Is that why she’s in DC? Laying the groundwork and spreading fear through any guy with a cock he wants to keep attached? It’s a damn good political strategy. But of course, when she’s with Sophie, it’s all smiles and sweetness which makes me feel crazy.
I grumble to myself as I eat and Holden nudges me. “Everything good.”
“Valerie is a pain in the ass,” I say. “She thinks I’m not good enough for Sophie, that I don’t love her.”
“Prove her wrong,” Holden says. “Even Miles knows you love her. Just stop being an ass all the time when she’s around and stop challenging her.”
“My sweetness is saved for Sophie, for when she’s alone and … and …”
“And you feel safe being vulnerable? Your vows can’t all be jokes, Gun. Make small attempts now when it’s just us. We are the wedding party, after all.”
When we get back to the penthouse, I ask to talk to Sophie alone. She joins me on the balcony and I sit down rather than gluing myself to her like I want to. She turns, then sits next to me. “What’s wrong, handsome?”
“You know I love you, right? Not just because of the sex.”
“I know.” She wraps my arm around her. “I like when we read together and when we talk about the power of fiction.”
“There is power. It lets us experience a million different lives and learn where we can improve.” I insist.
She giggles and kisses my cheek. “I like your playful side, your sweet side when you tell me things even though I know you don’t want to dig into some of them.”
I take a deep breath. “Valerie doesn’t like me.”
“Nope.” She shrugs. “Because she isn’t willing to look deeper. You’re a romantic at heart, Gunner. I know that.”
I brush my thumb over her cheek. “You know, I think you’re better than any woman I’ve ever read about. Even Elizabeth Bennett and she was always my favorite.”
Sophie giggles and brushes her hand over mine, lacing our fingers. “That’s a hell of a compliment.”
“I like my women sassy and fierce. Which is part of why I love you so much. You never settled for only having me at surface level. You always wanted more.”
“Because I know what an amazing man you are.” She insists.
I lose myself in her eyes and shake my head. “You make me want to be a better man. You know that?”
“I know you’ve been drinking less and partying less. I know that as much as you tease me, come on to me, drive me crazy with lust, you’d be just as happy reading with me in the bath tub or watching a movie with me close by.”
“Or destroying you in any board game.”
She giggles and kisses me softly. “I love you, Gunner. I don’t care if my best friend doesn’t know why. I don’t care if no one understands why. I won’t let you forget that I do.”
I sigh and kiss her softly. “If your vows are that good, I don’t stand a fucking chance. I know I’m going to end up crying.”
She hugs me and we sit like that for a while. “I have some ideas for poems for you and me. Do you want to look them over with me?”
“I’d love to. There are a few I’d like – nothing from the bible. Not between us.” I kiss her forehead. “It’s cliché and nothing about us is.”
Sophie lights up and kisses me like she alone can. My heart threatens to burst out of my chest to join hers. I rest my forehead against hers and dare for the cheesiest line I’ve ever read – in a book I never should have read – “So the lion fell in love with the lamb.”
She cackles, laughs so hard her face goes red and I beam despite her knowing my secret. She shakes her head and laughs again. “Twilight?”
“That shit was romantic as hell the first time around. I swear.”
She nuzzles my neck. “Well, you’re my own personal brand of heroin.”
“You can’t laugh like that when you’ve read it too,” I grumble in response to her quote. “I promise to never watch you sleep by breaking in through a window.”
“And I promise to read anything you recommend so I can keep getting to know you better.” She whispers. “Even if it’s ridiculous.”