Until Him: Book 3 - Until Then Series

by Victoria Ashlee

  Tristen stood, walking up to me. He wrapped his arms around me. I opposed his comfort, trying to escape, but his grip became tighter, and I fell apart. Whimpering cries left my mouth. I couldn’t do this anymore. I was trying to be strong, but I just wanted to fall apart.

  We sat on the sofa for a while, my head in his lap. I loved Stefan, but Tristen being there was helping more than I realized. I just needed someone to exist in the same room as me for a while. Someone that wasn’t trying to destroy me.

  Eventually he got up and prepped his guest room for me. Setting out towels, and placing an extra blanket on the bed. I followed him to the room. He had both lamps on each nightstand lit. The furniture was modern. It was so strange seeing Tristen in this atmosphere. His home. It’s where he’s most vulnerable.

  He walked up to me, placing his hands on my arms, as some form of affection to let me know that I’ll be ok.

  “Do you want a change of clothes?” He asked.

  “No one will judge you if you sleep in your ball gown.” I whispered.

  “What?”

  I looked up at him, “Nothing.” I walked around him, further into the room.

  “Let me know if you need anything.”

  I turned to look at him, “Thank you.”

  “Goodnight.” He told me with a sympathetic smile. I hate sympathetic smiles.

  I crawled up into a ball on top of the blankets. Remembering this is how Evelyn fell asleep tonight. No one will judge you if you sleep in your ball gown. I replayed in my head. Oh but they will always judge you.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Stefan

  I walked down the hall into the main room. It was fucking chaos. People were frantically trying to leave, but wanting to wait to see if the show wasn’t over yet. A woman passing in front of me started staring. I knew what was going through her mind.

  “Yes, my fucking father just got arrested. Are you going to tweet about it too?” I snapped.

  She gave me a baffled look, “How rude.”

  “What’s rude is you staring at me after what just happened. Now please get out of my parents house, or I’ll have the left over cops here force you.”

  She screwed up her face, grabbing a man near her dragging him towards the front door.

  I can’t believe people. I scanned the room for Sophia. She wasn’t here. Olivia was gone as well. I’m sure she had to follow my father. And where the hell is my fucking Nan?

  I walked through the room. The officers started to leave. I made my way towards my Mum’s room. When I reached it, I cracked the door open. She was sound asleep. I reached my hand around the door, turning the lock then shut it quietly. I didn’t want anyone disturbing her. She didn’t need this right now, although from what she said tonight, she might have known it was going to happen.

  I pulled my phone out to call Sophia, but I stopped myself. She had so much hate in her eyes when she left. I just wanted to make sure she was ok. I pressed call anyway. Straight to voicemail. My hand tightened around my phone. I couldn’t leave my Mum here with all of this going on, but I couldn’t let Sophia roam New York City at night alone.

  I scrolled through my contacts landing on Keira’s name. I knew she was with Leo’s grandmother, but maybe she had heard from her.

  “Hey Stef.” Keira answered chirpily.

  “Hey, have you talked to Sophia?”

  “No. Why do you sound so glum?”

  “Long night,” I huffed, as I watched the last officer leave the house. “My father got arrested tonight.”

  “What did you just say?” I heard the shock in her voice.

  “Yep.”

  She was silent for a few seconds, “Are you ok?”

  “I’m fine. I’m worried about Sophia.”

  “Wasn’t she with you?”

  “She was, but then Thomas...I don’t know. She’s just gone. She left in a hurry and I don’t know where she went.”

  “Stefan, you’re not telling me the whole truth.” I could hear the Mum tone she always gives me.

  “Look, I’d rather not talk about the details right now. My Mum’s passed out drunk in one room, my brother is bleeding in one of the others, my father got arrested and the girl I love is missing. Can you just tell me if you talk to her?”

  “Wait, why is Thomas bleeding?”

  I sat down on the sofa, “First Sophia hit him across the face with a stapler, then I punched him.”

  She let out a small laugh.

  “It’s not funny if you knew the context.”

  “But I don’t. So, it’s funny.”

  I huffed, “Just tell me if you talk to her.”

  “I will.”

  “Thank you.”

  “And Stefan…”

  “What?”

  “It’s gonna be ok. Your life is a mess, but it’s gonna be ok.”

  “My life is never ok. Bye Keira.”

  I hung up the phone, my eyes rising to meet my brothers as he appeared from the hallway. Suddenly it was just him and I in an empty room. Every last person had left. I could kill him right now and no one would bat an eye. I could say it was self defense. But I’m nothing like him. I don’t punish people to get what I want.

  “Because of you, Sophia is missing.” I snapped at him.

  “You should be thanking me. I saved you from the trouble she would continue to cause you.”

  “You really paid Mark to run Sophia’s Mum off the road?”

  He laughed, “I did nothing. Check all my bank statements. Not a dime came out of my accounts. I don’t even know who Mark is.”

  He was lying, I’m sure he covered all of his tracks. “You didn’t see Sophia when she found out. You almost destroyed her.”

  “She’s clearly fine now.”

