In my hurry to get away, I leave the bag of clothes in the floorboard of his truck, but I’d rather buy an entirely new wardrobe than go back for them. I don’t cry on the way home, and I’m relieved my parents are nowhere to be found as I lock myself in my room.
Monday is going to be the worst, and I’m already thinking of what to say when I call in sick.
Chapter 13
Colton
I’m not well rested. I’m not bright-eyed and ready to get the week started. I don’t arrive early, overcome with eagerness to see Sophia.
I drag my sleepy ass into work ten minutes late, exhausted from three nights with limited sleep.
Sophia isn’t in my office when I open the door and a pang of loss hits me in the chest, but I don’t deserve the right to go look for her. I last half an hour alone in my office before I tell myself I’m emerging to get a cup of coffee. Distracted, I left mine sitting on the counter at home. I fire off a text to Rick to make sure he checks to be sure the pot is turned off before heading to school because I can’t remember if I did or not. He texts back with some bullshit about me being a senile old man. I’d normally argue with him, but I’m not feeling it this morning.
It’s a blessing that Sophia isn’t surrounded by cops this morning when I find her working quietly in the corner. I think I’ll lose my shit if I have to witness another blowhard hitting on her.
She doesn’t look up at me when I cross the room or when I make more noise than necessary while getting a cup of coffee, and for some reason I walk out of there and back to my office without opening my mouth either.
The day drags by, filled with paperwork and phone calls, absent of Sophia’s pretty face, and by lunchtime I’m itching to just talk to her, wishing things could be like they were before dinner Friday night. Things shifted, and I’m not liking the outcome. This is what I expected would happen if I slept with her, knowing she wouldn’t be very happy with me when I told her we couldn’t be anything more, but I didn’t even reap the reward of spending the night with her, and I’m suffering the punishment like I did.
I work through lunch, not wanting to submit anyone else to my surly ass attitude, and it’s nearly three in the afternoon before my door swings wide. I open my mouth to yell at the person interrupting me, but it’s Sophia walking in with a pile of folders.
“Soph,” I say, the one syllable sounding more like a plea than I intended.
She doesn’t even look at me as she drops the files on my desk.
“Please,” I beg, reaching for her wrist before she can turn and walk away.
She freezes, her eyes glued to the contact on her skin.
I keep my hold on her as I stand and join her on the other side of my desk, only releasing her long enough to close the office door. She’s glaring at me when I turn back around.
“Can we talk about it?”
“About what?” I love the way she cocks her hip out to the side, but I don’t think she’ll find it funny that I think she’s cute right now. “I’m working. That’s why I’m here, remember?”
“About Saturday morning—”
Before I can apologize, she closes the distance between the two of us, pressing her lips to mine. Shocked, I stand frozen, eyes open and blinking down at her. Her eyes flutter for a brief second, but she pulls back almost immediately.
Being the brave woman I’ve come to admire, she doesn’t look away from me. She doesn’t hang her head in embarrassment at my inaction.
“You’re too young,” I say, clearing my throat when the words sound like a lie even to my own ears. “We have to keep things professional.”
“And that’s what’s wrong with Saturday morning,” she hisses through her teeth, that fiery attitude I’ve only seen a couple of times coming out. “You tell me I’m too young, but you’re the one who acted like an adolescent boy in front of your parents. You’re the one playing around, and I’m too fucking mature for games.”
She sidles around me, flying out of my office without another word. She doesn’t slam the door behind her when she leaves, and without that final act,