Sophie
Sophie clutched her head in her hands as the airplane hit another rough bit of turbulence. The same storm that had delayed her parents’ flight had moved East and it felt like they were flying right through the heart of it. The flight from D.C. back to New York had been rough the whole way, but it wasn’t just because of the jostling that shook the plane every few minutes.
She snuck a sideways glance at Cayden. He was seated across the aisle from her this time, well within talking distance but he was slouched down in the seat with his sunglasses pulled low over eyes Sophie assumed were shut. It was hard to tell behind the jet-black lenses.
Doubt and confusion twined together to settle hard and uncomfortable in the pit of her stomach. A part of her knew she needed space away from Cayden. Especially after their last two nights together. But even though logically she knew she’d be better off putting some distance between them, all the rest of her wanted was to be asleep next to him in the hotel bed with his arm curled around her.
It was ridiculous. And unlike her. And stupid, Sophie added silently while she continued to shoot him surreptitious glances. Don’t forget about stupid. She knew Cayden. She knew that the nights they spent together didn’t mean anything to him. And it shouldn’t mean anything to me either. I know better than that.
But no matter how many times she’d told herself that over the past few hours, she still couldn’t quite make herself believe it. And that scared the hell out of her. The last thing she needed in her life was to fall for another guy who didn’t care about her. Been there, done that, not interested.
After everything that had happened with Peter, it had taken her over a year to get her life back together and even now it still hurt her whenever she thought about it. She knew now that he hadn’t loved her, not really. Neither does Cayden, an inner voice whispered from deep inside her and Sophie nearly snorted. Yeah, no shit. But I don’t love him either.
It was just the intense physical connection between them that had butterflies racing around her middle and her breath catching whenever she caught sight of him. It was just the sex, Sophie tried to convince herself. That was all. Just the really, really good sex.
But then this morning he’d been like a different person altogether. Distant, cold, he’d barely said more than a handful of words to her, preferring instead to brood to himself and stare moodily at nothing. Not that she knew what to say to him anyway. This whole thing had her tied up in knots and Sophie had no idea where to even begin getting untangled.
She glanced over at him again, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose before forcing herself to turn back to the magazine open on the tray in front of her. She hadn’t been able to read a single word the entire flight. Partially because of the pounding ache in her head thanks to the riots but she couldn’t seem to keep her thoughts focused on anything. Well, anything except Cayden. He had invaded her mind over and over throughout the morning.
It didn’t seem to matter though. No matter how many times she tried to figure out her own emotions she just got even more confused. She knew it was mistake to dwell on it, on him. Sophie had known from the beginning that it would only be casual between them. She had no doubt he was already thinking about his next conquest. Then why did that thought sting so badly?
Sophie was saved from having to answer that question when the airplane hit another patch of turbulence. She gasped as the pain in her head went off like a jackhammer right behind her eyes and she reached one hand up to rub at her temple but a soft touch stopped her.
Sophie’s startled gaze jumped over to Cayden’s. She could just make out his intense look behind the dark sunglasses as he nodded towards her head.
“Your stitches.” He said softly, his voice gruff and then he let go of her arm as quickly as he’d reached out. Sophie could still feel his touch, though, sending a wave of chills shivering down her spine.
It was the first words she’d heard him say all morning and something inside her eased at the sound. Tension that she hadn’t even realized was there until it was gone. But it was back nearly as quickly as Cayden turned away once more, going back to his silent brooding as the plane began to descend.
“I’m almost home,” Sophie muttered to herself. I’m almost home, and then I can focus on getting back to work and put this whole weekend behind me. The riots, the trip to the hospital, and especially Cayden Ray.
In a way, it was a good thing that Cayden had been quiet. Sophie didn’t want to bring up the topic any more than he did. They had a few nights of fun together and that was it, right? She didn’t want anything else from him and she sure as hell knew better to expect anything else.
Sophie nodded to herself as she tried to ignore the agony stabbing through her head. They had a little fun, and they would both move on. We work together, Sophie thought, forcing herself to be logical. There’s no way anything would ever work between us. We go back to being co-workers and arch enemies and forget that there was ever anything else.
As the plane finally landed, Sophie forced herself to do just that. Just be professional, she told herself as she slowly got to her feet. She had her carry-on bag clutched tight in one fist as she waited for her turn to disembark and Sophie kept her gaze trained forward as she did. She wouldn’t look over at him. No matter what, she would be professional.
Sophie repeated that over and over to herself as they walked toward the baggage claim area, using it like a mantra to hold back the conflicting emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. I’m a professional. We’re just two co-workers coming home from a business trip. Nothing more. Professional. Professional-.
Sophie’s litany was halted mid-stream as she spotted a familiar pixie-like face beaming at her through the crowd of travelers waiting to get their luggage.
“Blair?” Sophie asked as she drew near to her friend. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at the paper?” Her voice was laced with confusion but Blair just shrugged nonchalantly before answering.
“I got the day off,” Blair answered with a grin that had gotten her and Sophie both into plenty of trouble over the years. “I’m supposed to stay with you until your parents get here.”
“They aren’t going to get in until later tonight, Blair.” Sophie tried to argue but her friend just shrugged again.
“Sorry, Soph. Harry’s orders. I’m supposed to stick to your side like glue.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Sophie muttered irritably under her breath.
“I know you don’t, sweetie,” Blair said as she threw an arm around her shoulder, “I’m just here to help. Which one’s your suitcase, Soph? I’ll grab it.”
Sophie’s reluctance quickly caved under Blair’s inimitable drive and her own headache which seemed to be actually trying to split her skull apart now. She nodded to one bag that was rolling around the turn style.
“It’s that one. The light blue one.”
“Don’t worry. I got it.” Blair shot her a quick-fire grin before leaping into the fray, returning a few moments later with her suitcase in tow and for a moment she felt a surge of gratitude that her friend was there.
Sophie had just opened her mouth to tell Blair just how grateful she was when a large shadow fell over her. She knew by the electric current suddenly charging in the air who it was before she turned around.
“Cayden, how’s it going?” Blair said, giving Sophie a questioning look before turning back to him, “Thank you for saving our dear Sophie. She was lucky you were there when everything turned crazy at the protest.”
Sophie glanced over at Cayden in time to see him give a casual shrug, looking anywhere but at her.
“It was nothing,” He finally said when it became clear that Blair was waiting for an answer. “I got to go.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth he was turning on his heel and walking away, leaving both of them staring at his back in confusion. Well, Blair was probably confused. Sophie had a pretty damned good idea why he’d been acting like that all morning but she wasn’t about to tell her friend.
“What the hell was that about?” Blair asked aloud after a moment and Sophie forced herself to give a casual shrug. Her head was pounding and she was exhausted. The last thing she wanted to do was try and explain what had happened between them in D.C.
“My head is killing me, Blair. Can we just go to my apartment?” Sophie hated the fragile tone in her voice but it worked. Her friend immediately hailed them a cab and a few moments later they were leaving the airport, and Cayden Ray, behind.