Sophia

 

 

I stare at the soft blanket in Cadence's hands. It's the first gift I've given her for Firi. She hasn't said one word since I handed it to her. I'm beginning to wonder if I should have gone to the store she's registered at and chosen something that she actually needs instead of this.

"You don't like it," I say. It's not a question. I don't want to give her an out. I'd rather just state the obvious so we can move on.

She shakes her head slightly.

I tug at the corner of the blanket. "I'll get you something else, Den. I'm sorry. I just thought you'd like this. Obviously, I suck at making things for a baby."

"Don't." Her voice cracks. "Don't take it back."

My best friend rarely wears her heart on her sleeve, but right now she is. I recognize the quake in her tone.

"I love it," she continues. "I can't believe you'd do this for me."

I suck in a sharp breath. I don't want to cry. If I do, I already know that my tears of joy for Cadence will morph into something else quickly. I've been on the precipice of an emotional meltdown for days and I'm not about to let it happen right now. "I wanted to make something special for the baby."

"You didn't throw out my old baby clothes." Her hand runs over one of the patterned rectangles that make up the blanket's border. "This is that pink dress I told you I wore when I was three-years-old."

It is. When we were still living together, Cadence's mom had come for a visit along with a trunk full of keepsakes from when Den was a kid. Inside were old report cards, a catcher's mitt and a bag filled with clothing that Cadence wore when she was an infant and toddler.

Many of the pieces were too worn to save for another generation, so Cadence made the decision to toss them in the trash. I told her I'd take the bag down to the dumpster, but I kept it. I hid it in the back of my closet because to me they were treasures that I knew I'd eventually make use of. I had no idea back then that many of the pieces I salvaged from her old sleepers, dresses, and T-shirts would become a blanket for her first child.

"I know there's a lot of pink in it." I laugh. "But I added some odds and ends I had to make it at least a little more masculine."

"It's everything, Soph." She reaches for my hand. "You don't know how perfect this is. I can't wait to show my mom."

She won't have to wait long. I spoke to her mom just this morning about her surprise visit next week. She hasn't seen Cadence since she found out she was pregnant and now that the nursery is almost complete, it's the perfect time for Firi's grandma to come to town.

"I'm glad you like the blanket." I glance down at my watch. "I made a reservation for us at seven. You're sure you're not too tired for our dinner?"

She gingerly lays the blanket across the back of her couch. "My best friend is the lead designer on what is going to be the fashion line everyone is talking about this fall. That calls for a celebration. I'm not bailing on you, Sophia."

"You're just excited to see Tyler." I slip into my coat.

"I didn't choose Nova for our celebration dinner because of my fiancé." She picks up her coat from where she slung it over a chair. "I chose it because the food is the best in the city."

She's right about that. "I'm going to have the striped sea bass."

"You should look at the new menu before you decide."

"I don't need to." I slip my arm around her waist. "It's my favorite meal and I'm going to enjoy it with my favorite person in the world."

She wraps her arms around me. "I love you, Soph. I've never been more proud of anyone. By this time next year, everyone is going to know exactly who Sophia Reese is."

 

***

"Sophia?"

His voice sends a shiver down my spine. I haven't heard it since that night at Hibiscus. I've missed its textured nuances. I've missed him.

I turn on my heel. He's less than a foot behind me. "Nicholas."

"I saw you leaving Nova with Cadence." His gaze jerks from my face to my hands. "I had dinner at a place down the block from there."

I don't ask who he had dinner with because it doesn't matter anymore. Nothing matters except the fact that he called me a thief.

"I don't think we should be talking to each other." I fish in my purse for my phone.  "I have a lawyer. I can give you her number. I think you should be talking to her."

"Why would I need to talk to your lawyer?"

I scan the contact list of my phone, searching for Zoe's number. "I have the right to remain silent."

He huffs out a laugh. "I'm not arresting you."

"I know. You're suing me. My lawyer would tell me not to talk to you," I shoot back, annoyed that he's finding humor in this.

"Your lawyer doesn't know what I want to say to you," he says smoothly.

I roll my eyes. "It doesn't matter what you want to say; you need to say it to my lawyer. That's not hard to understand, Nicholas. Her name is Zoe Beck. Her number is…"

"I don't want her number." He steps even closer. He's so close that I can smell the scent of his skin. "I want to tell you that I'm sorry. I need to tell you I regret everything I said to you that night and I want you to understand that I'll do whatever it takes to make this up to you."