Sweet Sofie (6 page)

“Short stories mainly, but I know I have it in me to write a novel someday.”

Brandon smiled. “I love reading. It’s all I do at home. I could read an entire novel in a day.”

Sofia stared at him, completely surprised. She would’ve never pegged Brandon as a reader. He was totally failing Geometry, but maybe math wasn’t his thing.

“What kind of stories do you write?” Brandon appeared almost captivated.

Sofia suddenly felt nervous. She hadn’t expected Brandon to be interested in her writing. Much less, ask her more about it. “Lots of stuff.”

“Like what?” He actually put his elbow on the desk and rested his head in his hand, watching her. Only then did she notice how blue his eyes were.

She never would’ve dreamed she’d be having this conversation with Brandon. She told him about several of the stories she had backed up on her computer. The teacher cleared her voice loudly, and looked straight at them. Brandon shielded his paper and pointed at Sofia—as if she who was acing the class—would copy off
his
work. Even the teacher couldn’t help but smirk.

They walked out together after class. “I’d love to read some of your writing, Sofia.”

She cringed. No one had ever read any of her stuff. She’d never even told anyone about it. “Umm… I dunno.”

“Here.” He pulled a paper out of his backpack and scribbled something on it. “Email me one of your stories. I promise I won’t be mean. If anything maybe I can give you some constructive criticism.”

Sofia took the paper from him and smiled. “Okay. I’ll check and see what I don’t mind sharing.”

She got caught for a moment in his eyes, then she looked away.

“Okay, see you,” he said and walked away.

She turned to walk down the stairs and saw Eric staring straight at her. Her heart fluttered as usual, and she smiled.

“Did he give you his number?” Eric asked, without smiling back.

“No.” Unwilling to share the truth. “It’s about the homework.” She smashed the piece of paper into her hand. “He gave me a website he uses to help him.”

“Since when do you need help from Brandon?” Eric still wasn’t smiling.

Knowing she’d startle Eric, she kissed him. “It was just a suggestion.”

Eric looked around, obviously concerned. “Sofia, stop.”

She giggled. He was too easy. “Never.”

Risking it all

Sofia was in a forbidden heaven. Things had progressed, and even Eric couldn’t stop it. Every time they made out things got heavier and heavier and every time, things were more exciting than the last.

She was doing her usual morning run when she got an idea. Eric’s dad was away for a few days. Instead of doing her normal run, she took a short cut and headed to his house.

Sofia knocked when she got there, but he didn’t answer. She wondered if he was asleep still. To her surprise, the front door wasn’t locked. She walked in, but stopped mid-stride. What was she doing? There was a humming noise in another room. Then complete silence. Sofia stood in place, debating about leaving or waiting.

She called out Eric’s name. Within moments, he walked out into the front room wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. “Sofie? How’d you get in here?”

Unable to take her eyes off his bare chest, she gestured toward the front door. “It was open.”

She rushed to him and kissed him. Just as eager, he spun her around and she was against the wall with his big body pressed against her. He kissed her more ravenously than he ever had. She loved it. Every part of her body was awake with anticipation.

She smothered herself against him, hearing him moan when her stomach pressed against his erection. Then his towel dropped. Sofia froze. One look down and she saw what she’d only felt through his clothes for weeks. Sofia had never seen one. Not even on the Internet like some of her friends. She didn’t dare risk getting caught. With her eyes still glued to it, Eric bent down to pick up the towel and there was a knock at the door.

With her heart at her throat already, she could barely breathe. Eric worked quickly to wrap the towel around him, when Romero flung the door open. They all stood there speechless. Romero stared at the two of them for once, without a thing to say. Sofia grabbed a DVD off the wall and ran past Romero. “Thanks, Eric. I’ll get this back as soon as I’m done with it.”

*

Romero stared at the door Sofia just ran through and then turned back to Eric. “Are you out of your mind?”

In a weak attempt to pretend not to understand what Romero meant, Eric responded, “What do you mean?” The throbbing boner was all but gone now, but his towel still showed signs of life. His heart raced like he’d never felt before.

