After The Kiss

SOPHIA POV

I slammed the dorm door so hard it rattled the posters on the wall. My whole body was shaking after talking to Emily. Her eyes... oh my gosh, they were like she could see straight into my soul. I kept hearing her voice over and over: “You remind me of someone.” And then that part about being Eric’s type. 

Did she know? Like, did she actually know I was messing around with her ex-husband? Or was she just being a protective mom? I didn’t even know anymore.

I walked over to the mirror hanging above my desk. My dark hair was a mess from running my hands through it too many times. My cheekbones looked sharp, kinda pointy. 

I turned around and looked at our tiny room. Darcy’s art stuff was everywhere—paints, sketchbooks, colored pencils all over the desk. And there on her nightstand was that cute old photo of her with her mom and dad, all smiling like life was perfect. Back when they were still a happy family. Before me. Before I ruined everything.

I crashed onto my bed and shoved my face into the pillow so Darcy wouldn’t hear if she came back early. Tears came fast. How did I let it get this bad? I was lying to everyone. To Darcy. To Eric. To myself. I felt like the worst person alive.

The door flew open like ten minutes later. Darcy bounced in with two coffees in her hands. “Babe! I got your caramel latte. Extra foam, just how you like it!” She was grinning so big, like nothing was wrong in the world.

I sat up quick and wiped my eyes. “Thanks,” I mumbled, taking the cup. The heat felt good on my cold fingers.

She kicked off her shoes and jumped onto the bed next to me. “You okay? You look super weird. What was that solo thing you did earlier? You said you’d be back fast.”

I took a huge sip so I didn’t have to answer right away. “Just… errands. Needed some stuff for class.”

She raised one eyebrow. “Errands? You were gone forever. Come on, tell me.”

I shrugged. “Really, it’s nothing. Boring stuff.”

Darcy scooted closer until our thighs were touching. She leaned in and gave me a soft kiss on the lips. I kissed back, but it felt fake. Like I was acting in a bad movie.

 She pulled away and looked at me all serious. “I’ve been feeling really good about us lately. Like, safe. After my asthma thing… I thought maybe we were getting closer. But sometimes it feels like you’re far away. Am I crazy?”

My chest hurt. “No, you’re not crazy. I’m just stressed. School is killing me.” I pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back. “I care about you a lot, Darcy. Especially after what happened. I don’t ever want you to have another attack because of me.”

She smiled against my shoulder. “You’re the best.”

But inside? I was mad. Her clinginess was starting to feel like a trap. Like she was using her asthma to keep me stuck. And the whole time we were hugging, all I could think about was Eric. That picnic kiss. His mouth on mine. The way it made my whole body light up. I wanted it again so bad it hurt.

Economics class later was pure torture. I sat way in the back like always, hoodie up, trying to disappear. Eric was talking about market disruptions—how one little thing can mess up everything. It felt like he was talking about us. About me blowing up his whole family.

He stopped talking mid-sentence. His eyes found mine across the huge lecture hall. My heart started pounding so loud I thought everyone could hear it. He looked tired. Sad. But still so hot it wasn’t fair.

Class ended. People started leaving. I grabbed my bag to run, but Eric walked right over to my desk. “Sophia, can we talk about your paper real quick?”

He slid a tiny note under my notebook. I peeked when he turned away.

“Meet me in my office. We can’t keep doing this.”

I crumpled it up fast and shoved it in my pocket. I stood up and walked out without looking at him.

But I didn’t go far. I stopped in the hallway, leaning against the wall, breathing hard. Part of me wanted to run. Part of me wanted to go to his office and kiss him until we both forgot everything.

The door opened behind me. Then his hand on my arm, gentle but firm. He pulled me into this little hidden spot by the stairs where no one could see.

“Sophia,” he whispered. His voice was rough. “I love you. That kiss at the picnic… it wasn’t nothing. You felt it too.”

I pushed at his chest, but not hard. “Stop. We can’t. Darcy… and your ex-wife basically warned me today.”

He didn’t move. “I’ve been looking stuff up. Co-parenting. Ways to still be there for Darcy without getting back with Emily. We could actually be together. For real.”

My throat got tight. “You’re crazy.”

“Maybe. But I’m crazy about you.” He reached out and brushed his fingers over my hand. Sparks shot up my arm. I yanked away and ran down the hall before I did something stupid.

Back in the dorm, Darcy was bouncing around like a puppy. “Okay, listen! I have the best idea ever. Plan number four—a surprise weekend at our old family cabin by the lake! That’s where Mom and Dad fell in love! It’s so romantic!”

She grabbed my hands. “Please help? You book the cabin and send the invites? Pretty please?”

I faked a smile. “Yeah, of course. Sounds cute.”

But in my head I was already thinking of ways to ruin it. Maybe book two cabins by accident. Or send Emily a fake weather alert saying a huge storm is coming. Something. Anything.

We sat on the floor eating chips and planning. Darcy kept talking about bonfires and s’mores. Her hand slid onto my thigh and stayed there. She looked up at me with big eyes.

I moved my leg a little. “I gotta finish homework soon.”

She pouted. “Okay… but we’re doing this together, right?”

“Yeah,” I lied.

Inside I was screaming. If they got back together, Eric would be gone forever. But if they didn’t… how much more could I hurt Darcy before she broke again?

Later, when Darcy was in the shower, my phone rang. Emily.

I answered with shaky hands. “Hi.”

“Sophia. I wanted to talk more. Tell me about your family. Where’d you grow up?”

“Um… small town. Boring place.”

“And Eric. Has he seemed off in class? Distracted?”

“No,” I said too fast. “He’s fine.”

She was quiet for a second. “Just… protect my daughter, okay? Secrets destroy families.”

Then she hung up.

I deleted the call history so fast my thumb hurt. Darcy came out in her towel, hair wet, smiling. She came over and tried to hug me.

I backed up. “Migraine. Sorry. Gonna lie down.”

She looked sad but nodded. “Feel better, babe.”

I curled up under the blanket, staring at the ceiling. Emily knew something. I could feel it. I had to stop this somehow. Maybe tell Eric first. Get it over with.

My phone buzzed super late. Eric.

“Cabin this weekend? Alone.”

My heart stopped.

What was I gonna do now?