No second chances
Christmas morning, Eric got dressed early. He and his dad had exchanged gifts the night before. Earlier that week his dad gave him one of hiturhad"0">
His dad was spending the day with Tina and her family, the woman he started seeing over the summer. Eric was fine with that since he wanted to spend his last day here with Sofia.
Just as he was getting ready to walk out his dad stopped him. “Eric, before you go, I wanted to talk to you. Since Sofia will be with us tomorrow when I take you to the airport, this will probably be my last chance to talk before you go.”
Eric stared at him curiously. They’d already gone over everything he needed to know about the trip and his internship.
“I know we’ve talked about this before. You really believe that your relationship with Sofia is forever.” His dad shrugged. “Who knows, maybe it is. But I want you to promise me that you’re going to make the most of this trip to Spain. Don’t sit in your dorm room, texting Sofia the whole time.”
Eric nodded. His dad had always worried that he wasn’t living life like a young bachelor should be. But that wasn’t the life he wanted. He’d known Sofia was the one since they were kids. He had no interest in going out and partying it up, like his dad hoped he would.
“You never know what’s gonna happen in the future, son. I just don’t want you looking back at this when you’re older and regretting that what could’ve been one of the most exciting experiences of your life you spent sitting around thinking of a girl back home.”
“I know, Dad. I won’t.”
His dad frowned, obviously not buying into Eric’s feeble attempt to convince him. “I hadn’t told you because I wasn’t sure I could get the time off until just the other day, but I’m turning my trip to Madrid for New Year’s Eve into a mini vacation. Tina’s coming with me. We’ll be there for a week, so plan on doing some touring with us. I also got us all tickets to one of the biggest New Year’s parties out there. You’re gonna enjoy this trip whether you want to or not.”
After his conversation with his dad, Eric walked to Sofia’s house. He knew her house would be full of relatives, and the cul-de-sac she lived in would be packed with cars. He thought about what his dad said on his way over there. This definitely hadn’t been the first time his dad had suggested in not so many words that Eric might want to sow his wild oats a little before settling on just one girl. If Sofia knew, she’d be more than furious—she’d be hurt. But she had nothing to worry about. Eric was sure of one thing. The one thing he’d been sure of since he was a kid. For him, no one but Sofie would ever do.
***
Christmas was bittersweet. Eric kept reminding himself and Sofia that this wouldn’t be the end of the world. It was only going to be four weeks. She tried putting up a brave front, but the tears had come at the airport.
His dad gave them a moment alone, saying goodbye to Eric and telling Sofia he’d wait for her in the car.
Eric held Sofia close, holding back his own tears. He had no idea this would be so hard. He leaned his forehead against hers. “I’ll start texting you as soon as I take my seat taldiin the plane.”
Sofia strained to smile. “I miss you already.”
“You’re gonna be fine. We’re gonna be fine. No matter how far apart we are, Sofie, we’ll always have each other right here.” He pointed at her heart then at his own. “Four weeks is nothing. I’ll be back in no time.” He lifted her chin when she dropped her face a little. “We’ll figure out our schedules, and book the cruise as soon as I get back. My dad said the winter rates will be real cheap he can probably get us a good deal through one of his friends.”
He hated to let go, but he had to. Once on the plane, all he could think about was what happened the last time they were apart for a while. He’d long ago stopped worrying about being able to trust Sofia, and though he’d forgiven her, as much as he wanted to, he’d never forget.
With the distraction of arriving in a new country and getting settled in to his dorm, Eric’s anxiety about being away from Sofia had begun to decline. He’d all but stopped thinking about it. He was almost done unpacking when he got the text from Sofia.
I wanted to tell you before you heard from anyone else. Brandon is home for the holidays. But don’t worry, my brothers are already on it. Sal went and had a talk with him and I haven’t seen him since the day I found out he was here.
Eric felt the slow boil in his veins start up. He called her back. He didn’t give a shit about how expensive the call would be. This wasn’t a conversation he was having via text. She answered on the first ring. “So you saw him?”
“Only for a moment. He was here when Sarah and I got back from shopping the other day, talking to Angel outside.”
“Did you talk to him?” Eric gripped the phone. The memories and the thought of Sofia kissing Brandon were back like a slap.
“He said hi and he asked how I’d been then he left, and I came inside. Sal told both Angel and Alex, and well, you can imagine how they reacted. Trust me, Brandon won’t be coming around here anymore. Not if he values his life.”
“Why hadn’t you told me?”
