone.”

He stopped. “You could’ve told her today. I hate lying, letalone to Lucy.’

“You think I want to lie to her?” She was just as angry.

“What other reason is there? You could’ve told her about ustoday and instead you chickened out.”

What the hell? Chicken out, far from it. Sofia said, again, “Ineed time.”

“Time for what, Sofia?” he snapped.

That was the final straw. “To know you aren’t going to breakmy heart again!”

Alex’s mouth dropped. “What do you mean, ‘break yourheart again?’ You can’t crucify me for something that happenedten years ago.”

Sofia realized he had no idea, and for some reason, that hurteven more. “You’re right, but it’s been unbelievably hard for meto get over. To tell you the truth, I’m not sure if I can, which iswhy I didn’t want to tell anyone about us. Alex, I don’t think I cando this.”

Alex grabbed the collar of his shirt, like he needed room tobreathe. “Because of ten years ago. You can’t be with me becauseof something that happened ten fucking years ago.”

She stood her ground. “That’s what you don’t get. I’m not madat you for what happened ten years ago, I’m upset because the manyou are today doesn’t see anything wrong about what happened tenyears ago. You took a piece of my heart that day, Alex, and stompedon it. The fact that you don’t get that hurts me.”

He stomped to her door. “This is bullshit. You’re pushing meaway because you’re afraid to get hurt. You’d rather end what wehave instead of seeing where we go.”

Maybe, but she wasn’t sure if she would be able to process thefall out again. “I can’t handle if you break my heart again, Alex. Ican’t.”

“This isn’t over,” he grumbled. And like that, he walked outthe door.

Chapter 20

Ten Years ago

“WHY THE FUCK didn’t you tell me?” Alex demanded of Sofiawhile he took as many steps as possible to get away from her. Not thatthe distance mattered, the damage was done.

Every step he stomped away from her made her cringe. This wasn’thow she imagined her first time. Yes, she waited for it to be with Alex,but his reaction was less than stellar.

“You missed the big virgin sign hanging over my head,” she saiddefiantly. It was the only emotion she could muster to hide the fact Alexshredded her heart into pieces. How did he not see, this whole time,she was waiting for him?

He didn’t like her answer. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

He kept stepping away like she had something contagious. Sofiawas pissed. “This is my fault?”

“Yes, this is fucking your fault. I had no idea you were a virgin.You’re always flirting and talking about your love life like, fuck, I neverthought for a second you were a virgin. If I knew—”

Sofia cut him off. There was no way she could hear the man whomshe has been in love with all throughout college say the hateful wordshe was about to say. If he confirmed he wouldn’t have touched her if heknew she was a virgin, that would crush her, regardless if it was true.

“Well, now, it’s all cleared up. You took my virginity.” She felther voice get tight. She stuck her chin out, and said the only thing shecould think of to minimize the heartbreak. “That was my goal, to losemy virginity before I started work in the fall. I didn’t want to be theonly virgin in the tech department. Look how you reacted—can youimagine if my whole team found out?”

“Sofia, that’s not what I—”

She stopped him from trying to back pedal. “Spare me, Alex, Idon’t need to hear anything. Just do me a favor and don’t make thisawkward for Lucy.”