  “You weren’t there when she was crying in the shower balled up on the floor. The sounds of her crying out will haunt me for the rest of my life, and now that I know it was all because of my sad excuse of a brother, engraves it in my soul.”

  “I did nothing.” He said matter of factly.

  “Get out of this house.” I growled.

  “Don’t worry, I’m leaving.”

  I leaned back into the sofa, “Don’t try to flee the country. I’m sure they have people watching you.”

  He started for the door, “You’re a smug little bitch you know that?”

  “I’m not the one who’s nervous.”

  He left through the doors without a glance back.

  I was astounded by the fact that neither my father, nor my brother cared to check on my Mum once. Selfish assholes are what they are. If it doesn’t involve them gaining something, then they don’t care.

  A little while later I received a text from Keira telling me that Sophia was safe. She told me to stop trying to call her, and that she needed time. I asked her where she was, but she wouldn’t tell me.

  I decided to stay for a few hours while my Mum slept. I laid on the sofa, surrounded by the leftover party mess. Everyone left in such a hurry that they set cups and food down on the closest surface they could find.

  My mind started to replay the entire night. Thomas fucking hired that prick Mark. It was eating me up inside. If Sophia had never met me, her Mum might still be alive. It’s my fault. All I’ve done to her is cause her pain. So much fucking pain. She’s so pure and I’m nothing but a fucking black hole to her.

  Now my father has been arrested. Although they have him in custody, he still has power. If he comes after her, if he finds out what I have done; I could never forgive myself if something happened to her.

  I can’t do this anymore. I love her too much.

  Sophia

  Last night I laid awake. I only slept for at most 2 hours. Tristen’s plush pillows had swallowed me up. My dress had spun sideways on my chest. Last night's makeup felt like ten pounds. The weird metal ceiling fan was circling slowly above me.

  I can’t change my Mom’s death. I can’t go back and bring her back to life. Thomas will never go to jail for
it. Stefan’s father was arrested. I hadn’t spoken to Stefan. He was probably going crazy, wondering if I was ok. I was afraid last night. I had to leave. I still loved Stefan with everything in me.

  I sighed, “I need to go see him.” I whispered to myself.

  Tristen was awake, drinking coffee on his sofa. He gave me a small smile when I appeared in my dress and wild hair that I had tried to tame.

  “How did you sleep?” He asked.

  “Fine.” I lied.

  “Are you sure you don’t want clothes?”

  I looked down at my dress, “No, I choose to do my walk of shame in true fashion.”

  “Do you want coffee?”

  “Now coffee is something I do want.”

  He laughed, standing to walk into the kitchen. He poured me a cup in a white mug. I noticed through his clear cabinets that everything was white.

  “Thank you.” I said as he handed me the mug.

  “What are you going to do today?”

  I puffed up my cheeks, blowing out, “I don’t know.”

  “You can stay longer if you need to.”

  I took a sip of the coffee, staring at him over the mug. “I really should get my life together today. First thing is to get out of this dress.”

  “Are you going to go home?”

  “I think so.”

  “Be careful, Soph. I don’t think Stefan will hurt you, but his family clearly is another story.”

  “I know.”

  He leaned on one of his barstools, “I’ve been thinking about something all morning. Why do you think Jess told you that code last night?”

  I set the mug down, “Honestly, I have no clue.”

  “It’s just strange you know? She hates you.”

  I shrugged my shoulders, “It doesn’t make sense to me either.”

  We talked for a few minutes until I finally got up the nerve to leave. He walked me to the elevator. We waited awkwardly as the elevator rose to his floor. The doors opened. We both looked at each other. Something happened between us during that moment. It wasn’t electricity, but a feeling of comfort.

  “You can hide out here whenever you need to.” He told me.

  “I hope I never need to hide out again.”

  He laughed, “Agreed.”

  “Thank you, Tris.” I said as I started to walk onto the elevator.

  He grabbed my hand stopping me, “I do genuinely care about you.”

  I squeezed his hand, “I know. My heart belongs somewhere else though. We both know that.”

  He gave me a sweet smile, “I know. Get home safe.”

  Tristen pushed his hands into his pockets. Our eyes stayed connected. The elevator doors closed, and I let out a loud exhale. I can’t ever catch a break.

  I waited in the lobby for my Uber to arrive. People coming and going from Tristen’s building were giving me strange stares. It’s not every day you see a girl in a ball gown awkwardly waiting in their billion dollar lobby. They probably thought I was a high end escort.

  The car pulled up and I jumped inside. The driver was nice enough not to bring attention to my attire. To be honest he’s probably seen worse.

  My mind kept trying to figure out what I was going to say to Stefan when I saw him. I didn’t know which Stefan I was going to be walking in too. He could be upset, or frantic with emotion. Nevertheless he was going to be the opposite of happy.

  His father was just arrested. He needed me, just like I needed him when my Mom died. I needed to show up for him. He never once left me alone. He let me scream at him, cry, give him the silent treatment, cry some more, and probably scream again. I’ve never had someone be there for me like he was. I can do this.

  The car pulled up to the brownstone that I called home. He smiled at me as I stepped out of the car.

  “Hey Miss.” The driver called out.

