Sophia's POV.
I moved forward to the mirror, examining it closely, and then I realized what it was.
A hickey! And not just one. There were quite a few at the base of my neck.
Oh God! I quickly applied some concealer and once they were hidden, I went downstairs.
It was now 6:30 pm. Mum was already dressed up and a few of her friends were on their way. She looked so pretty in her black dinner dress.
Mia and I had already arranged the snacks and cold drinks and the backyard was already decorated. The cake that Alex had ordered was delivered.
He claimed that the cake we got in the morning was not a proper cake for my Mum's birthday. My heart flutters when he does these things.
And so, Everything was done. I was just tidying up some last-minute things when I felt a pair of eyes on me.
I turned sideways to find Alex watching me. I offered him a smile which he returned with a heart-warming smile of his own and went back to hanging up a light string on the doorframe.
Soon, the guests started arriving and Mum got busy talking to everyone. Some of the guests went out to the backyard with their glasses of wine while some stayed inside.
Alex blended in well with the guests, talking business.
The doorbell rang and Mum looked up at me. “Are we expecting any more guests?” I shrugged and opened the front door to find a guy standing there.
“Roman? Hi.” I recognized him. It was my cab ride from the bus station.
“Hi, Sophia. You left this in the car.” He extended a ring toward me.
I looked down at my hand to find the ring my dad had given me missing. My jaw dropped. How could I forget something like that?
“Thank you so much, Roman. This ring means a lot to me. I have no idea how I left it in your cab.”
“That's okay.” He nodded and then looked somewhere behind me. I didn't need to follow his gaze to tell that Alex was behind me. I was all too familiar with his scent.
“Hi, I'm Alex.” He stepped forward.
I almost rolled my eyes.
“I'm Roman.” He extended his hand forward and Alex shook it. “Just stopped by to give her ring back. She left it in my cab yesterday.”
“Thanks a lot, Roman.”
“No problem, man.” He nodded with a smile. “I guess I should start going now.”
“Wait. You came all this way to return this ring to her. It's her Mum's birthday, you should join us.”
I turned to Alex in surprise.
“I....uh— I don't know,” Roman muttered. He seemed uncomfortable.
“Please. It's the least I can do for having you drive all this way to get my ring back.” I said with a smile.
He chuckled. “That's not a problem at all.”
“Come on then,” Alex said and brought Roman inside the house.
***
Alex's POV.
Stay calm, Alex. Don't overreact.
That was what I kept telling myself as I watched Sophia talk to the man at the door with a smile. I wondered who he was and wanted to ask her right away but didn't.
She looked so beautiful and happy and the last thing I wanted was her getting mad at me again because of my behavior.
With a sigh, I decided to stay out of the conversation at the front door but my interest was suddenly piqued when he extended something towards her.
Is he giving her.....a ring? I excused myself from the few guests I was talking with and walked up to the front door. The guy looked back at me in confusion.
That's right! I'm the boyfriend.
“Hi, I'm Alex,” I stated.
“I'm Roman.” He extended his hand towards me and I shook it.
“I just stopped by to give her a ring back. She left it in my cab yesterday.”
Ohh. I was so thankful at that exact moment for not reacting like the time I found her with Colin. Whew!
I remember Sophia once telling me that the ring was a gift from her dad and was very special to her. I was genuine when I thanked him.
“Thanks a lot, Roman.”
He nodded, smiling. “No problem, man. I guess I should get going now.”
Roman seemed like a genuine guy and I felt guilty for all the things I had already planned on doing to him during my short walk to the door.
“Wait,” I said. “You came all this way to return her ring to her. It's her Mum's birthday, why don't you join us?”
Out of my peripheral view, I saw Sophia give me a surprised stare. I couldn't help but smile with pride.
“I....uh...I don't know.” Roman seemed to be debating this in his head.
“Please. I'll feel a lot better for having you come all this way to return my ring to me.” She said, “That's not a problem at all.” He chuckled.
“Come on then.” I brought him into the house, feeling Sophia's eyes on me the entire time.
“Hi.” Mum appeared at the entrance of the living room, looking up at Roman with a smile. “Are you a friend of Alex?”
“Actually,” Sophia started “Roman's a friend of mine.”
I noticed the confused look her mum gave her. But she walked up to Roman anyway. “Hi, Roman.” She greeted me.
“Hi. Happy birthday ma'am. I'm sorry I didn't get you any gifts.”
“Oh please.” She waved her hands dismissively. “A birthday celebration is for fun and not for gifts.”
He chuckled.
“Can I get a piggyback ride?” A kid, probably a kid of one of the guests, walked up to me.
Oh God! I groaned.
“Oh my God, Mike. What are you? Three?” Mia scolded him.
Yes! Thank you!
“Mia.” Sophia scolded her back and turned to the kid.
“What were you saying?” “He wants a piggyback ride from Alex. Like, grow up!” Mia rolled her eyes. This little guy is my new favorite person.
“Don't be mean, Mia,” Sophia said.
“But he's acting so childish—”
“Hey guys.” Roman cut in. “I would love to give him a piggyback ride.”
The kid squealed in excitement and climbed on Roman's back. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
“Are you sure?” Sophia asked.
“Yes. I love kids.” And he was off in whatever direction the kid was pointing. “Cute.” Sophia chuckled. I was beginning to regret my decision to bring him into the house.