My head snaps back, "Who are you calling old? You’re only as old as you feel, and I still feel like I'm in my teens." I waggle my eyebrows at Sophia, and she’s barely holding in her laughter.
She opens her mouth, no doubt to rub our victory in a little bit more, when her phone rings. Pulling it out of her back pocket she checks the screen and all the color drains from her face. She accepts the call and walks away from us trying to find a quiet place to take it. I'm curious what the call is about, and why it has her so shaken up. I don't think I earned the right to ask yet, soon though.
Sophia shakes her head as she walks toward us. Her eyes hold a hint of fear and anger, and whatever news she just received isn't what she was hoping for. Jay rushes over to her before she makes it back and they share a heated argument in whispers. He nods his head toward me, and my stomach sinks. Maybe he's trying to warn her off of me again despite what she wants.
"Is everything okay?" I ask as she steps beside me and leans into my side. The fact that she is near me and Jay isn't saying anything is enough to wipe my fears away. At least for now.
Sighing she puts her head on my shoulder, "Yeah. I just got some news that I'm not all that thrilled about."
"Can I help with anything?" Sophia's already shaking her head no before the question is fully out of my mouth.
"There isn't really anything you can do." She's pulling away from me and my heart pounds at the lack of contact. Wondering if she’s going to let go completely. Ugh, I hate this. It’s been well over a year since I ended things with Miranda, and my insecurities of something better pulling attention away from the relationship still plague me.
Jay opens his mouth and Sophia glares at him. He doesn't pay her any attention, "Actually, there is."
"Why do I get the feeling there's something you're not telling me?" If she is in some sort of danger, and it sounds like she might be, I'll do anything I can to protect her. I can't do that unless she tells me what is going on, though.
"Soph, now is probably a good time to tell him." Jay is facing his sister, eyes pleading for her to open up to me. "You dealt with it alone last time. You don't have to do it again." He points toward me, as if I’m some sort of saving grace for her.
I am completely lost now, and I’m hoping one of them can clear things up for me. As much as I want to see where things go with Sophia, I also don't want to be mixed up in some unknown drama. "Can either of you explain to me what exactly is going on?" I don’t mean to sound exasperated, but I can’t help it. They are talking around something and I don’t like being left in the dark.
"This isn't really a place I want to discuss it." Sophia's eyes are on mine, asking for understanding. "Why don't we grab a pizza to go because J still owes us, and I will tell you everything."
She has a point, I guess. There are people everywhere in this place, and if it is something extremely personal, standing outside of a laser tag room probably isn't the best location.
"I can respect that," I put her fear at ease. "But I want to know everything, no withholding information.”
“Deal.” She grabs my hand and shakes it. Even when she’s completely freaking out, she manages to do something so innocent, it makes me laugh.
* * *
“Could you drive any slower?” Jay whines from the back seat. “I’m hungry, and if we don’t get home soon, I’m going to eat it straight out of the box. Nasty ass pineapple or not.”
“So, you think the pineapple thing is weird too?” We’re in Sophia’s car since I rode my bike to her apartment. How she slept through the noise of that thing is beyond me. He’s not wrong about her driving, though. If I had to guess, she’s trying to take as long as possible to get back to her apartment to avoid telling me what’s happening with her. It’s not going to work. I can be very persistent.
“Y’all really shouldn’t knock the pineapple until you’ve tried it.” She glances at her brother in the rearview mirror. “It’s life changing.”
“So is skydiving,” Jay snorts, “but you don’t see me strapping a tiny piece of fabric onto my body and jumping out of a perfectly good plane.”
My stomach grumbles, and I’m with Jay on her needing to speed up. “I’ve seen you drive, Sophia. I know you can go faster than this, and I’m getting… what did Charleigh call it? Oh, yeah, hangry.” I point to my stomach, emphasizing my point.
“Fine.” She rolls her eyes. She steps on the gas pedal harder and turns up the radio to block out mine and Jay’s complaining.