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I’m an hour into my work when the chime signaling someone is at the front gates sounds out. I close my laptop and get up from the dining table where I’ve been working.
Jay and Holly’s security system is state of the art, and if it weren’t for Drew upgrading the system at both my apartment and his house a few weeks ago, then I might have trouble working it out.
But I don’t. And as a result, dread coils its way around my throat, slowly constricting like a snake around its prey as I look at the screen, displaying the main gates.
I’m thousands of miles away.
But he came.
I expected that he would, but seeing him here still sets my mind reeling, despite thinking I was prepared.
Because nothing could have readied me for the way my heart clenches seeing him again.
I stop and take a deep breath before I jab the intercom button hard enough to make my fingertip sting.
“This is private property.”
“Soph.” The hopeless look in his eyes shines out and up into the camera as he looks directly into it. “Please, I just want to talk.”
“There are things called phones for that.”
I don’t miss the way his lips quirk, and I hold my tongue from making another cutting remark. He likes my ‘bite’, as he keeps telling me. It’s more than enough reason not to give it to him.
“You’re wasting your time.”
“Please,” he repeats.
I gnaw on my bottom lip as I study him. He’s in jeans and a shirt. No luggage with him. Which means he’s already checked into a hotel. There’s no way of knowing what size bag hepacked and how long he plans on staying if I refuse to speak to him. He could keep coming back until I do.
He continues staring straight into the camera, knowing I can see him.
“Wait there,” I huff, sliding my feet into my sandals and throwing on a jacket. I slide my phone into the pocket then I walk out, pulling the front door closed behind me.
It takes me a few minutes to reach where he’s waiting at the end of the long driveway.
“Wow,” Henry breathes as I approach in my sundress and jacket. “Soph, you look amazing.”
I fight the impulse to try and fasten my jacket around myself. The zipper won’t reach so it’s pointless.
His eyes perform a hungry sweep over my breasts, which I’m struggling to keep from spilling out of all my clothes this past week. They seem to have taken on a life of their own.
“Why are you here?” I sigh, looking at him through the gaps in the metal gate.
He tips his head to one side. “Can we talk without the need for a barrier. You don’t think I’ll do something, do you?”
I shake my head as I decide the best approach to this. “No, I don’t,” I finally say.
I walk to a smaller gate off to one side and place my thumb against the scanner. A deep click sounds as it unlocks and I push through, meeting Henry on the other side.
“Soph—”
“We can walk on the beach if you want to talk,” I say, before he can make any more comments about how well I look.
He’s obviously choosing to ignore my puffy, red-rimmed eyes and lack of makeup. Whether that’s out of politeness or lack of compassion about the reason I’ve spent a week crying, I can’t say. Although with Henry, I’d guess the second.
He nods eagerly, falling into a gentle pace beside me.
“I don’t know what you’re doing here,” I mutter as I lead him to the end of the block and then down a small walkway that goes to the ocean.
