Sophia

 

 

"I'm sorry I had to go to the washroom again." Cadence moves to take her seat back at our table. "I think the baby is sitting on my bladder today."

"Is it uncomfortable?" I eye her stomach. "You're getting a lot bigger now."

"He's growing." She smiles gently. "I'm getting anxious to meet him. I want him to understand how much we love him as soon as he's born."

He'll know. How could he not? Cadence is going to be an incredible mother. She'll nurture that baby with all the love she has to give, and Tyler will do the same. Firi Monroe won't want for a thing and by the time he's in nursery school, he'll have a more sophisticated palate than most adults have.

"I think I may shoot a segment here." Cadence raises her water glass in the air. "Your idea was brilliant. I need to start using the platform I have for good."

"Good in what sense?" I tap the edge of my water glass against hers in a subtle toast to her new idea.

"It's not easy opening a restaurant in this city. Most shut down within a year and those that do manage to claw their way to semi-success, aren't guaranteed a thing. One of Tyler's friends from culinary school was forced to close two of his restaurants this past year."

"That's shitty."

"If I can bring people through the door of a restaurant that's newly opened, that can help them establish a regular customer base right out of the gate."

Her kindness is shining through right now. I saw it when she was talking to the manager before we ate our lunch.

"I think it's a great idea, Den."

"I'm going to go back and find the manager." She pushes the chair back to stand again. "I think it might be worthwhile for her to offer a discount on a menu item the day the segment airs. I want to run that by her."

"Go." I wave my hand at her. "I'm going to finish my dessert before I head back to work."

She doesn't hesitate before she takes off back in the direction of the kitchen. She's a woman on a mission that I think will give new restaurateurs a chance they'd otherwise never receive.

"Can I get you anything else?" Our server appears next to me

I look at her briefly before my eyes settle on a table behind her. "I'm good."

Her gaze follows mine as she turns to look too. "That's exactly who you think is it. That's the one and only Nicholas Wolf. I love his work and the fact that he's so easy on the eyes doesn't hurt either."

She's right. It doesn't hurt. What does hurt is the fact that the man I love told me earlier that he was heading to Boston today to do a pre-release interview for Action's Cause. He didn't tell me that he was having lunch in New York with Lilly Parker and a beautiful black-haired woman who right now is holding tightly to his hand.

 

***

 

"Nicholas," I say his name softly as I approach his table. "I thought you were headed to Boston today."

"Sophia?" He's on his feet instantly, obviously unsettled by my sudden appearance by his side. "What are you doing here?"

Catching you with your hand where it shouldn't be?

"Having lunch," I say calmly. I want to add that it should be obvious to him that I'm at Hibiscus because they serve food and I work a few blocks away. "What are you doing here?"
"I mentioned that I'd be meeting Lilly for lunch one day. It turns out today was the day."

But you said you wanted me to be there.

I shake off the all-consuming feelings of self-pity. That explains why he's here with Lilly, but the dark-haired woman who looks like she's salivating at the sight of his ass is still a mystery to me. "It's nice to see you again, Lilly."

"It's always good to see you, Sophia. I hear that you're heading your own collection now. You've come a long way since we worked together."

I have, and I'm proud of every single step I've taken since I first moved to New York. I turn my attention to the mystery woman and extend my hand to her. "I'm Sophia Reese."

"Del Burnette." Her hand lands in mine with no recognition of who I am in relation to Nicholas.

"Are you a friend of Lilly's?"

She shakes her head as a high pitched giggle bubbles from her throat. "I'm an old friend of Nick's."

By friend she means lover. I see it her body language. She had him, and now, she wants him again.

"I need to get back to work." I do. It's not a lie. I'm not going to let Nicholas or his lunch dates throw me off course. I have to present the final one of my design ideas to Sasha this afternoon. I have some last minute details to get in place before I do.

"I'll walk you out."

I turn at the sound of his voice. "I can find my own way out, Nicholas."

"I insist." His hand drops to my lower back.

I don't argue. I won't question him here. I can't. If I start in on that, I'll lose focus on what's important to me right now. That's my work. It's what I'll have when this falls apart, so I have to keep it together.

"Lilly called me last minute to ask if I'd meet her here." He speaks as we walk. "Del saw me across the room and sat down to catch up."

"You've slept with her?"

He stops us both as we near the entrance. "Yes, Sophia. It was a long time ago."

"She'd like it to happen again now."

"She would, but it won't."

I edge closer to the door, aware that I'm already late getting back to work. "You were holding her hand, Nicholas."

"I was."

"Can you explain why?"

He moves to allow a couple to brush past on their way out. "This isn't a conversation I want to have when you're in a rush."

"Is the answer that complicated?" I ask. "All I want to know is why you were holding hands."

"I'll explain, Sophia but I can see that you're in a hurry to get back to work."

I'm frustrated and I know that's apparent in my expression. My face is heating, my back tensing into countless tight knots. "You're making this more complicated than it needs to be. Just answer the question."

"It's not a cut and dry answer, Sophia." His tone lowers. "It's complex and I need time to explain my relationship with Del to you."

Relationship? The word hits me with the force of a slap in the face.

"When can you explain it?" I'm impatient and I don't give a fuck if he knows it or not. "You can come to see me at work when you're done here."

"I can't." He reaches for my hand but I pull back. "Sophia, please understand. There's nothing for you to worry about."

"Come to my office when you're done here and we'll talk," I repeat. "I want to talk about this today."

"I won't have time." He glances back over his shoulder. "I'm taking a late afternoon flight out to Boston. I'll be spending the night there."

"Why? I thought it was one interview. You said you'd be gone half a day at most."

"Cheyenne scheduled another tomorrow morning. Flying back and forth won't work. I'll stay the night and be back here tomorrow afternoon. I'll call you tonight and we can talk."

"No." I shake off the urge I have inside to stomp my feet and scream at him. "I don't want to talk on the phone. You said this is complex, so I want it to be in person. I'll meet you tomorrow night at your place."

"I love you, Sophia. I need you to understand that is a fact that will never change."

Words are words. Actions speak for themselves.

"Have a safe flight, Nicholas." I hold onto my words I know he wants to hear because his actions are making me question everything. "I'll see you tomorrow."