The Truth About Us (9 page)

Sophia doesn’t push me, and she also reacts appropriately to the triple decker sandwich that I’ve been spending years perfecting. Her eyes widen as Caleb sets the sandwich down.

“How am I going to fit that thing in my mouth?” She looks at Caleb who chokes back a laugh.

“I hear that a lot, actually.” I smirk at her as she hits me and proceeds to use her palm to crush the toasted sandwich smaller.

I’ve never really been on a proper date. And not that that’s what this is but after three hours of talking about nothing and everything at the same time I’m surprised by how much I actually enjoyed the whole thing. How closely I watched her twirl her fingers through her ponytail and rub her finger over her bottom lip as she listened to me. How I noticed that she throws her head back when she laughs for real, but tilts it down when she pity laughs. How hard we laughed about Rich and his stories of Ruthie, about how she thought a bra would solve her problems, about how I own a pair of skin tight swim trunks that she now insists I show her. How after drinking more coffee than anyone should in the middle of the afternoon, I actually regret reminding her that she has a barbecue to go to. Like I want to keep her to myself for just awhile longer.

She rolls her eyes. “Do I have to? Don’t I know everyone already?”

“Tobie loves this shit. I think it’s more for her than anything else.”

“Fine, but my car’s still at the bar from last night, so can you drop me off there?”

I pull my keys from my pocket and wave to Caleb who wiggles his eyebrows, and I give him the finger.

“For sure.” I push open the door for her and she ducks automatically, just expecting it from me now. I like that and it feels strange. The way she anticipates me ignites a physical response which is confusing. I’ve never reacted to someone without ever touching them. Not that I don’t remember the softness of her skin or the way she fit perfectly in my arms.

“Corbin?” she says before opening the truck door.

“Yeah?” I shake off the entirely different reaction I have to the memory of touching her.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“My life tends to be overly dramatic, so thanks for distracting me.”

My heart plummets, but again I don’t know why. The sadness is back in her eyes, like the last few hours never happened. Her life is like some Shakespearian tragedy. Or at least from what I hear about them, I don’t read that shit.

xxx

On the way back to the bar, my new phone buzzes in my pocket. I fish it out with one hand and slide it open.

“Hello?” I say and glance over at Sophia who’s watching me.

“Where are you?” Kayla’s voice rings out and it makes my chest constrict. This is a new feeling. I’ve never dreaded a call from her before. But I’ve never gone behind Kayla’s back like this either. I should just end it. Whether Sophia sleeps with me or not, I just don’t have any interest in being around any other girl. Which shouldn’t be the case if I actually cared about Kayla in any deep way.

“Hey, Kay. I’m just dropping Sophia off at her car and then heading over to Tobie’s. Why? What’s up?” I pull up next to Sophia’s car and hold out my finger for her to wait.

“You’re still with her? You said you were going out for lunch like ten hours ago.” It doesn’t sound rude, but I know she’s not impressed.

“Don’t exaggerate, Kayla. She doesn’t know anyone here. I went for lunch with her. Talked. You know what most people do to make friends.” I can’t keep the irritation out of my voice as I struggle to keep my breathing even.

“Oh, you guys are friends? Sure you are, Corb. Your dick probably has nothing to do with your decision to play BFF to the new girl.” Kayla’s laughing like she’s right. She’s totally right, but I don’t dare say anything. Sophia rolls her eyes, able to hear Kayla’s words and reaches for the door handle. Before I know what I’m doing, my hand goes out and grips Sophia’s wrist, pulling her back into the truck. She slides across the seat toward me, eyes wide.

“Don’t be like that. Bitter looks bad on you.” It’s amazing how fast things can change. Kayla’s never spoken like this to me. I’ve never wanted to avoid her. No girl has captured my attention as quickly as Sophia. I feel like a total ass on the phone with one girl while I have another in my arms. I’m not this guy. Not anymore.

