Gently brushing her hair back, she looks up at me with sleepy eyes. She holds up her phone, showing a video of someone saving a cat and the cat insisting on sleeping with its human every day, purring all night long, and enjoying a comfy life.
“I watch things like this when I’m sad. My favorite I think is manatees. They’re so cute. I’ve never gotten to see them, but I’d like to one day.”
I kiss her softly. “We can go kayaking in Florida when winter rolls around and I promise you’ll see enough to last you a lifetime.”
“Yeah?”
“And you can even adopt one online,” I whisper in her ear.
She insists on coming with me to the office so I can show her and bounces eagerly on my lap as I show her the conservation fund. We adopt one together, giving a sizable donation. Sophie laughs again as she reads the description.
“He likes trying to knock the scientists out of their kayaks. I love him.” She gives me her full powered smile and I feel my heart melt for her.
I cup her face in my hands. “I love you. So much, Sophie.”
She leans towards me. “Thank you for dealing with pouty me. You give the best advice.”
“Oh yeah, even if Gunner is suspect about my game playing skills?”
“Probably because of that.” She kisses me softly and rubs my shoulders. “I love you so much, Nick. Even though I’m working from home, can we still do lunch once a week? I like talking with you about all the things I don’t know.”
I kiss her again, slow and lazy as my fingers stroke over her oversized t-shirt. She kisses me back, nearly tipping the chair too far and spilling us out. I chuckle. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. You’re the only one who likes all my fun facts.”
“If anyone else would have told me that the Bay of Pigs was in part because of bananas I wouldn’t have believed them.”
I playfully shush her, putting my finger to her lips. “That’s top-secret information. If too many people know, they’ll call it a conspiracy.”
She giggles and then hugs me, tightly. “Can we paint soon? Not a landscape just … on the balcony, together?”
I close my eyes and press my face to her hair, memorizing the light vanilla and fruit smell that lingers there. “I would love to Sophie. I’ll bring home canvases on Thursday.”
“I love you.”
“Keep saying it and I might believe you.” I tease her with a wink.
She squishes my face between her hands and kisses me. “Iloveyou.”
SOPHIE
Istare at my laptop in Holden’s office without typing anything at all. I’ve been feeling out of it since Valerie left and even my talk with Nick hasn’t completely fixed it. Holden rubs my leg as it shakes.
“Put the computer down.” He whispers.
I look at the thirteen new emails that I haven’t touched and the six requests for meetings and shrug, setting it to the side. Holden pats his lap and I sit there, like a nice obedient cat. But instead of petting me, he massages my shoulders.
“Gunner won’t be coming home until late tonight. So you shouldn’t worry too much about scheduling his stuff. I doubt he’ll look at it until morning. You can spread your work throughout the day instead of doing it all at once.”
I sigh as his hard fingers undo knots and knots. “I just don’t feel in the same swing of things. It’s not a challenge anymore and I … I kind of want to be challenged.”
“Of course.” He kisses my neck as his fingers push along my shoulder blades. “You know you’re capable of more.”
“I know we were playing around when we were talking about traveling, but Paris sounds really nice.” I hum, letting my eyes close. “Especially with you four.”
“Oh yes, I’ll spice up the Air BnB nicely.” He teases.
“We could go for walks, all romantic and sweet.” I offer. “Or go out for meals. To parks and gardens.”
“I like gardens.” He hugs me close to him. “Almost as much as I love you.”