Eric hated that Sofia had brought any doubt into their relationship. Before this happened, he would’ve never questioned anything she did or said. He told himself once he decided he would forgive her, that he’d let it go. He didn’t want to dwell on it forever, but he couldn’t help feeling resentful.
“Sal told me not to until you left. He was worried you might do something and get yourself in trouble. Eric, please don’t be mad.”
“I’m not,” he lied.
There was a short silence, then she asked. “Isn’t this call gonna be really expensive?”
Glad she brought it up, not because he cared about the money, but because he suddenly didn’t want to talk to her anymore. “Yeah, it is. I’ll text you later.”
“Eric…”
“What?” He didn’t even try to hide the incredible annoyance he was feeling at that moment.
“Don’t be mad at me… please?”
He pinched the rim of his nose and closed his eyes. “I’m not, Sof. It’s just… I gotta go.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
In all the time he’d been saying those words, this was the first time it felt forced. He knew it was only because he was so mad, but he didn’t like the feeling at all.
***
Not wanting to even chance it, Sofia went back to running at the beach. She’d do it until she knew Brandon was gone. Alex didn’t have to warn her, but he had, anyway, that if he saw Brandon so much as talk to her he’d beat his ass.
All three of her brothers were convinced he’d planned the whole thing, coercing her back to his place just to spite them all, including Eric. Of course, it made her feel like a complete idiot. If their theory held any merit, that would make her the pawn in the middle of this lifelong clash between her brothers and Brandon. The naive pawn that fell for Brandon’s plan hook, line, and sinker.
Sofia still didn’t believe Brandon had planned it, but she was done arguing with her brothers. It wasn’t like it mattered, anyhow. No matter what they thought, any type of friendship with Brandon was out of the question—a fact she was more than willing to accept. She only wished he didn’t live so close. Any time he’d be home there would be that tension between her and Eric. That same undeniable tension she’d felt over the phone when she told him about Brandon being home.
Eric had been gone less than a week, and Sofia was already missing him terribly. He hadn’t called her since that first day, but they texted everyday. He sent her pictures of the different places he visited and promised they’d go back together and visit some day.
She pulled into the parking space at the beach where she was getting ready to take her run and admired the latest pictures Eric had sent her. They were of an old marketplace he said he’d visited the day before. It looked a lot like the market places in Mexico. Even resembled Old Town San Diego, with the exception of the cobblestone streets and the European feel of the buildings just behind the marketplace.
Sofia noticed a car pull into the parking space next to hers at the same time she had and someone got out. But it wasn’t until she got out of her car that she realized it was Brandon.
“Look.” He held up a hand before she could say anything. “I know I’m supposed to stay away from you. But I just wanted to talk to you one last time. I’ll stay on this side of the car and you can stay on that side.”
She didn’t want him to notice how nervous his presence made her. Her heart raced, but it wasn’t like when her heart had raced from being near him before. It was out of fear. Fear of what her brothers would do if they found out he was here. “Did you follow me?”
“Sofia, I had to. It’s been killing me to know if you really believe what your brothers are saying, that I planned the whole thing. Because I swear to you, I didn’t.”
The fact that he followed her alone wou helanld be enough to make Alex go after him. He was just itching for a reason to rip Brandon apart. Sofia stared at him, choosing her words very carefully, because she knew she’d be repeating them to Eric later. “I believe you, Brandon. But what happened was wrong. We both knew it, and we did it anyway. Eric knows. I told him.”
He kept a deadpan expression. Sofia almost expected him to smirk like he had in the past. “What did he say?”
“He was mad, Brandon… and hurt.” God would she be regretting that slip for the rest of her life? “And rightfully so, but he’s over it now. I just can’t be around you. When he finds out you followed me here, he’s gonna be pissed.”
“So don’t tell him.” Brandon shook his head. “Why would you tell him about the kiss in the first place?”
“I had to. Eric and I have always been honest with each other about everything. It didn’t feel right to keep something like that from him.” She put her car key in her pocket and connected the earphones to her phone. This conversation was over.
“I’ve always known you were special, Sof.”
Sofia glanced up at him. He was smiling. The moment with him in his room came to her, the things he’s said to her and she hadn’t protested. The last thing she was feeling right now was special.
“You think if I talk to Eric—you know, apologize? Maybe your brothers would feel a little differently? I’d hate for things to end between us like this.”
Sofia shook her head. “The damage is done, Brandon. We had a chance to be friends, and we blew it. Eric was actually okay with me running with you until…” She didn’t even want to think about it anymore. “You better go, Brandon. My brothers won’t be happy when they hear about this. Neither will Eric.”
