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“Are you okay?” Lissa nudges me.
I snap to attention. It’s Wednesday morning, and I’m at the coffee shop. Working. With a cup in my hand. “Right. Yes. Yeah, I’m fine. What am I making?” I turn, looking for the drink ticket on the counter.
“Babe, do you need to take a minute? Do you need to talk? You haven’t been yourself the past couple of days.”
I sigh, finishing the coffee in my hands. I’ve already told her about my fight with Alexander, and about him ghosting me. She knows how I feel, and she knows how scared I am.
And, according to her, Alexander is a bottom-feeding asshole who should rot in hell.
“I’m fine,” I say, plastering on my best fake smile. “Just a lot on my mind.”
“Soph, just let him go. I know you want this to work, but how can you trust him? He’s a jerk. And you deserve better.”
The front door opens and Brent breezes in, a smile on his face. He’s been showing up early for a while now, and I’m proud of him. I’m sure his boss is happy about it, too.
“Morning, Brent!” Lissa gives him a wave before nudging me and whispering, “There’s a perfect distraction for you.”
“Shut up, Lissa.” My cheeks redden.
“No. You need to see other people. He is. Brent, are you free tonight? Can you take this shell of a human being out on a date for me?” Lissa shoves me forward until I bump into the counter.
My eyes widen as I glance at Brent. A mixture of hope and caution swirls in his eyes.
“Sophia, if you’d like, I’d be honored to take you on a date.” His voice is gentle, his eyes kind. “Even if it’s just as friends. If it’ll help you get your mind off of whatever’s bothering you, I’ll do anything to help.”
Anything.
Anything.
Jesus. Maybe Lissa is right. Why let Alexander play with my heart and manipulate me when Brent is willing to do anything to make me happy?
Fuck Alexander. Fuck his stupid face, and fuck his stupid games.
“I think I’d like that, Brent.” I force myself to look up at him.
He’s beaming—absolutely beaming.
“Uh, I’ll make your coffee.”
While I fumble with a cup, Lissa rings him out.
“YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.”
Brent is standing on the front porch, a small bouquet of flowers in his hands. His eyes fill with awe as he takes in my lightly-curled hair and yellow sundress.
“Th-thanks. You didn’t have to get me flowers.” I let him inside and take the bouquet, inhaling the sweet aromas.
“I wanted to.” Brent smiles, leaning in and kissing me on the cheek.
I fight the urge to go completely stiff, clutching the stems of the flowers too tightly instead. “Just let me put these in water real quick.”
He nods, and I disappear into the kitchen.
I don’t know why I was expecting Brent to be a nervous mess. Seeing him standing on the porch with his shoulders back surprised me. He’s calm, even charming. Just like—
No. Don’t you dare think about him right now.
I shove the flowers into a jar with water and head back out. “Ready?”
