Page 13 of Forever, Never, Always (Forever #2)

Sofia

I inhale sharply. Her words take me by surprise. Then she laughs, staring at me in disbelief. “He’s dumped me.”

“Did he say why?” Call me selfish, but I need to know if his reasons had anything to do with the kiss we shared last night.

“Different paths or some bullshit.” She begins to pace again. “Oh, and he knows about the abortion.”

“What? How?”

She thinks. “Actually, I never asked that question.”

“How are you feeling? You seem like you’re in shock.”

“I feel . . . numb. I didn’t see it coming. Not really. I mean, he was acting odd, and maybe last night I kind of wondered if this is where it was heading, but Meg said I was imagining it.”

“You spoke to Meg?”

She ignores my question and sighs heavily, suddenly looking tired before flopping down on the couch. “Did you sort the video?”

I join her. “Sort of. Turns out Amelia is shagging the boss herself, so it came from a place of jealousy.”

Zoe takes my hand. “She sees you as a threat.”

I scoff. “I doubt it. You haven’t seen her. Anyway, I told him to have her remove it or I’ll go to HR about his inappropriate relationship with her.”

“Will HR be bothered?”

“He seemed to think so. He said that’s why they’ve kept it quiet.”

She sits straighter. “I should go,” she mutters. “I have a work thing.”

I glance at the clock. “It’s almost nine o’ clock.”

She laughs as she pushes to her feet. “Sofia, this is early. These days, the party starts at ten.”

I grin. “Wow, normally that’s my bedtime.” I follow her to the door. “If you need anything, I’m here,” I tell her.

She gives a small smile, and a hint of vulnerability shines through before she shuts it down. “Fuck him, Sof. I’m worth more.”

When I step into the office the next day, it’s unusually quiet. Everyone seems to have their head down working, which gives me instant relief. I hardly slept at all after Zoe left, tossing and turning and wondering what it means for all three of us.

I get stuck into work, losing myself in research until lunchtime. My phone beeps, and I glance at the text, my heart stuttering in my chest when I see Ric’s name.

Eric: I’m outside. Let’s have lunch.

It’s more like a demand than a question, but I grab my bag and head out. I’m intrigued as to what he wants to see me about so urgently that it couldn’t wait until I got home.

He leans casually against the wall just outside the building, denim-clad and effortlessly cool, the afternoon light catching the edges of his frame.

His shirt clings just enough to give a hint at the shape beneath, and dark sunglasses shield those beautiful eyes that have been haunting my dreams lately.

The sight of him sends a flutter through me.

I try to play it cool as I approach, but my smile gives me away the second he locks his gaze on me.

He pushes off the wall and opens the glass door for me to step out.

“Thanks for coming down. Have you eaten?” he asks with a hint of hope in his voice.

I shake my head. “Great, lets grab some food.”

We fall into step, heading towards the deli on the corner. “You’re not at work?”

“Hugo gave me a couple days off to get my head straight.”

“Because of Zoe?” I ask, and I feel him look my way.

He opens the door to the deli and waits for me to go inside before following me. We grab a table by the window, and he removes his shades, hanging them from his shirt pocket. “Not because of Zoe,” he finally replies.

“She told me you’ve broken up with her.”

He gives a slight nod, not meeting my eyes. “How was she?”

“In shock, I think.”

He finally looks me in the eyes and opens his mouth to speak right as the waitress comes to take our order. I laugh when he clamps his mouth closed. “I’ll take an iced tea and—”

“Iced tea?” Ric repeats. “Tea wasn’t meant to be iced.”

I smile wider. “It’s my favourite.” I turn back to the waitress. “And a ham roll, no salad.” She scribbles it down then looks at Ric.

His eyes are still on me as he says, “I’ll take an iced tea and ham roll, no salad.”

I wait for her to leave before giving him a quizzical stare. “You ordered iced tea even though you don’t like it?”

“It’s your favourite, so I thought I’d give it a go.” I inhale sharply, trying to hide my smile as I turn to stare out the window. I shouldn’t be feeling these butterflies in the pit of my stomach.

“Why no salad?” he asks.

“I hate salad.”

He laughs. “How can anyone hate salad? It doesn’t taste of anything.”

“Exactly. It’s like water in solid form,” and I shudder, causing him to laugh harder.

“Water in solid form is ice. Salad is good for you.”

“Why are you here, Ric?” I ask. The words tumble out without me thinking them through, and I hold my breath, waiting for his answer.

“We kissed,” he almost whispers, staring down at his hands clasped together on the table. “And I can’t stop thinking about it.”

Our kiss was hot. It’s the only word I can think to describe it.