“Dude.” Romero glanced back at the door. “Do you know how bad that looked? If Angev> l or Alex had been with me…”

Eric shrugged, but the fear that suddenly inundated him just hearing Alex’s name, was a living thing. “She showed up when I just got outta the shower. All she wanted was to borrow a DVD.”

Romero stared at him, unconvinced. “Just ‘cause Angel hasn’t noticed, Eric. Don’t think I haven’t. You really need to think about this. Don’t be stupid. This is Sofie we’re talking about, man.”

Eric frowned. “She’ll be seventeen soon.”

“Seriously? You’re actually considering this?” Romero stared at him, then shook his head, walking past him toward the fridge. “Stop. Just stop, dude. I don’t even wanna hear any more.”

Eric stared at the floor, his breathing finally back to normal. He looked up in time to watch Romero pull a bottle of soda out of the fridge. He took a swig of it then made a face. “What’s with the diet soda?”

Ignoring his comment, Eric rushed into the bedroom. “I gotta get out of here.”

Romero was on his sofa watching television with his feet on the coffee table when Eric walked back in the living room. He had a bag of chips now. “Where you going?”

Eric frowned. “I gotta meet my mom for breakfast. She drove in from Los Angeles.”

He had long forgiven his mom for walking away from him and his dad when he was just a baby. She explained it to him when he was about fifteen. She said she’d just been too young and immature to handle settling down with a family. She was nineteen when she walked away. His dad worried when he was younger that he might be dealing with issues of abandonment. But Eric had always argued, how could he feel abandoned by someone he didn’t even remember?

Their relationship ever since she’d reached out to be a part of his life consisted of one or two monthly visits like today. But Eric kept them short. Even when she’d invited him to come stay with her for a few weeks in the summer or to take a trip with her, he’d always politely declined.

Romero stood up, downing the last of his soda. He tossed the bag of chips on the coffee table. For some reason, Eric felt the need to avoid eye contact with Romero. His knotted up stomach churned. It was out there. Someone knew now, and it was just a matter of time before he had to deal with her brothers.

“Listen, Romero. About Sofie—”

“Don’t worry. I’m not gonna say anything,” he scoffed. “Are you fucking kidding me? You really think I wanna be the one to tell those guys?” He shook his head. “Nope. No thanks, but I’m telling you, Eric, you better watch yourself. This shit has bad news written all over it.”

Eric eyeballed him as he finished putting on his watch. He didn’t need Romero to point that thunderous fact out.

He called Sofia before leaving to assure her Romero wasn’t going to say anything. He only prayed Romero wouldn’t say something when he was drunk.

*

Things were going fine. Sofia and Eric had slipped into a comfortable enough routine. Angel had become so distracted with Sarah, he appreciated the fact th Kd trip witat Eric was so willing to help him out driving Sofia around. Then suddenly, and very dramatically, Angel broke things off with Sarah. She was supposed to have gone back to Arizona after the New Year anyway, but just before Christmas, Angel found out about the guy waiting for her back home and it was over.

He’d been in a completely black mood ever since. Sofia felt bad for him. Even though Sarah was no longer around, his distraction continued. Never once did he question why Eric was over so much.

Their parents were gone the week after Christmas. Every year they took off to Mexico after Christmas and didn’t come back until after the New Year. At the last minute, Alex put together a party for New Year’s Eve. Sofia didn’t even know about it until she got home that night after closing up the restaurant with Sal, who’d come home for the holidays.

Excited about a party, Sofia ran to her room to change. She’d borrowed the cutest blouse from Sarah months earlier and hadn’t had a chance to wear it. All done up, she went downstairs, excited about Eric seeing her in it. He wasn’t there yet, but Alex took one look at her and made her go change. As usual, Sofia was so mad she was close to tears. Just because it was a backless top, and he was having some of his college friends over. He was ridiculous.

