Karina.
The sing-song voice of my gorgeous Karina would never greet my ears again. I would never stand in line at lunch with Ian and talk to our students, teasing or playing with them.
Ian. Ian. Ian.
My heart sputtered with exceptional misery. I’d never known such sorrow before, never would be able to convey fully just how badly I was willing to be stretched and torn into pieces if it meant it would stop the heart ache, just keep me from never knowing the pangs of missing Ian again.
I rolled onto my side and my cell buzzed once more. My hand stretched before me and I picked it up.
“Hello,” my voice cracked.
“Sophie fucking Price!” a male voice howled over the phone. Spencer.
“Hi, Spence.”
“Hi, Spence? Hi, Spence? That’s all I get?” he teased. “I think I at least deserve an Oh, Spencer!, he crooned in mock falsetto. “Come on! I haven’t seen or heard from you in five months, Sophie.”
I sat up, wiping the sleep from my eyes. “Oh, Spencer,” I deadpanned.
He laughed heartily and breathed deeply. “God it’s good to hear your voice, Sophie.”
“How are you?” I evaded.
“I’m fantastic now that you’re home,” he said. “I’m in your drive, actually. Come to pick your beautiful ass up. I’m taking you to lunch, baby. A celebration of sorts.”
“I’m not really up for it,” I told him.
“Sophie, I’m not taking no for an answer. If you’d like, I can honk my horn until your dad calls the cops.”
“Fine,” I relented. “Give me five minutes.”
“Five?”
“Yes, five minutes please.”
“But didn’t I just wake you?”
“Yeah, so?”
“Sophie Price only needs five minutes to get ready?”
“Hush, Spence. I’ll be right down.”
I lay there for a minute just to spite him then sluggishly brushed my teeth, threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and some black Converse. I grabbed a hoodie out of my closet after putting on a little bit of makeup. I ran a brush through my bone-straight hair. My eyes burned thinking of the waves Ian liked to run his hands through when it would dry after being plaited. I spritzed a little perfume and didn’t glance twice at my reflection.
I exited my front door and followed the dramatic path down to his car. I stifled an eye roll at Spencer’s reaction.
“Who the hell are you?” he asked me.
My hands rose to my hips. “What are you saying?”
“I want to know what you’ve done with sex goddess Sophie Price?”
The title made my stomach roil. “I’m not that girl anymore.”
He studied me intently, his head cocked to one side. “Apparently,” he stated and I wasn’t sure how to interpret his reaction until he’d scooped me up into his arms and spun me around. “I like this Sophie. You look relaxed and able to have fun. You’re still as beautiful as ever but add carefree to the mix and that’s the new Sophie. I like it. It’s a good look on you.”
I inclined my head. “Thank you.”