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She waves me off. “Nah. I’m fine. Honest.”
While I don’t believe that she’snotdrunk, I certainly won’t be serving her any more tonight. If she doesn’t leave before I do, I’ll be sure to pass that along.
I’m also going to slide her basket of mini tacos and make up some excuse about them being made on accident.
“You didn’t answer my other question though. Do you have a ride home?”
“I walked. Well, we all walked. Together. As a group. Did you know one of my best friends slept with my boyfriend?” She puts the water glass down andpffts. “She had the odd, odd, audacityto say it was because I didn’t put out, and he needed to fuck someone, so she was ever so helpful to do that for him.”
And just like that, the vault of “Why Sophia’s Down” opens.
I keep what I’m feeling tamped down, but I’m having a hard time figuring out why someone would have Sophia, yetcheaton her. Cheating is a coward’s game if you ask me, but if I had a woman like the one sitting on the other side of the bar, I’d do everything in my power to keep her.
Not run her off.
“Is that why you and your one friend came here alone? Not with the group?”
“Ding, ding, ding. You’re smart, Jake. But you probably hear sob stories all the time, don’t you? You’re really pretty, did you know that?” She melts into her folded arms at the change of subject. The resemblance to the Babs Bunny “heart eyes” GIF my sister, Chandler, likes to use has me grinning.
“Can I call someone to walk home with you?” I ask instead of having Sophia elaborate. “Or, I can get you an Uber.” I am not entirely pro-rideshares, thanks to an event Chandler went through in high school. I just...don’t trust people to an extent, I guess.
“I don’t like to be in cars with strangers.”
“That’s...probably smart. What about your friend?”
“Shaina? The one who slept with Josh?” she spits out and I have to fight to not chuckle at the distaste on her face.
“No. The one you came back with.” I’m glad she hasn’t called me out on only remembering her name.
“Oh. Em. Emina. No, she’s probably sleeping already. Her bedtime’s seven, usually. And here everyone was giving me a shit time for not wanting to go out. Em’s the one who goes to bed early! I just don’t like to be out in the hustle and bustle of party central. We’re not twenty-one anymore.”
Twenty-four, or thereabouts, isn’t that far off either, but I let her have her moment.
“You know, college life is different than adult life. I have ajobI have to worry about. I get to set my own hours though, so that’s fun. And I don’t have anything to do tomorrow, which was why I was okay going out on a week day night. But I should probably go to bed soon. It was very, very,verynice to meet you, Jake.” Then she frowns, tipping her head to the side. “Can I touch your hair? It looks so wavy and soft on top, but you have it shaved on the sides. I bet that feels nice.”
“How far away do you live, Sophia?”
Her eyes, which seemed to start to cross, likely unfocusing, pop back to mine. “Huh?”
“Where do you live? I don’t feel great letting you walk home alone. I’m almost done. I can take you where you need to go.”
She squints at me. “You know this bar used to have a reputation.”
“Pub,” I correct her. “Don’t call it a bar when Conor is in earshot.” It’s a bit of a joke, but the O’Gallaghers are very adamant about what the public calls this place, and that isnota “bar.”
“Sorry.Pub.” She enunciates the word all while leaning in closer. “Anyway. It had a reputation.”
I know what she’s referring to. Before they were married to their wives, the O’Gallagher brothers weren’t quiet about their after-closing endeavors. “That was a long time ago.”
“So, you’re not going to walk me home and have your filthy way with me?”
I should have expected it, but I still find myself nearly choking on my spit. While composing myself, I refill her water. “Just sit here and drink this.”
“I’m not drunk.”
“Okay, Sophia.” I grin, pushing the glass closer to her. “Just...don’t go anywhere.”
CHAPTERFOUR