  I leaned down to look at him, “Yes?”

  “You’ll be ok. I have a feeling.”

  I gave him a strange look, “Thanks?”

  “Have a good day.” He smiled again.

  I shook my head as I turned towards the house. Strange man.

  My heart was pounding as I walked up the stairs. I stopped at the door, hesitating before I put my key into the lock. I can do this.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Sophia

  I walked through the front door to find Stefan sitting on the sofa. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him. He looked up at me; I could tell he had barely slept. His haunted eyes were holding mine.

  “You need to leave.” He said quietly.

  “What?” Confusion ran over me. He knew I was hurt, and I knew he was hurting too.

  “I don’t want you here.”

  That painful sick feeling returned in my stomach, “Why? Because I left last night?”

  “That and among other things.” He stood, his eyes were dark. This wasn’t the Stefan I knew.

  He knows that I went to Tristen’s, that horrible frog in my throat started to surface, “Is it because of where I went?”

  He furrowed his eyebrows, “Where did you go?”

  “I..” Shit he doesn’t know, but I can’t lie now, “I went to Tristen’s.”

  He clenched his jaw, looking away from me.

  “You do not get to act like this.” I snapped. “After what I found out last night, I had every right to leave.”

  “You don’t get it.” He said firmly.

  “Is it because of Tristen?! What don’t I get, Stefan?” My voice was pleading, as I stepped closer to him. His eyes held mine. I reached for him, but he pulled away. “I know about your father being arrested.” I finally said. “I know you’re upset.”

  “You have no idea how I feel.”

  “I know that this isn’t you. You don’t act like this.”

  “Sophia,” He stopped, taking in a breath. “I don’t think I love you anymore.”

  I was at a loss for words. Did he just say that? “You don’t love me anymore? Just like that. It was that easy for you?” I laughed from the shock, tears started to form.

  He looked away, turning on the TV, “It was that easy.”

  My mouth dropped open from how easily he was dismissing me. I felt my heart breaking, but I was so angry I couldn’t feel the pain yet. Nothing was making any sense.

  I stood in front of the TV, “No! This is not how this is going to end.” My voice started to rise. “Not like this. You don’t get to shut me out! You don’t get to cut me off like I meant nothing to you!”

  His jaw was still clenched as he watched me break down in front of him. The only emotion I saw on his face was anger. Hate was filling him quickly, and I felt as if it was because of me.

  “I’m better than that. I deserve better than that!” My voice strained. “You can’t tell me you don’t love me. I don’t believe it.”

  “I…” He stopped.

  “You what, Stefan?!”

  “I need you to leave is what I need!” He screamed, sending fear through me.

  I stepped back. His attention was taken by the TV. I turned in annoyance to see what he was distracted by. I was about to hit the TV with the closest thing I could grab.

  The news anchor spoke but it was as if I couldn’t hear the words. A square picture of a man who was all too familiar next to the anchor's face. The breaking news read across the bottom of the screen Business Mogul Henry Edwards arrested for embezzlement.

  My hand went to my gaping mouth, as I turned to Stefan. I was shocked; I didn’t realize that’s why Henry was arrested.

  He sat down on the sofa, running his fingers through his hair. He glanced at his watch, letting out a loud sigh. “I need you to leave.” He looked at me again. “You need to leave now.”

  A knock on the door made the color drain from his face. I stared at him, then looked towards the door. Another few knocks sounded off. I huffed as I walked towards it.

  “Don’t answer that!” He said quickly, but the door was already cracked open by the time he got the words o
ut.

  I was faced with three policemen and a well dressed man holding a piece of paper. Then it made sense and they said the words I knew they were going to say. I’ve seen the TV shows. I know the drill. This is when they rip people from their lives for things they have never done.

  “We have a warrant out for Stefan Edwards, please excuse us.” My stomach dropped, panic ran through me. I turned to look at Stefan, his face was calm. The men pushed through the front door. Stefan turned as if he was surrendering, they immediately cuffed him while stating him his rights. All I could hear was ringing in my ears.

  “He didn’t do anything! He didn’t do it!” I yelled but they ignored my plea. They turned Stefan to walk him out, our eyes met. “Stefan what is happening? You didn’t do anything! It’s your father, not you?! Where are you taking him?!” Tears were streaming down my face at this point.

  “Sophia, you will be ok.” He said with a look of anguish on his face. My heart sank at his words. Be ok?! He was being ripped from my grasp.

  They led him down the front steps into a blacked out SUV. The well dressed man looked up at me as he got in the passenger seat of the vehicle Stefan was in. I was clutching my chest. Then in a split second they drove off, leaving me standing there at the entrance of the brownstone.

  I couldn’t breathe, I felt lightheaded. I was trying to process what just happened. Was he part of his father’s money laundering? He couldn’t have been?

  After the car was well out of sight, I spun around rushing inside. I opened my clutch from last night, yanking out my phone. I dialed his Nan.

  It rang and rang and rang; going to voicemail every time I tried to call her. Nothing made sense. She basically disappeared last night after the ballet. No one was going to help him. She’s the only one who cares about him.