A knock on the door saved me from my talking boxes. I sighed closing the closet doors, and made my way to the front door. I swung the door open, to find Tristen standing in front of me.
“Oh hi, I thought you were the Chinese food.”
He laughed, “Nope, just me.” He was weirdly calm, and pleasant. The last time I saw him was last weekend after the charity dinner.
“Would you like to come in?”
“Sure.”
I followed him into the living room, “So, what’s up?”
“I wanted to apologize for how my Mother acted the other night.”
“It’s fine. Actually it wasn’t fine. That’s just my arbitrary response, because I don’t know what to say, but thank you for apologizing.”
He noticed my clothes folded on top of my bed, “Are you going somewhere?”
I scratched the back of my head, looking away from him, “I was planning on talking to you this week.”
He leaned on the kitchen counter, “About what?”
“I’m moving out.”
“Is this because of the other night? I’m here trying to apologize.”
I shook my head, “No it’s not that. I just need to figure myself out.”
“You can’t do that here?”
I gave him a sympathetic smile, I hate sympathetic smiles, “I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Just because I told you that we would never work out, doesn’t mean I stopped caring about you.”
“I know, but you don’t have to move.”
“I’m trying to do things the right way, and I need a break from the world you live in.”
He twisted his mouth to the corner, “Where are you going to go?”
“I found a place in Brooklyn.”
“You already found a place? So much for giving me a heads up.”
I laughed, “It’s not like you were renting this place before I showed up. You’re not hurting for money.”
He shrugged his shoulders, “This is true, but it was nice having someone across the hall that I could talk to.”
I sighed, “Yeah, I’ll miss talking to you too.”
“How did you find a place so fast?”
“Kevin helped me go look today.”
“And you just chose that easily? After one day of looking?”
I laughed, “I’m a pretty easy girl to please. I don’t need shiny things to make me happy. Plus this place has garlic bread downstairs.”
“Garlic bread?”
“Yeah, it’s above an Italian restaurant.”
“I see.” He tapped his lips with his index finger. “When are you leaving?”
“Next weekend is when he said I could move in.”
“You’re making me sad, Soph.”
I leaned on the counter, “You’ll find another person to occupy your time with. Don’t be sad.”
“You make me sound like a man whore.”
I laughed, “No, you said that. Not me. I don’t think you’re a man whore. I think girls just find you charming.”
He shot me a look, “You didn’t.”
“That’s not fair. I was previously spoken for.”
“And are you now?”
My mouth turned into a flat line, “Nope. I’m just Sophia this time around. No matter what my little sad heart feels.”
He studied me for a moment, “I think you’re much braver than the people in the world as you call it that I live in. Your values are much more pure, and I admire you for that.”
I placed my hand on top of his, “Tris, you’ll find your leading lady. It just wasn’t me.”
A warm smile formed on his face, “Come here,” He brought me into a hug. “I’m going to miss you, and when you’re ready to be friends, I’d like to try that garlic bread under your apartment.”
“That sounds really weird when you say it out loud, but I will let you know when I’m ready.” I squeezed him tight.
A knock on the door, made us break away.
“Now that has to be the Chinese food.” I walked over to open the door. The delivery person handed me the food, and I signed the receipt. Then they disappeared down the hall.
Trsiten walked up to the door, as I set the food on the counter, “I’m going to head back to my place, enjoy your food.”
“Bye, Tris.” I waved, and then the door shut.
It was as if I was literally closing a door on a long and tough chapter of my life. I opened the bag and set out the food on the coffee table. I sat there eating my rice, while I watched a show on my laptop. My body was relaxing for the first time in a long time. I didn’t have a worry in the world. I have become stronger than I ever thought possible.
Chapter Thirty Five
Sophia
A week later I moved into my new apartment. Tristen offered to help me move, but Kevin and I managed it somehow by renting a small car for the day. The sight of Kevin driving through the city was very entertaining to say the least.
I didn’t take any of the furniture from Trsiten’s house, even though he tried to get me to take it. I bought an air mattress and placed it in the nook of the room. The brown boxes were stacked up against the far wall. My first stop in my new neighborhood was Keira’s parents Pizza restaurant. They immediately recognized me and gave me a slice to go on the house. I always wondered why they kept their restaurant, now that Keira is married into a family that could own 20 pizza stores, it was obvious though. They truly loved what they did.
It didn’t take me too long to figure out how to open the stubborn door; you just have to put a lot of force into it. I pulled my keys out, placing the key in the knob. The gold plane key chain was dangling. I stared at it for a minute, and then pushed the door open. The room was basically empty, but it was mine.
Stefan
Keira convinced me to go to dinner with her and Leo Saturday night. I met them at a place in Soho that we used to frequent when we first became friends. I arrived before them, and ordered a beer. The hostess sat me at a table in the middle of the room. It seemed as if they updated the restaurant. I didn’t remember the maroon walls.
