Chapter 5

SOFIA

Elena stood there in the doorway, sweaty and breathing hard, her tank top clinging to her skin and those tattoos gleaming under the hallway light. My heart stuttered for a second before I remembered why I was here. I lifted the heavy box a little higher on my hip and forced a smile.

“Hey, Elena. Sorry to just show up like this. Daniel asked me to drop this off for you. It’s some psychology textbooks and motorcycle parts he ordered. He said you’ve been waiting on them.”

Elena nodded slowly, her intense dark eyes locked on me the whole time. She didn’t say anything at first—just stared, like she was taking in every detail of my face, my blouse, the way my hair fell over my shoulders. I shifted on my feet, feeling heat creep up my neck.

“Uh… here,” I added, holding the box out. “He said to tell you sorry for the delay. Work’s been crazy for him.”

She took the box from me, our fingers brushing for a second, and set it inside by the door. Still staring. My stomach flipped.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” I asked, my voice coming out softer than I meant. “It’s making me uncomfortable.”

Elena’s lips curved into that half-smirk I remembered from the rain ride. “Nothing,” she said, leaning against the doorframe. “You just look good, Sofia. Really good. That blouse fits you perfectly.”

I blinked, cheeks burning. “Oh. Um… thanks. It’s just something I threw on for work. Anyway, I should probably—”

“You want some water?” she cut in, stepping back to let me inside. “You look like you ran up those stairs. Come in for a minute. It’s hot out there today.”

I hesitated, but the box was heavy and she was already holding the door open. “Sure. Just for a second. I don’t want to bother you if you’re busy.”

“You’re not bothering me,” she replied, closing the door behind us. “Sit. I’ll grab the water. How was the drive over? Traffic bad?”

“Not too bad,” I said, lowering myself onto the edge of her couch. The apartment still smelled like vanilla and rain from the other day. “I left right after my library shift. Daniel’s been so swamped with meetings he barely had time to breathe this week. He kept saying how much you needed those books for your psych classes.”

Elena chuckled from the kitchen as she filled two glasses. “Yeah, he’s always like that. Thinks he can fix everything with a credit card and a promise. Here.” She handed me a cold glass and sat on the arm of the couch, close enough that her knee brushed mine. “So, how’ve you been since the rain? You never texted me that you got home safe.”

“I did get home fine,” I said quickly, taking a sip. “Thanks again for the ride and the clothes. I washed the hoodie—it’s in my car if you want it back.”

“Keep it,” she said, eyes still on me. “Told you it looks better on you. You wear my stuff well.”

I laughed nervously. “You’re being weird today. Is everything okay? You seem… I don’t know, intense.”

Before she could answer, the apartment door suddenly flew open with a loud bang. An insanely beautiful girl stormed in—long legs, perfect curves, glossy dark hair swinging, dressed in a tight crop top and shorts that left nothing to the imagination. She looked furious.

“Elena, you cannot break up with me like that!” she screamed, slamming the door behind her. “ You don’t just ghost me for three days and think it’s over!”

Elena groaned and rubbed her forehead. “Mia, not now. Give me my keys back and get out. We’re done. I told you that already.”

Mia planted her hands on her hips. “No! You don’t get to decide that. We had something good. You can’t just—”

“I can and I did,” Elena said, voice flat. She stood up and walked over to the couch, dropping down heavily and holding her head in her hands. “Keys. Now. I’m tired of this.”

Mia ignored her and marched straight over, plopping herself right onto Elena’s lap like she belonged there. “Baby, come on. Talk to me. We can fix this. You always do this when you get stressed with school.”

Elena pushed her off firmly but not roughly. “Mia, stop. Get off me. I have a new girl. We’re over. Keys.”

Mia’s eyes finally landed on me. Her expression twisted from angry to shocked to furious in half a second. “Who the hell is this?” she demanded, standing up and pointing at me. “You already replaced me? With her?”

I started to speak, hands raised. “No—no, wait, I’m not—”

“She’s my girlfriend,” Elena cut in smoothly, standing up and walking over to me. Before I could finish my sentence, she slid an arm around my waist and grabbed my ass, squeezing just hard enough to make my breath hitch. I barely stopped a moan from slipping out, heat exploding low in my belly.

Mia’s mouth fell open. “Your girlfriend? Bullshit. You just met her or something? Elena, this is low even for you.”

Elena pulled me closer, her hand still firmly on my ass. “It’s not bullshit. Sofia’s with me now. So get out. I want to fuck my new girlfriend in peace.”

Mia crossed her arms, eyes blazing. “No way. I’m not leaving until you explain yourself. You owe me that much.”

Elena didn’t even hesitate. She turned to me, cupped my face with one hand, and kissed me hard. Her lips were warm and demanding, tasting like mint and something darker. I froze for half a second then melted. Bro, Elena can kiss. The way her tongue slid against mine, confident and hungry, sent sparks straight down my spine. My hands gripped her tank top without thinking, body pressing into hers as heat flooded every inch of me. I was full-on horny in seconds, thighs squeezing together, a soft whimper escaping into her mouth.

Mia’s voice cut through the haze. “What the fuck, Elena? Stop!”

Elena pulled back just enough to speak against my lips, voice low and rough. “See? She’s mine. Now get out, Mia. Keys on the table. Don’t make me call security.”

Mia stood there fuming for another few seconds, then slammed the keys down on the coffee table. “Fine. But this isn’t over. You’re going to regret this.” She stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook.

The second the door closed, reality slammed into me like a truck. I jerked back from Elena, heart pounding, lips still tingling, body throbbing with need. What the fuck am I doing? I thought, staring at her in horror. I just let my fiancé’s sister kiss me—grab my ass, call me her girlfriend—in front of her ex. And I liked it. I really, really liked it.