Carefully, I set one cup on top of the other and knock on Sophie’s door. It swings open immediately and for a second I’m transported back to my horny teenage days and imagine us in the middle of some Aerosmith video, with Sophie’s hair being blown away from her face, and she’s standing there in nothing more than a bra and panties, making the come fuck me face.
My reality is, Sophie is holding the door open for me while dressed in a pair of running shorts and a tank top, with a ballcap on. Still sexy as fuck, and I’d still take the opportunity to fuck her, but not today.
“Here ya go,” I say as I extend the hand holding two cups of coffee toward her. “Careful, they’re hot and these cups are meant to send you into coffee bean rehab.”
“They’re ridiculous.” She takes her cup and closes the door behind me. “I get why, but do you realize how much plastic and Styrofoam we still use?”
“It’s everywhere.” We stand there awkwardly for a moment until she sighs and turns away. I’m curious about her sigh. Is it a good one? As in she’s content and happy I’m here. Or one where she wishes she never volunteered to help me? I’m going with the former because yesterday, when I came to visit, the sexual tension between us was so thick, a knife wouldn’t have been able to slice through it. Which is going to be important for this party thing we’re going to. I want her ex to be jealous and realize how much of an idiot he is.
“Is a black tux okay for this dance?”
She giggles and the sound goes right to my dick. I drop my hands and let the cup from hell block my growing erection.
“It’s not a dance.”
“But we’re going to dance?” I say, hoping I don’t sound too hopeful.
“Well, yes,” she says. “But it’s so much more. We’ll mingle, eat and, drink. And then there will be dancing.”
I don’t care as long as I get to hold her against my body.
“So, back to my question, is a black tux okay?” I ask. I’m fucking clueless on these kinds of things. Who the hell plans a Valentine’s Day ball? Not that I’m complaining since it works to my advantage.
“Yes,” she replies.
“Do I need to get you a corsage or something?”
She laughs again. “No, silly.”
“Limo?” The thought of a limo is very appealing, especially at the end of the night, when we’re tipsy and hopefully heading back to my place to christen every inch of it.
“Only if you want, but seriously.” Sophie comes over to me and places her hand on my chest. Not exactly where I’d like her to touch right now, but the effect is the same, nonetheless. “I appreciate you doing this for me, Tanner.”
“It’s my pleasure, Sophie.” My voice is quiet. I step closer to her, wishing like hell I had set this fucking cup down. I swallow hard as I stare into her beautiful brown eyes. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t give for a chance to be with her, even after all these years. “We should go,” I say reluctantly. Leaving now is the last thing I want, but it’s the only option because if we don’t, I’m sliding my hands over her ass, picking her up and carrying her to her bedroom.
“Okay . . . yeah let me get my purse.” She doesn’t move immediately, and I swear she feels the same magnetism I do. After what feels like five or ten minutes, when in actuality it is probably fifteen seconds, she brushes past me. I look to the ceiling, to get my bearings and inhale and exhale a few times to control the stirring in my shorts.
I can sense her behind me, but I don’t turn around. For all I know, she’s checking me out. I’m not the same lanky kid who used to follow her around the house when she’d spend the night. I remember knocking on Ellie’s door with some excuse just so I could be in the same room as Sophie. My time away from Raleigh in college, and living in California has changed me, and for the better. I grew up, filled out, and became a man.
Slowly, I glance over my shoulder, and sure enough, she’s staring. I think about every stupid thing I could say right now, but let the moment sit there until her eyes meet mine. “Like what you see?”
Trying to hide her smile, she looks at me with playful eyes and shrugs. “Life in the west has been good to you.”
Not as good as life in the east is about to be. “I think you’d like it out there. We’ll go visit sometime.”
Sophie smiles, it’s bright and infectious. “I love that idea, but first, we gotta get you moved into your new place. Come on, let’s go.” I follow Sophie out the door and close it behind me, knowing right then and there, I’d follow her anywhere.