Chapter 5: The Escape That Wasn’t.

SOPHIA’S POV

“Damn it.” I cursed out loud, dropping the mug against the counter when the coffee burned my lips, nearly peeling off my skin. In Los Angeles, Jean once told me it was a sign of bad luck. And as I fumed over the fact that his name still surfaced in my mind, soft footsteps filled the air as my mom appeared at the kitchen doorway, securing her silk robe with a gigantic knot. Jean was right.

Meeting my mom this early was a bigger sign my day would suck.

Her brown eyes met mine. “You’re awake.”

Of course. Does it make sense to be in bed when it is almost noon?

“And you’re home.” I kept my voice dry and distant. “During the weekend.”

She opened the fridge for a bottle of water. She opened the cap, took a small sip, then put it back. “I’ll be heading out soon.”

I almost wanted to laugh.

This conversation isn’t worth my time.

Reaching for the coffee mug I had dropped earlier, I made my way out, but her clipped voice made me halt.

“How long will you be staying here, Sophia?”

She already sounded exhausted.

I’d only been here for four days and she was ready to kick me out.

“Marcus and I haven’t really discussed your stay here, and I’ve been wondering if he’s uncomfortable by your presence.”

A small laugh escaped me. “Why don’t you speak for yourself, mom?

You don’t have to use Marcus as a cover up.”

Tightening my grip on the coffee mug, I whirled around to stare at her face.

Her jaw was set, brown eyes filled with emotions I couldn’t even name. “I know you don’t want me here, but this is my home. Dad would have wanted me here, so please…refrain from asking me about such questions next time.”

I didn’t want her to say anything else. In all honesty, I wasn’t ready to deal with her. I couldn’t tell if she hated the sight of me or the fact that I came back home with no major achievement other than a heartbreak.

Most mothers would welcome their kids with their arms stretched wide and a warm smile on their lips. To survive, I have to walk on egg shells around mine.

Slamming the door to my room with a loud bang, I downed the rest of my coffee and pushed the empty mug against my side desk.

My phone buzzed against the nightstand.

A part of me—the silly, naive part—wished it was Jean. He hadn’t even called to make an apology. He didn’t care about ruining my life. I picked up my phone and it was a message from my girlfriends.

‘Since Sophy’s in town, how about we all go shopping today?

It’s the weekend, we need to have fun before we all get busy. Who’s in?’

I pressed my lips against each other.

I’d rather curl into my bed and watch N*****x all day.

But I needed something else to distract me.

Something apart from my mom, dashingly handsome step-father and Jean.

So I typed on the group chat. “I’m in.”

~~~

“Oh my god, Sophia!!” Lily screamed the moment she sighted me coming out of a taxi.

She laughed as she waved at me, and seeing her again was such a breath of fresh air. She didn’t change one bit. She still loved dying her hair and being goofy.

“Oh, my sweetheart. How have you been?” She enveloped me in a tight hug. “I missed you so much.

Kyla is in the mall already. She’s so addicted to shopping, she couldn’t wait.”

A laugh bubbled out of me. “It’s good to see you too, Lily.”

She hooked her arm around mine, dragging me into the mall. “We’ve got some catching up to do!”

Kyla was checking out a Chanel bag when we stepped in. She had a deep frown on her round face, but the expression disappeared the second she set her eyes on me. “Sophia! You made it, girl.” She dropped the bag to give me a quick hug. “You look so hot.”

“Thanks.” I smiled. “You don’t look bad yourself.”

“So, how’s our star artist and Los Angeles?” She reached for the Chanel bag again, double checking the price as that frown appeared again. “Last I heard, he’s on tour.”

“Yeah.” Lily chimed in. “How’s Jean Beaufort? I can’t wait to hear all the tea about dating a French artist.”

A painful tightness settled at the back of my throat.

“Jean is, uh, he’s—” I pressed my hand against my throat as I stuttered.

Lily and Kyla stared at me eagerly, and that made it harder because I could feel the tears coming again.

“He’s—” I didn’t know if telling my best friends was the right idea, especially since I told them dating Jean was the best decision I’ve made in a long while. “Great,” I lied smoothly, and God it sucked.

“And yes, he’s on tour. It’s part of the reason I decided to come back home for a while.”

“Sophia, are you okay?” Lily asked softly. “You look…pale.”

“Yes.” Even the sound of my laugh was sour. “I’m completely fine. Let’s leave all the men talk and start shopping, alright?!”

“That’s more like it.” Kyla winked, turning back to a blonde lady who seemed to be in charge. “I’ll get this bag in black, brown and white. Can I get some matching shoes as well?” She picked up another bag. “And this Kelly, add it to the list.”

“Still a heavy spender, aren’t you?” I shook my head at Kyla, and she just shrugged, reciting her usual statement ‘money is to be spent. What’s the use of keeping it in your account? It’ll rot.’

And that made Lily and I laugh.

This feels good.

Bonding with them again was exactly what I needed. As long as they don’t find out about what happened with Jean, everything should be fine.

With several shopping bags in our hands, we marched out of the mall, laughing over a show we used to watch as kids.

Then a familiar jeep pulled up next to the mall, designer shoes stepping into our view the moment a tall man came down and approached us.

Kyla and Lily became fan girls next to me.

And I was suddenly brain dead because the man was Marcus, my step-father, who I tried to avoid this morning by going shopping with the girls.

He suddenly paused, thick brows forming a deep v as he stared at me. “Sophia?”

Lily nearly fainted. “Did he just call your name?”

Kyla’s face was red. “I want his contact. You’re with Jean, do you mind sharing?”

My throat closed up as Marcus inched closer. He stood before us, his spicy scent weaved with a manly cologne flipping my insides. “I noticed you stepped out early with a taxi. I could have dropped you.”

“Uh, what is going on?” Kyla directed the question at me, then she gave Marcus a look that screamed hi-handsome. “Who’s this handsome young man?”

I cleared my throat. “Kyla, Lily, meet my stepfather.” I looked into his deep grey eyes. “Marcus.”

The shopping bags hit the ground with a soft thud. “What?!”