Page 17 of Forever, Never, Always (Forever #2)

Sofia

I watch Ric slide the door shut behind him before he hops back over the fence to his place.

Silence stretches out in his absence. My skin tingles where he touched me, and I can still taste him on my lips, feel his breath against my neck.

My body is a mess of need and want, but my mind .

. . it’s already catching up to the reality of what we’ve just done.

I wrap the blanket tighter around myself, sinking into the corner of the couch, knees tucked to my chest. The air still smells like him, his spicy aftershave lingering. My phone buzzes.

I almost don’t check it, because it’ll be a reminder that reality is lingering and I’ll have to face the shitstorm that will inevitably follow, but something in me twists as a flicker of guilt is already rooting in my gut. It’s a feeling I’m certain will linger.

It only intensifies when I see Zoe’s name there.

Zoe: Hey, are you around? I know it’s getting late, but I really need someone to chat to. Love you x

My stomach drops and tears prick my eyes. Shit. She trusted me, and here I am, betraying her in every way possible. My heart pounds as I type out a reply.

Me: I’m here. You okay?

I’m not sure how to fix what I’ve broken. I’m not sure I even want to, but ignoring her won’t help things.

Zoe: I’m just leaving Meg’s. I’ll be five minutes.

Fuck. I dive from the couch and pull my clothes on. Grabbing the air fresher, I spray copious amounts to disguise the smell of sex mixed with his aftershave.

Exactly five minutes later, her knock at the door makes me jump in fright. I glance around the kitchen one last time before opening it.

I almost smile at her dramatic entrance as she breezes past me wearing oversized sunglasses despite the sun setting almost half an hour ago, an iced latte in her hand. “I was with Meg, but Hugo turned up, and I can hardly slag his brother off in front of him.”

I swallow down the retort which points out I’m her second choice and go with, “Hi to you too.”

“Hi,” she cries, dropping down on the couch in the corner of the kitchen.

The one I was just fucking her ex on. I wince, turning away and beginning to stack the dishwasher.

If I’m busy, she won’t see the guilt pouring from me.

“I don’t have time for hi when I’ve just been dumped by a man who wears socks to bed. ”

I blink. “Ric wears socks to bed?”

“No. Well, sometimes. That’s not the point.” She waves her hand impatiently. “The point is, he had the audacity to play down our relationship. He said we weren’t serious. Like, excuse me, what do you call exclusive dinners and me posting him twice on my stories?”

I stop what I’m doing and sit beside her. “I’m really sorry, Zoe.” If only she knew how loaded that apology is.

She shrugs, sipping on her iced latte like she’s unbothered, even as her voice trembles slightly. “Whatever. His loss. But I have been thinking . . .” She sits up. “I find it weird how fast he bounced. Do you think he’s seeing someone else?”

I keep my expression neutral. “You think there’s someone?”

Zoe eyes me carefully . . . too carefully. “I mean, no guy just flips his feelings off like that. And with you living next door, you must see him coming and going all the time.”

I frown. “I mean, yeah, I guess. We run into each other sometimes.”

Zoe snorts. “Come off it, Sofia.” I stiffen at her words, holding my breath and waiting for her to call me out, but she laughs. “You’re friends, I get it, and he felt sorry for you a few times—”

My brows furrow. “What do you mean?”

She waves her hand dismissively. “Have you ever seen anything suspicious? Does he have women around when I’m not about?”

I shrug, feeling the weight of her stare. “I don’t watch him, Zo. That would be weird and a little stalkerish. I’ve never even seen you coming and going, least of all other women.”

She taps her chin thoughtfully. “And you haven’t heard . . . anything ?”

“Like?”

“Yah know, noises.” She grins. “He can be vocal in the bedroom.”

I feel my cheeks heat. “Christ, no.”

She slumps back on the couch, her expression thoughtful before she changes the subject to tell me about their most recent fight and how she’d cried in the Uber home and smudged her makeup.

It was one of her most commented on posts.

But I can feel it lingering in the air, the unspoken words between us.

She doesn’t know.

But she’s guessing. Prodding for information. Letting me know she’s onto him.

And if we’re not careful, she’ll call us both out.

The following morning, Harry wakes with his usual squawking, and I wrap my dressing gown around my aching body before going to him.

It’s been so long since I’ve been with a man, I’m feeling the strain in all muscles.

I smile to myself as I lift Harry from his cot and smother him in kisses. My mood feels better. Happier.

I change his bottom, and we head downstairs. I almost scream in fright when I spot Ric standing at the window again. He holds up two takeout coffees and a brown pastry bag. I can’t fight the smile as I unlock the door and let him in. “Good morning,” he whispers, pressing his lips to mine.