“I really wish you’d reconsider letting me talk to Eric. Maybe if I start with your brothers. Sal… well, he was a little too pissed for me to talk to the day he came over, but he’s probably calmed down by now.”
That surprised Sofia, but if Sal was too pissed, she could only imagine how Angel and Alex would react to Brandon trying to convince them to let him come around her.
“No, Brandon. It’s really not a good idea. I promise you. It would probably only make things worse.”
His wounded expression made her feel bad. She felt for him. Even if her brothers and Eric would never believe it, she knew he was a good guy deep inside. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, me too.”
With her run shot, she had to stop after only ten minutes. A knot had formed in her stomach and she couldn’t help thinking about the conversation she was going to have with Eric. Even worse, she wondered if she should tell Alex and Angel at all. There was no holding those two back when enraged, and she knew they would be.
She called Sal as soon as she got in the car. He was the only one who’d be calm enough to give her some sound advice.
“No, don’t tell them,” was his immediate answer to her question.
Sofia breathed a sigh of relief. “I’d hold off on telling Eric, too. Unless you think he’s not gonna be mad. You’ll probably ruin his New Year’s Eve. When I get home tomorrow, I’ll talk to Alex and Angel. But yd A toou did the right thing, Sofie. That guy is, and always has been, bad news. He has no business trying to hang around you. I just hope he’s not stupid enough to try to talk to Alex or Angel before I get home.”
Sofia hoped so to. She took Sal’s advice and decided she’d wait until after New Year’s Eve to tell Eric.
***
Eric’s dad and Tina were arriving the morning of New Year’s Eve. Both school and the company he was interning at were closed for the holiday. The next few days he’d be free to spend with his dad and Tina. He wasn’t exactly looking forward to it. He’d only been around her a few times. It wasn’t that she was so young. His dad had always stayed very physically fit. He looked damn good for his age, so the age difference wasn’t that obvious. She was just the first woman his dad had ever brought home for Eric to meet. It was still awkward.
He was meeting them for breakfast in the restaurant in the hotel they were staying. The place was over the top, ritzy, but he expected nothing less from his dad. He walked around in the lobby where his dad said he’d meet him. The artwork on the walls was incredible. He was taking one in when he heard his name.
He turned to see his dad with Tina and a girl, approaching him. His dad hugged him when he was close enough and smiled big. “So how you liking it so far?”
Eric nodded, feeling a little self-conscious. “It’s been amazing.”
His dad seemed pleased, smiling even bigger. “Good, I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” He turned to Tina and the girl. “You’ve met Tina.”
Eric leaned over and shook her hand. “Yeah, hey, Tina. Nice to see you again.”
Tina greeted him back with that somewhat timid smile he remembered from the first time he met her.
“And this is Tina’s youngest sister, Jennifer.” Eric was just reaching his hand over to shake Jennifer’s when his dad added, “She’s your age.” He turned back to Jennifer, “Eric just turned twenty-one this year also.”
Jennifer smiled at him, but not quite as timidly as her older sister. Both sisters shared the same red hair, but unlike Tina’s straight shorter do, Jennifer’s hair hung in long, tight curls. It was the first thing he’d noticed when he saw them walking to him. If he had to describe her in word, it would be bright. From her hair, to her light blue eyes, right down to her whiter-than-white teeth, even her freckles were bright.
“Eric maybe you could show Jennifer some of the places the younger crowds frequent while we’re here.”
Eric shot his dad a look, but knowing both sisters eyes were watching, it wasn’t quite as severe as he wanted it to be. “I have school and the internship—”
“I’m sure you can find some time.” His dad dismissed his excuses.
All through breakfast, his dad made subtle remarks about how much Eric and Jennifer had in common. It was so obvious what he was doing. Ever since his dad saw him so upset that summer, he’d been pushing more than ever, but Eric couldn’t believe he’d take it this far.
He had to admit Jennifer was something to look at. Though Sofia had thh Selie most amazingly sexy eyes, he couldn’t help being distracted with Jennifer’s long auburn lashes. She’d even caught him looking once and smiled. Just because she was attractive didn’t mean Eric had an iota of interest in her, the way he knew his dad was hoping.
After yet another mention of how Eric and Jennifer were both computer whizzes, Eric finally nudged his dads knee. His dad just smiled and started telling Jennifer about the time Eric fixed his teacher’s computer in the sixth grade. Exasperated didn’t even begin to describe what he felt. This was going to be a long week.