Adrian
This isa night for the history books. I never thought I'd be having fun hanging out with Sophia's family. Tom has been asking about my tattoos all night, and Lisa has fretted over me and her kids for the last hour. Our hands have been filled with either drinks or food, and I'm going to have to start working out if she keeps feeding me.
“Are you ready to go?” Sophia jumps on my back. Her sundress flies up with the movement. I scoot back until the backs of our legs hit the table, and she’s seated on it. I can’t have Jay’s friends attempting to catch a peek at what is underneath. I’d be shocked if they didn’t grow up with crushes on her throughout their friendship with Jay. I know I would have.
“Yep,” I spin until we’re face to face. “I just need to grab my phone charger and tell Tom and Lisa goodbye.”
She pats my chest, “And you were worried tonight would be a disaster.” She leans back until she holds all of her weight on her elbows. “I think they may actually like you better than they do me.”
“Did you want me to hold in my awesome?” I tower over her, noses almost touching. “Just know that nobody likes you as much as I do right this minute.”
I know the exact moment she feels my growing erection against her. Her squeal is loud and piercing. Jay throws his hands over his ears and glares at us in disgust. “You realize people eat there, right? Please don't do anything on that table. I’m begging you.” He almost slides to his knees to beg.
Sophia opens her mouth to torture her baby brother, but her lips are met by my finger. “Shhhh. Leave him be. He’s not going back to your place with us is he?”
Eyes wide, guessing at what my plans might include, she shakes her head. “No, he’s crashing here until he goes back to school on Sunday. I just have to meet them for breakfast that morning before he goes.”
“Do you want to go to your place or mine?” Her apartment feels homier than mine, but I want her in my bed.
Her mouth forms a tiny “oh”. From shock or excitement, I have no clue. But… I can't wait to find out. She jumps up and knocks me back. Her hand is in mine before I've had a chance to find my feet, and I'm whirled around toward the side gate. "Wait, Sophia. I still have to tell your parents goodbye."
"Really?" She waves her hand from her head to her feet. "Because most guys wouldn't be thinking about their girlfriend’s parents as they're being dragged to the car."
She has a point, and she is clearly the one in charge. I’ll follow her wherever she leads me. "I guess I'm inviting myself to breakfast on Sunday. Do you have a phone charger I can use until then?”
A cord appears out of nowhere from her purse. “I’ve got you covered,” she shoves it back in the tiny bag without issue.
I could dwell on the magic that is a woman’s purse for hours. How they fit so many things in such a small area. Sophia is pulling me along behind her, and I follow her like a puppy on a leash, not truly knowing how this night is going to end. If I’m lucky, it will be wrapped around her.
* * *
We are rushing up the stairs to my apartment. We’re tripping over each other’s feet, racing to see who can get there first. Of course, it will be me because she's never been here. She doesn’t know which floor I’m on, or the door that leads to my not so humble abode, and I have the key. Her fingers are clasped in mine when we reach my apartment. Warm kisses pepper my cheek, my neck, any available surface she can reach. The keys slip from my shaking hand before I can put it in the keyhole. Sophia puts me on edge, in a good way, and I don’t know if I possess the control to take my time once we’re behind closed doors. "If you keep doing that, it's only going to take longer until we are inside. "
"You mean, until you’re inside," she's giggling. Happiness looks good on her, and I hope I can be the one that continues to put that smile on her face. Ridiculous innuendos or not.
"How much have you had to drink?" I don't want to offend her, but she's not normally this free with her words. Innocent flirting is more her style. This…while nice is something altogether new.
She bends down to grab the keys at the same time I do. Pain shoots from the top of my head, and she’s rubbing hers. "Would you believe me if I said none?"
"Probably not." It's just not possible. Even when we went out for drinks last week she held on to her propriety. Her head was still on straight even after two beers. Alcohol was flowing freely at the going away party. Jay, and his friends, were sneaking it every chance they could. Tom and Lisa knew, though. It’s why all his friends had to stay at their house. They didn’t want to be responsible for anything that might happen afterward.
"Then you," she taps my nose with her pointer finger, as if I’m a small child that needs adoration. "Would be correct."
I put the key in the door knob, but I don't turn it. Not yet. "Are you sure you want to do this tonight? We can always go back to the car and I drive you home."
She winces at my question, lip quivering. "Do you not want me?" Shit she’s going to cry. I’ve never seen her truly tipsy and I have a sneaking suspicion she’s an emotional drunk. It’s time to see just how far the emotion pendulum swings.
I pull my hand away from the door knob, key still sticking out from it, and frame Sophia's face with both of my hands. "Of course, I want you. I have wanted you for a lot longer than you think. Before I even knew that I might want to date you.” Her skin is soft as I stroke it with my thumb, doing what I can to ease her fears.
Worry is hidden within her eyes, warring with the words that came out of my mouth. I hate that prick for making her think she’s not enough. That she’s not beautiful. I will do everything I can to make sure she knows how much I adore her.
“Let’s go inside.” She turns the key, the sharp click of the lock releasing thunderous in this silent hallway. Pushing the door open wider, she walks in before me. Anticipation roars through my body. Not only for what might come to fruition tonight, but also for what it could mean for our future.
I'm not sure what Sophia expected my house to look like, but this definitely isn't it. She’s squinting her eyes and tapping her fingers against her leg. "Wow." She looks at me then back at the living room. "It's very… clean and sleek."
Well, that's one way to put it. "I'm rarely ever home since I'm always at the shop. And, I like to think of it as modern."
She nods her head. I have a feeling she's placating me because she doesn't want to hurt my feelings. "It is. It just doesn't seem like you. Don't get me wrong," she waves her hands in the air trying to take the words back. "I like it. But I envisioned your space being more masculine and homey."