“I know,” Kayla continues. “Tosh was just at the bar. He mentioned the barbecue. He invited me, but I wanted to make sure you were going.”

“Yeah, I’ll be there.” I catch Sophia’s gaze again and she shakes her head, pulling away from me. I can’t say anything as she slides out of the truck and slams the door.

“Good.” Kayla sounds more like herself now. “I want to talk to him about DJing the Bash. I don’t know why I didn’t think of him before. He’s good, right?”

Yes, definitely more like normal. She’s concerned with no one but herself. I’d be pissed about it, but I’m only thinking about myself as I watch Sophia drive away.

“Uh, yeah I guess. I’ve only seen him spin once. A long time ago.” I press the cell between my ear and shoulder as I back up the truck and follow Sophia to Tobie’s place.

“But he didn’t suck?”

“No, as far as dance music goes, it was solid, I guess. I don’t know. I don’t listen to that shit.” Irritation builds inside my chest, and I don’t know where it’s coming from. I’m pissed at her for suddenly playing the jealous girlfriend card when she’s the one who adamantly kept us non-committal.

“You’re such a guy. I’ll see you at Tobie’s.” She clicks off the line, and I toss my phone onto the passenger seat.

The whole way to Tobie’s little place on the outskirts of town I wrestle my thoughts about Sophia and every now and again Kayla sneaks in there just to confuse me. I’m no further ahead in making sense of it by the time I pull into the driveway, so I decide to say fuck it. I’ll just see what happens, even though I know I should probably just say to hell with all women and take up God or something.

Tobie and Tosh’s little split level bungalow is already busy with people as I walk through the door and realize I didn’t pick up beer or anything. As soon as I walk into the living room I see Garett sitting on the couch next to Tosh, ramming their shoulders into each other as they try to throw the other off. Mario Kart is splitting the large screen, and I make my way over.

“Knock me off one more time, dude.” Garett says gritting his teeth and Tosh bumps him.

“Or what?” Tosh laughs and tosses his hair from his face.

“Or he’ll sue you for defamation of character or whatever you pussy lawyers do.” I shove my way between them and sit, forcing them both to shift over. Tosh high fives me and Garett punches me, which makes his character fall off the edge of the track.

Tosh lets out a huge yell and throws his hands in the air. “Still the God of the Kart.”

Garett rolls his eyes and hands me a beer. “It doesn’t count. Rematch after food.”

Arms slide around my neck, hands down my chest. Kayla leans over me, and I’m momentarily stunned. She’s never affectionate in public. Not like this.

“Hey, babe,” she says and my eyebrows raise.

I lean my head back to look at her, and she bends over to kiss me.

Oh, fuck. My stomach swirls nervously. This is bad. Especially after my day with Sophia. More so, the way Garett and Tosh both look as confused as I feel, embarrasses me. I pry her hands from my body holding her wrists.

“Uh, hey. I didn’t see you come in,” I mumble.

I slip out from under her arms and crack my beer, standing up and pretending to stretch. I scan the room, looking anywhere but at Kayla. Jackson’s here with Becca and her little sister, Jenny, who seems pretty attached to Riley, who seems not interested. As usual. I’ve given up trying to figure out his deal. He’s still in his
teacher outfit
of khaki’s and sweater vest over button-down, which just looks stupid. Even to someone like me, who thinks fashion is the ultimate waste of time and effort. Tosh’s sister, Kira, and some of the younger girls that I don’t remember from school are around the small table. I didn’t even realize Kira was back from college, and I wonder why I haven’t seen her around as I pass her and ruffle her hair.

“Fuck off, Corb.” She laughs and swats my hand away. Tobie and Brenda are in the kitchen, dancing around each other as they fill chip bowls, pull apart frozen beef patties, and shovel ice into a cooler. There is my way out of this. My clueless cousin. Tobie’s dreads swing around her shoulders, and that Tobie smile is plastered on her face. I’ve never known anyone as accepting and ultimately oblivious to character flaws as Tobie. She was our best bartender until she got pregnant and decided to retire from beer slinging.

