Reaching Out for You (16 page)

A few moments
later we’re all in the kitchen, sitting down and eating.

“Sophia, look at
you! You are absolutely beautiful my dear.” Mrs. Simpson always compliments me
and it makes me feel so embarrassed. “And it only took nearly twenty one years
for you and my stubborn son to make yourselves official.” She continues to eat
her cinnamon bun as if saying that meant nothing.

“Um, thank you
Mrs. Simpson.” I start fidgeting in my seat and my face goes bright red again.

“Sophia, I think
you’re old enough to call me
Lydia
.”

“Um, okay.
Thanks
Lydia
.” I smile at her and just shake my head.
I peer over at Adam and see him looking at me
.
There is that smile
again… the smile that lets me know how happy he is. I bring my hand down from
the table and bring it to his. Our fingers twist together and an instant rush
comes through me.

Connor shoves a
cinnamon bun in his mouth and looks at us. “Well
Soph
,
now that you and Adam are finally together, when’s the wedding?”

Sarah high fives
Connor and the kitchen explodes with laughter.
“One hundred
percent Connor.
One.
Hundred.
Percent!”
I feel humiliated that they’re already making
jokes about us. I am not mad or anything, but I don’t want Adam to think that
this is what I want. I mean of course maybe one day we can get married, but now
I’m just getting used to having him as my boyfriend.

“Alright, who
wants to open presents?” I get up from the table and head over to the living
room. Everyone follows me to the living room for present time as well.

My dad takes
charge and starts to pass out everyone’s gifts. Since we are all older, we
start to open up our gifts and say our ‘thank
yous
’.
Lydia
and Frank give dad, Sarah, and I, a
one-week vacation to
Florida
. That was their usual gift for us but
after Adam and I stopped being friends, we stopped celebrating Christmas
together. We haven’t been to
Florida
in about six years. It will be a good
vacation to get away before graduation.

We give our
present to
Lydia
and Frank. My dad knew about the
Florida
trip since
Lydia
asked if it would be ok that we all go
this year. Since everything is ok with all of us, they both decided it was time
to go back down to Florida-
together.
My dad bought them an all day spa
package which includes massages, a mud bath, facials, golf, a manicure and
pedicure. Thank goodness he paid for that gift!

We give Adam and
Connor floor seat tickets to the final game for the NCAA. It is a win-win
situation and everyone is happy, “You know this never gets old. I love
Christmas,” Connor says. He gets up and hands me a gift, “Here ya go,
Soph
. Open it.”

I can’t help but
smile. I wonder what he bought me, so I quickly start opening the gift and see
a beautiful black Michael
Kor’s
purse, “Oh Connor,
thank you.” I get up and give him a hug, “I love it, thank you!”

When he lets me
go, I look at both Adam and Connor and wink, “I have something for the both of
you as well.” I go over behind the couch and grab two boxes, “Here, these are
for you.”

The guys went at
the boxes and tore them apart. They open the boxes and are speechless. I bought
them both a signed Brady jersey that cost me a little too much but I know it is
worth it. The guys get up and tackle me to the ground, giving me kisses all
over, “Oh my God! Get off me!” I wiggle underneath them and laugh. Being with
them feels like a dream. Everything is perfect.

“Look at them
Tom, doesn’t it feel good to have them all back,” I hear
Lydia
say to my dad.

“It is great to
have Sophia back.”

The rest of the
day goes by fast.
Lydia
and Frank head out while Adam and Connor
stay behind. We watch Christmas movies with my dad and Sarah and I realize how
happy I am. I lean my head on Adam’s broad shoulder and let out a quiet sigh.
His hand rests gently on my knee and my whole body clenches as I start thinking
about him on top of me kissing me all over and moving his hands all over my
body. Oh my God! I need to stop thinking like this.

“
Soph
, you never answered my question,” Connor starts to
say, “I mean I’ve always wanted a sister.”

I throw a pillow
at him. “Shut up!” I think about what it’d be like to be Mrs. Sophia Simpson,
but immediately dismiss the idea out of my head. It has only been a day! I
can’t think that way.

Adam takes my
hand as he gets up, “Come outside with me.”

I immediately
get up and start following him outside. When we walk out the door to the porch,
I notice that it is lightly snowing. I watch the snowflakes fall from the sky.
I run out on the grass and start spinning as I tilt my head back and stick my
tongue out.

“
Soph
, what are you doing?”

I start
laughing. “I’m alive, Adam! Come on, spin with me.” I spin faster and faster.
Adam grabs me by the waist and lifts me up. We spin together as we laugh
hysterically. Finally we fall on the grass and look at one another, “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“Thanks for
staying with me today and for everything you’ve been doing. I know I don’t say
this enough but thank you for coming back to me. I really missed you.”

He leans in
closer and kisses my forehead, “You too
Soph
.”

I have only been
back to school for a few days and already hate it. I’ve been stuck in the
library 24/7. All I do is research various advances of
Optimax
,
and how we can expand further. It is daunting and I am always so tired. The
night times are the best because Adam will stay with me in my room. He is
always a gentleman and we hold each other all night. I love everything about
him. His smile, his eyes, his scent, and the way I feel in his arms.