Harry kicks his legs with excitement and reaches for Ric, who wastes no time dumping the breakfast and taking him from me.

“Good morning to you too, little man.” And he presses a kiss to his head, melting my heart completely.

“I got us a croissant,” he tells me, using his free hand to open the paper bag.

The smell is delicious, and my stomach grumbles. “And I got you a coffee.”

“Thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know, but I go to the gym early and always call in to grab something at the patisserie.”

I laugh. “Doesn’t that counteract the gym?” Not that you’d be able to tell—his body is sculptured like a god’s.

“I thought we could walk to work together,” he suggests, his voice hopeful.

I sigh heavily as I place Harry’s bottle in the warmer. “Ric, you know we can’t.”

“Tell people we’re good friends.”

“And if Zoe or Meg see us?”

“Zoe doesn’t roll out of bed before eleven, and Meg doesn’t get into work early.”

I give the bottle a shake. “Zoe came over last night.” He waits for me to continue, taking the bottle from me and sticking it in Harry’s mouth. “She’s suspicious.”

“Of us?”

“Not per say, but she thinks you’ve met someone.”

He sits on the couch with Harry on his lap. “I told her I like you. I didn’t hide that.”

“So, why is she asking me if I’ve ever seen you with other women?”

He shrugs. “I was honest to a point, Sofia. I told her I like someone and it wasn’t fair on her. She guessed it was you, and I didn’t correct her.”

My heart twists. “Why would she guess it was me?”

“Because I’ve hardly hidden it. I took you to dinner and forgot I was even meeting Zoe. I went to Meg to say I was worried about you. It’s clear as day.”

I’m already shaking my head, panic taking over.

He lays Harry on the couch and places a pillow beside him to stop him rolling, which brings a smile to my face.

He takes my hand and looks me in the eye.

“She asked me not to tell you. So, as far as she’s aware, you have no idea.

Maybe she was fishing to see if I had told you. ”

I groan, and he pulls me against his chest, kissing my head. “It’s all so complicated,” I complain.

“Just let the shitstorm settle. She’ll move on soon enough, and until then, we’ll lay low. No walks to work.”

I glance up. “And no tapping on my back door. What if she was here?”

“I’m a quick thinker. I’d have said I was checking on her.”

“My heart can’t take the anxiety, Ric. Please, no more surprise visits.”

I get to work on time, and even the scowl that Amelia throws my way can’t upset me today. It’s Friday, and I plan on seeing Ric later. Nothing can bother me.

“Hey, new girl,” she calls over, and I look up from my desk. “There’s a stationary delivery and you have to put it away.”

“Why?”

She smirks to her friends, and I roll my eyes. “Because you’re the new girl, obvs.”

“I’m not new though,” I remind her.

“Don’t shoot the messenger. Dex told me to tell you.”

I glance at the empty office. “And where is he?”

“How should I know? I’m not his keeper,” she snaps.

I groan and push to my feet. It’s easier just to do it and question it later. I step into the store cupboard and sigh heavily. There’re boxes upon boxes, and it’ll take me all morning.

I turn to find the light switch right as the door slams shut, leaving me in complete darkness.

“ Fuck ,” I hiss, feeling for the door. I give it a shove, but it doesn’t budge.

“Double fuck.” I feel along the wall for a light switch, but there’s nothing.

I try to navigate around boxes, stumbling a few times before giving up and going back to the door.

It’s still firmly locked, so I bang, gently at first, but when no one answers, I start to feel panicked and bang harder.

“Hello? Anyone? I’m locked in.” Nothing.

“Can anyone hear me?” Nothing. “Amelia? Anyone?”

I press my ear to it. All I can hear is the muffled sound of the office music. It’s the techno shit, the kind that hurts my head, and today, it’s muting my cries for help. Damn it.

“Hello!” I call, slamming my body into the wood. “Somebody help me!”

The music stops and I sigh in relief, banging hard. “Help, I’m stuck!” Then the sound of sniggering can be heard and my blood runs cold. “Is anyone there?”

“Is anyone there?” It’s Amelia’s voice mocking me. “Get a grip, Sofia. You’re not in prison.”

“The door’s jammed,” I call. “Open it from your end.”

“I can’t. It isn’t working,” she says, even though I hear nothing her side.

“Did you try?”

“Are you calling me a liar?”

I groan, resting my forehead against it. “I don’t have time for this, Amelia. Just open the damn door.”

“Take a nap. You look like you need it,” she says, and there’s more giggling, meaning she’s with her arse-licking friends.

“I’m serious, guys. This isn’t funny.”