“Hi!” Keira chirped as she walked up to the table holding Leo’s hand.
I stood to hug her, and shook Leo’s hand. We ordered an appetizer of spinach dip. Keira got a cosmopolitan. Leo ordered a Tom Collins.
“What did you do today?” Keira asked, as she scooped a chip into the dip.
“Just getting myself ready to go back to London in a week.”
Leo looked at me, “You’re still going?”
“Yeah. I can’t stay here.”
Keira scrunched her nose, “Why not? We’re both here, and we’re your best friends.”
I laughed, “As delightful as you both are, it’s a decision that I think is best right now.”
Keira took a bite of her chip, “Soph, moved out of Tristen’s and she’s quitting her job.”
Leo elbowed her, “Babe, you promised you weren’t going to mention anything.”
She raised her hands, “I thought he needed to know all the facts before he left.”
“When did she move?”
“Today actually.”
“Where?”
“Brooklyn near my parents' restaurant.” She looked at Leo, “See, I told you he would want to know.”
Leo rolled his eyes.
“When is she quitting her job?”
“Monday.” Keira squinted her eyes at Leo.
I leaned back in my chair. She’s starting over. I need to let her do it. Let her go.
“I’m happy that she is moving on.” I lied.
“You’re not bothered at all?” Leo asked.
I took a sip of my beer, “She’s trying to be happy, I’m going to let her.”
“Stef, she still goes there every morning. The Brooklyn Bridge.” Keira said, her voice trailing off.
I stared at her, “What do you hope to accomplish by telling me this?”
She let out an annoyed grunt, “She still loves
you whether she wants to admit it or not, and you still love her. Forget what she said at the dinner, she was upset. You two are supposed to be together.”
“Honey, calm down.” Leo took her hand.
“No! I will not calm down. He’s trying to run away to London again, and I think he’s a complete idiot. You WILL lose her if you walk away again.”
“Keira, if she wanted me she would talk to me. I tried to see her; she chewed me up and spit me out. Do you not remember that? If I keep going to her, I’ll be a stalker.”
She folded her arms, “Like sitting outside your brownstone wasn’t stalkery?”
Shock crossed my face, “How did you?”
“How I know is beside the point. She needs someone to show up for her, just once.” She hit the table with her index finger. “It’s your choice if it’s going to be you or not.”
I clenched my jaw, as I kept staring at her.
Leo took Keira’s hand again, “I think you made your point.”
She sat back in her chair, “I hope so. For Sophia’s sake.” Then she took a sip of her martini.
I took a sip of my beer, “I didn’t know I came here to get my head bit off.” I raised the beer as a fake cheers.
Keira tried to hold in a laugh, but failed. “I’m just a very passionate friend.”
“Oh I know.” I took another sip, and then picked up a chip.
On my way home from dinner, my thoughts went to Sophia, as they always do when I’m alone. The thought that she still goes to the bridge every morning should make me happy, but it just reminds me of how I let her down. She is the love of my life, and I almost ruined her.
Sophia
Kevin gave me a sad look when I walked into work Monday morning. He knew I was turning in my resignation today. I handed him a coffee, for our last tradition. He smiled and pretended to dry fake tears.
I dropped my stuff off at my desk, and pulled the envelope from my purse. I took in a deep breath as I walked down the hall toward Mrs. Greenberg's office. Her assistant smiled at me, when I got to her desk.
“Is Mrs. Greenberg here yet?” I asked.
“Yes, would you like to see her?”
“Please.”
She pressed a button on the phone, “I have Sophia here to see you.” She pressed the button again, and then gestured to the door, “You can go in.”
I smiled, “Thank you.”
Mrs. Greenberg was at her desk drinking coffee, “Good Morning, Sophia. How are you this morning?”
“I am actually good.”
She laughed, “Why do you sound surprised?”
“The normal response to that question is to say that I’m good or I’m fine, and normally it’s a lie, but for once, I’m actually good.”
She smiled, “Sit down. What can I do for you this morning?”
I sat down in one of the chairs, “Well, I wanted to give you this.” I held out the envelope.
She looked at it, and took it. I could tell she already knew what it was; she set it on her desk. “What made you decide this?”
“I need a fresh start.”
She folded her hands in front of her, “You know if I let you leave my sister is going to strangle me? She has a soft spot for you.”
I laughed, “Olivia has always been kind to me, and I’m thankful that she got me this position, but I think it’s time for me to pave my own path.”
“I admire that. Do you have another job yet?”
“I’m going to work at a friend's restaurant for a while until I find something permanent.”
“I heard you also moved recently?”
“Who told you that?”
She laughed, “I overheard Kevin expressively explaining how there was a Chihuahua in one of the apartments that was going to eat him.”
