out of me because this whole thing is yet another reminder of how I fucked up by taking those fucking pills. I was selfish, so fucking selfish and I would never make that mistake again.
“Can we just forget last night ever happened? I’ll apologize to that Hero guy if it helps.” I can’t imagine making things hard for Sophie. If I’m going to be her boyfriend then I’ll have to make amends with Hero so Sophie can at least see and hangout with her sister. It’s going to really put a dent in my pride, but I can deal with it for Sophie.
“You will?” Ivan asks, eyebrows raised as if he can’t believe what I just said. Fuck I can barely believe it myself. Me apologizing to some asshole who picked a fight with me. If someone would have told me this a few weeks ago I would have laughed in their face. I wasn’t the type to be sorry, but I was learning more and more that being sorry didn’t mean I was weak.
“Hero is Damon's best friend and Sophie's sister’s boyfriend. We need Damon and Xander on our side and of course I want Sophie to be able to see her sister and we can’t do any of those things if I have beef with the guy.” I’m not going to be the reason Sophie can’t have a relationship with Elyse, if that’s what she wants and listening to her talk about her sister, I’m pretty sure that’s not just what she wants, but also what she needs.
“Well, I’m glad you feel this way, because that will make the breakfast we’re about to go to much more civilized,” Ivan tells me, almost sighing in relief and I kind of feel bad for all the shit I’ve done. I’ve caused him a lot of problems and yet he continues to stand by me.
“Lead the way,” I nod toward the door as I hold out my arm for Sophie. She loops her arm through mine, giving me a smile and together we walk downstairs. My stomach is knotted. I’ve fucked up so much in the last month…
Instead of leading us to the dining room, Ivan leads us to the back patio, where breakfast is already set up. Violet is chatting with her sister and Keira, while Xander and Damon look to be in some deep discussion. Elyse is eyeing Sophie curiously with a flicker of worry in her eyes and when I glance over to Sophie she looks at me with an unsure expression on her face. I know she wants to go over to her sister and the way she is looking at me is like a knife to the chest. She almost looks like she wants my permission to go and I’m not gonna have that shit.
“You go sit with your sister and please don’t look at me like this. You don't need my blessing to do anything I’ll never be that man, Sophie. I always want you to do what you want.” I smile and place a kiss against her cheek, making sure that she knows I mean it.
Sophie returns the smile, her eyes full of love and happiness as she walks over to her sister and takes the chair beside her. I sit my ass down in the seat across the table from Hero, who is watching me like a hawk as if I’m going to swoop in and steal something.
“I’m sorry about last night,” I tell him, getting straight to the point.
“You are?” He looks even more shocked than Ivan did when I told him I was going to apologize. “I mean I’m kind of shocked.”
I shake my head. “Why is everybody so surprised by me saying I’m sorry? I’m not a completely heartless asshole.”
“I don’t know you well, but you don't seem like the type of guy who does a lot of apologizing.” Well, he isn’t wrong there I’ll give him that. I’m not sorry often and even when I am I don’t announce it to anyone. My gaze moves to Sophie, her beautiful hair frames her heart shaped face, and a smile tugs at her pink lips...lips I spent all night kissing. Before her I never felt the need to apologize, to admit my faults, but now I need too. I need to be that man who isn’t afraid to speak out, who isn’t afraid to say sorry when he fucks up.
“You’re not wrong there, but I actually have something to be sorry