Tobie sees me and comes skipping into the living room. “My favorite, big cousin. You made it.” She wraps her arms around me and her belly presses against me. It reminds me of Gaby, strangely, and I miss my sister and nephew, so I hug Tobie tighter.

“It’s been awhile since there’s been a Tn’T rager.” I laugh, and she pushes my chest. The parties here used to be epic. And dangerous. A party here three years ago led to a broken leg which then led to the discovery of swimming as a form of physical therapy to strengthen it back up.

“I’m all responsible and domestic now, haven’t you heard?” She laughs and pulls me into the kitchen. Brenda nods to me, and I notice Riley’s moved out back with Jenny and a few other people we hang out with, watching the flames in the backyard fire pit.

“Well that’s no fun.” I wink at her and grab a handful of chips. “So where’s the guest of honor?”

Tobie rolls her eyes. “Hiding. Most likely. She does that a lot, but today she seemed especially flustered when she came in. Said she needed to shower before anything else.”

“Well, she was hanging out with me, you know.”

“Yeah, true. Women usually need to sit in the shower and cry after spending time with you,” Tobie says and screams as I put her in a light headlock that she easily wiggles out of.

"Hey, hands off the pregnant lady." Brenda snaps me with the dish towel. "If you're in here, make yourself useful." She hands me a bag of tomatoes and I raise my hands, backing away.

"Just passing through." I protest, backing toward the sliding patio doors.

Brenda glares. "That's what I thought. Get."

Outside I light a smoke and lean my forearms on the rail of the deck. Not even three seconds pass before Kayla leans up against me.

“We should get out of here,” she whispers in my ear and slides her hands around my waist.

I catch a brief glance from Riley, whose face reflects the earlier baffled expression of my other friends. No one is used to this from Kayla. There seems to be unanimous confusion at her public affection. I spin in her arms to face her, and she presses against me harder.

“Kayla, what are you doing?” I peel her hands from me and gently push her to arms-length. Her thick bottom lip sticks out in a playful pout.

“What? Are you embarrassed by me?” she asks, taking my hands in hers.

“I always thought it was the other way around.” I try to play it off as a joke, but honestly, I have no fucking clue what’s happening. I’m stuck against the deck rail with my hands still in Kayla’s and I just stare at her like an idiot until I see Sophia standing in the middle of the kitchen. She’s watching me, and I instantly pull my hands away from Kayla and cross them in front of my chest.

Sophia’s cheeks redden, and she looks away but not before Kayla’s mouth turns into a satisfied smile.

“What are you doing?” I ask, acutely aware that Sophia saw everything and that Kayla planned it that way.

This is why I don’t get involved. These girl games spin my mind into a tangled mess and put me in awe of how they can keep it all straight. They’re like criminal masterminds or something.

“I’m proving a point, Corbin.” Kayla’s smirk turns sinister, and she spins quickly on her heel.

“Sophia!” Kayla says, pulling Sophia in for a hug. “Sweetie, come with me. I need to talk to you.” Her voice is sickeningly kind and my gut sinks so low that I feel like I need to look for it under the deck.

Sophia and I lock eyes. She’s silently asking me what’s happening. I wish I knew.

Don’t follow, Corbin,
I think.
Kayla’s just being a bitch. Don’t follow.

Ah, fuck it.

I have to follow.

Chapter Ten

Sophia

Pulling into Tobie’s driveway, I finally get my heart to slow to a normal beat. My fingers shake, and the only reason I am not having a complete flip out is because the pill I took as soon as I got in my car is still circulating through me. It keeps my hazy confusion just far enough away that I don’t have to deal with it yet. I should have known that today was too good. That it couldn’t have been real.

I lean my head back, but if I close my eyes, I see Corbin, sitting in his truck saying that I’m nothing more than a charity case to the girl he’s fucking. This is too much.