I covered my face, laughing, “It was a bug. He’s so over dramatic.”
“Well, I will say I am happy for you. If you ever need anything, you have a friend in my sister and I.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, and stood. “I will miss working here.”
“We will miss you too.”
Work flies by when you put in your notice. I had lunch with Kevin. We split a piece of chocolate cake to celebrate my new apartment. Another weird thing that happens when you put in your notice, people ironically start to notice you. They stopped by to wish me well, my reply every time was that I’m not leaving for another two weeks. Kevin and I took the elevator down after work. My journey was a bit further now that I lived in Brooklyn, but I used the time by listening to audio books.
We walked out of the building and my eyes caught sight of the red haired girl that had haunted me for so long. Kevin spotted her. He knew what Jess looked like from the socialite Instagram he follows.
He grabbed my arm, “Is that?”
“Yep.” I said, as Jess stood when she saw me.
“Want me to tell her to take her designer shoe wearing ass somewhere else?”
I looked at him and laughed, “No. Will you give me a minute?”
“Ok. But signal me if you need saving. I’ll be over here.” He walked over and sat down on a concrete bench.
“Hi, Sophia.” Jess smiled.
“Hi, Jess. What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk to you.”
I gave her a strange look, “So you just waited outside for me in the worldly elements? That’s unlike you. Are you feeling ok?”
She laughed, “I’m fine. I never got to properly thank you for standing up to my father.”
I waved my hand, “Oh that? Don’t worry about it. You probably would have done the same.”
She smirked, “We both know I’m not as good of a person as you.”
I laughed, “You’re not as bad as you pretend to be. You did tell me the right things to out Thomas.”
She sighed, “That’s true.”
“Can I ask you a question, and you answer honestly? Why did you help me?”
“I guess what you said stuck with me after you basically yelled at my father. Sometimes you have to remind people how to swim.”
“Finding that out may have destroyed my world, but I came out stronger. So, thank you.” I bit my bottom lip. “I have another question.”
“Ok?”
“How did you know Thomas’s password to his computer and that there would be something on it?”
She hummed with her lips pursed, “We both know Thomas and I used to hook up. Let’s just say he lets things slip when he’s drinking.” She held her hand up, as to stop me from saying anything. “I knew nothing of your Mother, but he kept going on and on about tracking you. I honestly didn’t know if you would find anything. It was just a hunch.”
I stood there taking in what she said. As much as she tried to deny it, she cared a little.
“Have you talked to Stefan recently?” She asked. I saw panic in her eyes as she waited for my response.
“No.”
“You should.”
I stared at her, her green eyes staring back. “Why?” I asked.
“I was with him for a while in London…”
“You were what?” I thought I misheard her. My stomach dropped.
“Calm down. Not like that. I went there to pull him from the drunken mess he decided was going to be his future...”
“Wha…”
She held her hand up again, “Let me finish. I also went there to convince him to come back to New York. One for his Mom, and two for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes.” She took a deep breath. “I may never have liked you, and I still don’t think I really do, because you’re the type of person that annoys people because you’re just good. I might have dated Stefan, and we might have been in a weird arranged marriage for a while, but I have known him since we were little. He loves you with everything in him, and he was willing to walk away because he thought it was best for you. He thought he was the problem. You and I both know that isn’t true. Now I’m asking you, ten years from now, would
you regret not talking to him? Because in a week, he will be on a plane back to London.”
“He’s going back?”
“Yes, and that’s all I came here to say. I hope you have a good life and I hope to see you back in our weird ass friend group soon. Have a good night, Sophia.” She touched my hand as she walked away.
I stood there stunned. She really just laid it on me. Kevin walked up with his eyes wide. “Well that was intense.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, “Tell me about it.”
Chapter Thirty Six
Sophia
My first two days working at Joe’s passed as quickly as they came. It was nice being around Joe. He always had a warmth about him that can make even the saddest person smile. I ordered a sandwich before I left work for the night. I started on my new route home from Joe’s; I took a bite of my sandwich and then shoved it back into the bag.
My conversation with Jess the other day stuck with me. I couldn’t believe she went there to actually help me. I was so used to having a guard up with her, that now I had to take what she said on faith that she wasn’t lying.
The Center that Jim and Alice go to was up on the left. As I walked by, I noticed the lights on. It couldn’t hurt to see if they were here. I did tell him I would stop by. I opened the door, and Jim was sitting at the front check in desk.
“Sophia! How are you?” He smiled.
“I’m good. This is on my new route home and I thought I would stop by.”
“I’m glad you did. I’m trying to find paper towels back here. Aha here they are.” He waved around the paper towel roll. “We’re having a birthday celebration for the twins if you would like to stay for some cake.” He walked around the desk.
Until Him: Book 3 - Until Then Series Page 23