Chapter 36: Sofia

When I wake up, the first thing I do is touch my lips, remembering the kiss Nate gave me last night. I can still feel the warmth of it, the way his hands cradled my face, the intensity in his eyes when he looked at me. A shiver runs through me as I think about what he said, about how he’s never felt this way about anyone before. I’m not sure how I feel about it yet, but I know it makes me feel… seen.

I pull myself out of bed and brush my teeth, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Yesterday’s events come rushing back: the restaurant, those two girls, their flawless looks, and the ease with which they flirted with the guys. I think about their perfect makeup, their glossy hair, their designer clothes and expensive perfume. They looked so effortless, so confident. A pang of jealousy hits me, but then I remember Nate’s words, the way he told me they meant nothing to him. I let out a small sigh, a faint smile crossing my lips as I remember his reassurance.

When I head downstairs, the house is quiet. It seems the guys are still asleep, or maybe they’re already awake and busy with something. I decide to step outside and take a moment to breathe. The backyard stretches out before me, lush and green, with trees that form a small forest, a pond tucked away in the corner, and wildflowers blooming everywhere. It’s not the kind of place I’d expect for guys like them, but I love it. I’d only seen it once before when Nate showed me around, but it’s become one of my favorite places to escape to.

I find a cozy spot beneath a tree, the ground soft with fallen leaves, and pull out my book. The air is fresh, with the faint scent of flowers mixing with the cool morning breeze. It’s peaceful, a stark contrast to everything that’s happened recently, and I let myself get lost in the pages.

After a while, I hear footsteps approaching. I look up and see Danny coming towards me, a small smile on his face and a croissant in his hand. “Hey,” he says, sitting down beside me and handing me the pastry. I take it, feeling the warmth of the croissant through the paper, and bite into it, surprised by the sweet blueberry jam inside.

“Thought you might be hungry,” he says, brushing a strand of hair from my face. He leans over and places a gentle kiss on the side of my head, his lips soft against my temple.

I share the croissant with him, breaking off a piece and holding it out. He grins and takes it, his eyes never leaving mine. “About yesterday…” he starts, his expression turning serious. “I know those girls upset you, and I’m sorry I didn’t push her off right away, the way Nate did. I should’ve handled it better.”

I shrug, trying to play it off. “It’s okay. I get it. They’re… well, they’re something.”

Danny reaches out, lifting my chin so I’m looking directly at him. His thumb brushes against my lower lip, wiping away a bit of blueberry jam I hadn’t noticed. “I mean it, Sofia. They don’t matter. Not to me, not to any of us.” He pauses, his gaze searching mine. “Can I kiss you?”

I nod, feeling my cheeks flush. He leans in, pressing a soft, gentle kiss to my lips. It’s short, but it leaves me feeling warm, a flutter in my chest that I can’t ignore. He pulls back, smiling, and for a moment, I forget everything else.

“We need to head to the office,” he says, breaking the silence. “The team needs to talk to us about something. We don’t want to leave you alone, so you’ll come with us, alright?”

I nod, feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity. Wherever they’re going, I’ll go too.

After Danny leaves, I head back inside to get changed. I opt for a cozy, off-the-shoulder sweater and a pair of skinny jeans. I twist my hair into a messy bun, pulling a few strands loose to frame my face. It’s a comfortable outfit, but it still makes me feel confident. I take a quick look in the mirror before heading downstairs.

As I walk into the kitchen, I spot Riley at the counter, finishing up his breakfast. He glances up, and for a split second, he’s fine—until he really sees me. He chokes on his food, quickly grabbing a glass of water, and then runs a hand over his face, giving me a once-over that makes my cheeks flush.

“Sof, baby,” he starts, his voice rough, “I’m never going to tell you what to wear, but damn. You sure you want to go to our office looking this attractive?”

I can’t help but laugh, feeling a bit flustered. “Blame Leo and Danny,” I reply, grinning. “They’re the ones who bought me all these new clothes.”

Riley chuckles, shaking his head. “Well, they sure know how to pick ‘em. Come on, let’s head out before you give any of us a heart attack. The others are already in the car.” He grabs his jacket and opens the door, gesturing for me to go ahead with a playful smirk. I roll my eyes, still smiling, and step outside, ready for whatever the day brings.

The drive is quick, and soon we’re pulling up to a small glass building. From the outside, it doesn’t look like much—just a few stories high, with dark windows and a simple, understated sign that gives nothing away. But as we step inside, I’m hit with a wave of surprise. The interior is something else entirely.

Everything is polished and sleek: black marble floors that gleam under the soft lighting, glass walls that make the whole space feel open and airy, and leather couches in deep shades of gray and black arranged in the lobby. I find myself staring, mouth slightly open, as I take it all in. It feels more like a luxurious hotel lobby than an office, and I can’t help but marvel at the contrast to what I expected.

I feel a hand slip into mine, pulling me out of my daze, and I realize it’s Riley. He gives me a reassuring squeeze as we walk deeper into the building. “Come on,” he says softly, leading me down a corridor.

We pass by several closed doors before we reach a large room at the end of the hall. Inside, there are more guys, some around the boys’ age, some a bit older. They all look like they live in the gym—tattoos covering their arms, shoulders, necks. A few of them have gun holsters visible under their jackets, and I feel myself instinctively inch closer to Riley, gripping his hand tighter.

One of the men glances over, giving us a nod. “Riley, Leo, Nate, Danny,” he greets them, his gaze briefly settling on me with a hint of curiosity. I can feel the weight of their attention, and it makes me want to shrink back. But Riley keeps me close, his arm slipping around my shoulders as if to shield me from their scrutiny.

I scan the room, taking in the intimidating presence of each guy. It’s clear they’re part of the same world as the boys, and they share that same roughness, that edge.

One of the men steps forward, addressing Riley with a respectful nod. “Boss, we’ve got updates,” he says, his tone all business. Another guy swivels a large computer monitor towards Leo, tapping a few keys as he explains something in a low voice. I’m taken aback for a moment, realizing that they’re referring to Riley as the boss. The guys are running this place, and everyone else seems to answer to them. I knew they were powerful, but I didn’t expect this.

The boys move slightly ahead of me, leaving me just behind as they gather around the men and the computer. I can’t make out much of the conversation—it’s all murmurs and technical jargon. I stay where I am, glancing around the room, feeling a bit like an outsider in this world of theirs.

After a few minutes, Leo turns and looks back at me with something like... worry? Then steps away from the group and approaches me with a small smile. He hands me a credit card, his fingers brushing mine as he does. “Why don’t you head to the lobby, get yourself some snacks and drinks?” he suggests gently. “We’ll be out soon.”

I nod, clutching the card in my hand as I make my way back toward the lobby. It's clear they need to speak about something without me there, and I owe them that privacy.