Like something we were both so desperate to do, we almost set alight.

It wasn’t perfect. It was teeth clashing and wet, and nothing like I’d imagined it to be.

But it was perfect for right then, in that stolen moment that should never have happened.

“Is that why you broke it off with Zoe, because we kissed?” I instantly regret the words, like I’m asking if he’s chosen me when that’s not what I mean at all. He cheated on my best friend. We cheated on her. And maybe the guilt is too much, because I know it is for me.

He shakes his head. “Me and Zoe weren’t going anywhere. We’re too different.”

“We can’t ever happen,” I blurt out, and we stare at one another for what feels like an intense minute before he gives a stiff nod. “It’s just . . . Zoe is my best friend and there are rules—”

“Rules? We’re not in school, Sofia. This is real. What we could have is real. And you’re saying no because of some rules that were probably created in high school?” His words hurt, and my expression must convey it because he gives his head a slight shake and exhales. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

Our drinks and food arrive. “Actually, could I take mine to go?” I ask, and the waitress gives me an irritated glare.

“No,” he says quickly before looking at the waitress and telling her the same. “It’s fine, she’ll eat in.” Once she’s gone, he turns back to me. “Let’s just talk about it.”

“There’s nothing to say.”

“Tell me you don’t feel the same and I’ll walk away.”

“It doesn’t matter how I feel,” I snap. “I have too much to lose. Meg. Zoe. And then there’s Harry to consider.”

“Meg would understand. Zoe would come around. And Harry . . . we’re good,” he says with a fond smile.

“You know what I mean.” I sigh. “Relationships for me are difficult. I can’t introduce men to my child until I’m one hundred percent sure it’ll work out.”

“I can be sure for the both of us. Besides, I’ve already met him, and he adores me. You know he does.”

“And when you leave?”

His smile disappears instantly. “Why does everyone assume I’m gonna leave?”

“Because it happens. Look at Meg.”

“Jesus. Are all men judged by Dan’s actions?” he snaps. I’m taken aback, so I remain silent. “He’s a prick for what he did. I’d never be like him.”

I take a breath. “Maybe not. But yeah, Dan scarred us all because we thought he was perfect. He and Meg were so happy and in love. None of us saw it coming. Watching them break up was like watching everything you know that’s good in the world die.

And now, every man has the potential to do that kind of damage. ”

“I’ll prove you wrong,” he says firmly. “Because I want this, Sofia. I want you. I want Harry. And I’ve never been so certain about something in my life.”

Eric

“Dan fucking Headford is a cunt,” I say as I sit at the table with my brothers. They all look at me with surprise before Hugo laughs.

“And you’re only just realising that?”

Thursday night has been named curry night in the Chadwick household.

Mum always makes two curries from scratch, but there’s never any expectation to attend.

What doesn’t get eaten goes into freezer containers and is handed out to whoever claims it.

Tonight, we’re all in attendance, and as the women congregate in the kitchen, I take my chance to update my brothers on my disastrous love life.

“Well, it was coming,” says Jimmy, taking out his wallet and pulling out a piece of paper. He opens it up and laughs. “Seb was the closest, guessing seven months,” he announces, taking a crisp twenty from the wallet and throwing it in Seb’s direction. Hugo groans and does the same.

I shake my head in annoyance. “I’m glad my love life has proven fruitful for you, Seb.”

“I’d like it to be known I had you down for a year,” says Hugo, patting my shoulder. “I had faith in you, brother.”

“Did anyone actually have me down for forever?” They break out into laughter, and I roll my eyes.

“So, why is Dan in the firing line?” asks Seb, tucking his winnings away.

“Seems we’re all measured up to that prick.”

“In what way?” asks Jimmy.

“What he did to Meg scarred not only her but her friends too.”

“Are we still talking about Zoe here?” asks Seb, confused.

“No, he’s talking about Sofia,” says Hugo, arching a brow. My other brothers stare wide-eyed. “I take it she turned you down?”

“Hold on, you asked Sofia out?” Seb whisper-hisses, checking to make sure the women haven’t heard.

“Jesus, don’t let your bed get cold, will yah?” asks Jimmy, laughing.

“It’s not like that,” I mutter. “I like her.”

“Like you liked Zoe?” asks Jimmy, his tone teasing.

“I told you to let the dust settle,” snaps Hugo.

“I needed to see how she felt.”

Seb scoffs. “Probably confused at a guess. One minute, you’re with her friend, and the next, you’re trying to get into her knickers.”

I scowl as the women approach. “What are you four plotting?” asks Meg, placing her arm loosely over Hugo’s shoulders.

“It looks serious,” adds Katie, lowering into Seb’s lap.