I barely see
Kyle, which is a great thing. One day while Adam and I are walking, I see Kyle
in the corner of my eye. The way his eyes fall on me, scare me half to death. I
don’t know what to say or if I should let Adam know, but I never mention it.
Adam complains all the time how Kyle changes the plays and will not let him
know. I want Adam to quit the basketball team, but I don’t want him to give up
playing. Adam’s love for basketball started when he was a kid. I do not want to
take that away from him. I want to talk to Kyle and tell him to grow up, but
Erin
stops me. I hate this useless battle
between the both of them.

It is Thursday
night and Adam has to run back home to help his dad with something. I take the
opportunity to get back to studying the company, and do more research. There
are not too many people in the library and it feels nice to have some quiet
time.

“Sophia.” His
dark voice makes my body clench with fear. My skin crawls and my body becomes
tense. Kyle’s near me. I forget what to do and freeze. I hate how scared he
makes me feel. His voice alone makes me feel small. I watch him as he comes to
the table and sits down across from me. The anger in his eyes emerges and I can
feel the tension in the air. I see his fists tighten and I start to get scared,
“So you are the fucking slut I knew you were.” I look around the library to see
if anyone can hear us. “Sophia, you can’t leave me, I hope you know that.”

“Leave me alone,
Kyle. We broke up. We’re done. I’m with Adam now.”

He abruptly gets
up from the chair knocking it down. “So you think it is fucking over, Sophia!”

I start to cry,
“Kyle, stop and leave me alone please!” I don’t know why I can’t find the
strength to stop crying and stand up to him. I hate this feeling. I don’t want
to feel weak.

He flips over
the table and all of my papers scatter across the floor. The students around us
start to get up and look over at us. I feel so embarrassed, but mostly scared,
I am not sure what Kyle is capable of doing. “I am NOT losing you Sophia. You
better think about that before doing something you
will
regret!” He
comes close to my face and I see the intensity in his eyes. I close my eyes and
think about Adam; my happy place. When I open my eyes again I see
Erin
pushing Kyle out of my face and kicking
him in the stomach.

“Leave her the
fuck alone, Kyle!”

He gets up from
the floor and gets in
Erin
’s face. “Stay the fuck out of this
Erin
.”

Erin
gets in his face and stares him down.
“Listen you asshole. She broke up with you so move the fuck on! You can’t hit
her or treat her like shit anymore. If you don’t leave, I will call the cops.”
Erin
whips out her phone and looks straight
at him.

I’m frozen in my
chair and can’t move.

Kyle throws his
hands in the air and laughs. “Leaving… but you bitches haven’t seen the last of
me.”

I get up and try
to reorganize the table and my papers. I can’t help but cry. I notice the
whispers and pointing start. I try to ignore it but can’t control my emotions.
“Stop looking at me!” I scream. I get on my hands and knees and sob
uncontrollably. I hate how much control he still has over me. I just want him
to get the hell out of my life so I can be happy. What is it going to take?

“Sophia, honey
it is ok.”
Erin
takes me in her arms and pats my back. I
can’t help but shake. Why can’t he leave me alone? After a few minutes
Erin
puts everything back to the way it was
before Kyle attacked my papers and the table. She puts my papers in my backpack
and pulls me close to her, “Come on lets go.”

All eyes are
back on me and I can’t help but think how much I hate myself for allowing Kyle
to make a scene. This is my entire fault and I can’t think otherwise.

We get outside
into the dreary night. There are students everywhere and the sidewalks are
packed. Students are scrambling to get to their next class so they will not be
late. Luckily, for me I am finished with classes and just have to focus on the
presentation I am going to have to give in a few weeks. “You hungry,”
Erin
asks me.

Erin
’s arm is still around me as we walk
aimlessly. “Not really.”

“Well you look
like you’ve lost 10 lbs, so let’s get the unhealthiest thing known to man,
whatcha
say?”

I shrug my
shoulders and follow her as we head toward Oscars-a fried chicken and biscuit
place that I used to go to when I had my “friend” visiting. Definitely comfort
food but something that I can’t eat every day. We arrive at the tiny restaurant
and seat ourselves in the booth. The tablecloth is a checkered pattern. There
aren’t many tables and booths in the place since students mostly just take the
food to go. The wallpaper is peeling from the wall but I think it gives the
place more character. It just shows how long they’ve been opened and it doesn’t
need a makeover for people to still be attracted to the place.

Erin
comes back to the table with our food
and starts eating. All I can do is look at it and move the chicken around, “
Soph
?”

I look up,
“Yeah?”

“You ok babe?”

“I don’t know
Erin
. Why can’t he leave me alone? I don’t want
to tell Adam.”

“Hey! You need
to tell him. He is your boyfriend and he deserves to know. Don’t shut anyone
out Sophia. I am serious!”

I sigh. Why did
this have to happen? I’m happy and I am doing great. I can’t have Kyle
constantly around trying to terrorize me. I want my life to be normal. I want
to be able to go out with my boyfriend and my friends without the fear of Kyle
being nearby.

Erin and I
finish up our dinner and head back to the apartment. When we get there,
Connor’s sitting at the island with his laptop. “Hey girls, what is going on?”
I feel myself falling apart again. “Oh my God,
Soph
,
what is wrong,” Connor gets up and runs over to me. I fall into his arms and
cry. When are the tears going to stop coming now? When will I be happy for more
than a few weeks?