After changing into one of her boring tops, because she owned nothing sexy, she went back downstairs. As it turned out, even her boring top was enough to drive Eric crazy. No sooner than she leaned against him behind the bar in the garage where the guys were playing pool, did he pull away.

“Stop,” he whispered.

She giggled. All three of her brothers were engrossed in the game. The girls Alex talked to were so silly, Sofia could barely believe they were in college. Their obvious attempts of turning her brothers on were almost funny. Angel, of course, was oblivious to them. She was surprised he hadn’t just called it a night and went upstairs, in the mood he was in.

Alex clicked the channel on the television that hung in the corner of the garage. They were getting ready for the countdown to the New Year. Romero said he wanted to watch it on the big screen inside. Sofia pulled Eric’s arm. “C’mon, lets go with him. I have to see this in there. It’s way bigger.”

None of her brothers even flinched when they heard her tell Romero to wait up for her and Eric. Once inside, they’d barely closed the kitchen door behind them and Sofia was all over Eric.

Eric didn’t disappoint, with a hunger that matched her own. But he was always being cautious. They didn’t even follow Romero into the front room. They heard the countdown, then cheering and the music started. Eric took a few steps backward, finally stopping when he had no choice and leaned against the sink.

She could feel him now through his pants, but he kept stopping to check if anyone was watching. Finally, he gave in and took her mouth in his, devouring her tongue completely. Her insides went wild.

The back door opened. “What the fuck!”

Sofia spun around, shielding Eric from a very enraged Alex. He charged at Eric, “You’re kissing my little sister?”

Sofia put her hand up in an attempt to hold him back. “It was just a New Year’s kiss.”

S>

“I don’t give a shit.” Alex’s voice got louder with every word. “You don’t kiss my sister like that. What the fuck’s wrong with you?”

Angel had walked in right after Alex, but hadn’t seen them kissing. He tried jumping in front of Alex. “Hold on, Alex. Like how?

“It was just for New Year’s, Alex. Relax,” Eric insisted.

Even more enraged by that, Alex reached over Sofia and grabbed Eric by the shirt. “I know what I saw, fucker. Sofia move!”

Sofia didn’t budge. Instead she pushed Alex back with both hands. Sal had rushed in from outside and between him, Angel and Sofia they managed to hold Alex back. Eric slipped away from behind Sofia and headed to the door.

“What the hell, Alex?” Angel asked. “Wait, Eric.”

Eric didn’t even slow down.

“No. I want him out!” Alex roared.

After Alex swore to beat Eric’s ass if he ever saw him around Sofia again, Angel turned to Sofia. “How was he kissing you?”

Sofia was so choked up she couldn’t even answer, but it didn’t matter. Alex didn’t give her a chance before shouting, “Your friend had his tongue down her throat!”

Angel looked dumbfounded.

“Maybe I had my tongue down his throat!” Sofia cried. “Ever think of that?” All three brothers stood their staring at her. Alex blinked and opened his mouth, but nothing came out. “I’m not a baby anymore, Alex. I’m tired of you treating me like one!”

She saw him gulp. “You’re sixteen, Sof.”

Even though his tone was much softer now, it enraged her. He’d just threatened to hurt Eric if he was ever around her. Cut him off from her life just like that. “I’ll see him if I want to. You can’t stop me!”

She pushed past Romero who’d been standing at the kitchen door, watching and listening to the whole show. Then Alex was yelling again. “You hear me, Sofia? Like hell you will!”

Oh, she heard him all right. Sofia ran up the stairs but she was done with her brothers running her life. She slammed her room door shut before falling onto her bed sobbing.

*

As bad as things had gone, it wasn’t nearly as bad as it could’ve been. When Alex walked in the kitchen, Eric had been but seconds from squeezing Sofia’s ass with both hands. She did things to him that made him lose his mind completely. He knew it was a bad idea to be doing anything to her with her brother just yards away. For as much as he tried to fight it, fight
her
, it was impossible. Being with Sofia was like an addictive drug. He knew the consequences could be deadly, and yet he craved her more than anything. The more he had, the more he wanted.