Page 64

“If you say no, it’s a no, Soph. I don’t care about the business if you’re against it.”

“It’s not that. It’s just that I’ve never been interviewed for a story before. I wouldn’t even know what to say.”

“Well, I think she asks questions, and we answer them.”

“But I’m boring. The most exciting thing I have done since I made out with you last year was quit my job today.” She laughed.

“This is me,” Bryce said.

Sophie stopped walking with her and looked up at the red awning that indicated the name of Bryce’s hotel. She’d walked past this place hundreds of times. Now, it would always remind her of the woman standing in front of her.

“Did you stay here–”

“Last time?” Bryce interrupted as she cupped Sophie’s cheek. “Yeah. I figured, why not? We were going back to the bar for our first meeting, and I even wore–”

“What you wore last time,” Sophie finished. “I noticed. You’re still just as sexy in it, too.” She reached for Bryce’s shirt and held on to it. “Are we still going up?”

“If you still want to,” Bryce said.

“I do,” Sophie replied. “And I think I’d like to do the interview with you.”

“You do?” Bryce looked hopeful.

“As long as you can carry the conversation because I might be bad at it.”

“I can,” Bryce said and took back Sophie’s hand before she opened the glass door to the hotel. “What has you wanting to do it?”

“What you said before, about giving people hope,” she replied. “I know this is new between us, but this whole year, I’ve been trying to convince myself that I was crazy thinking that you and I could’ve had such an immediate connection. I gave up hope a few times, honestly. If us telling our story, as new as it is, could give someone else hope, I think that could be kind of cool.”

“I agree,” Bryce said as they made their way through the lobby.

Having arrived at the elevators, Sophie’s nerves kicked in. Bryce pressed the button with her free hand, still holding on to hers tightly with the other as if she was afraid Sophie might float away. When they got inside, Bryce pressed the button to her floor while Sophie leaned against the back wall. As Bryce turned around and smiled at her, Sophie wondered how she’d be able to control herself tonight after all. Bryce was sexy as hell, beautiful and adorable, all rolled into one. When Bryce ran a hand through her hair then, Sophie followed that movement with her eyes, wanting to do it for her next time because Bryce’s hair was so soft.

“You did that on purpose.” She laughed nervously.

“Tonight is just us holding each other,” Bryce said.

“I know,” she replied as she looked away from Bryce’s intense gaze.

“The look you just gave me told me otherwise,” Bryce teased as she placed her hands on the wall on either side of Sophie’s head. “And I want that, Sophie. You have no idea how much. I just want us to keep talking first.”

“Get to know each other more.” Sophie nodded.

“Yes,” Bryce said. “Maybe tomorrow, though…” She winked.

“So, we’ll know enough by tomorrow?”

The elevator dinged.

“I’m not sure I’ll ever know enough about you,” Bryce replied, stepping back and pulling on Sophie’s hands.

“God, you’re good at this. Seriously, how are you still single?” she asked, allowing herself to be pulled down the hallway.

“How areyoustill single?” Bryce asked back.

“I already told you – I’m boring. Nights I’m not fifth-wheeling it with my coupled-off friends, I’m just at home reading or watching TV.”

“What are you watching?”