Chapter 6

Sophie lowered her gaze with a smile, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup. "Alex said you're pretty interesting."

My hand holding the cup stopped. "Did he talk about me to you?"

"Now and then."

"What did he say?"

She looked up at me, her eyes gentle and elegant. "He said you're always busy with work, tough on the outside but soft on the inside.

"And that you two have been talking about getting married lately, but you always worry too much."

My fingers pressed against the warmth of the cup.

Alex had indeed talked to me about getting married.

His mom wasn't in good health and hoped we'd settle things this year. My mom was satisfied at first, thinking a traffic cop was reliable because at least he wouldn't sneak out to go clubbing at midnight.

I spoke up for Alex back then. "Mom, he only checks on those who are out clubbing at night."

Now, it was like my words had come back to haunt me. He'd ended up catching someone in his arms.

I asked Sophie, "In what role does he talk to you about these things?"

She lowered her gaze. "An old friend."

"An old friend discusses his girlfriend's wedding concerns?"

"Ms. Snyder, you don't have to be so defensive. I'm not trying to steal anything from you."

Generally, those who claimed they never meant to take what belonged to others already had their hands out ready to grab it.

I set down my coffee spoon. "So, what do you want to talk about?"

Sophie took a sharp breath, seeming ready to get straight to the point at last. "I'm sorry about last night.

"I was drunk, and some guy kept harassing me. I panicked and called Alex. He only came to help me out, nothing more."

"Why did you call him?"

She pressed her lips together. "Because I trust him."

I nodded. "I heard that yesterday, too. You're consistent with the story."

Her face went a little pale. "Ms. Snyder, I know this makes you uneasy. But that's how Alex is. He always feels responsible for everyone. Back when we were together, he always put other people first."

"So that's why you broke up?"

She froze.

I looked her in the eye. "Ms. Norton, did you come here to explain, or to remind me that you know him better, that he dropped everything for you at midnight, and that there's a history between you two I'll never interfere in?"

A boat passed by on the river, its horn rumbling low, making the glass vibrate softly.

Sophie's smile finally faded. She leaned back in her chair, her tone turning cool. "Rosy, you're smart. So I won't beat around the bush.

"Alex is with you because you're steady, the kind of woman a man can settle down with. But the person he can't get over might not be you."

I looked at her. "Did Alex say that?"

"Some things don't need to be laid bare."

"So that's your guess."

She chuckled. "Sometimes a woman's intuition is spot on."

I laughed, too. "If your intuition is so good, how come you didn't see the red flags in your first marriage?"

Sophie's face fell.

I knew that was harsh, but I wasn't here for her pity party. She was the one who struck first, yet expected me to go easy on her. That was too much to ask.

She gripped her coffee cup tightly. "You don't have to attack me."

"You called my boyfriend to the bar, had him carry you inside, sent an intimate photo at 2 AM, and now you're here telling me who he's still cherishing." I locked eyes with her. "Sophie, I'm returning the favor."

Her eyes welled up with tears right away. She looked lovely as she cried, her tears shimmering like faint mist draped over delicate blooms.

But I didn't feel sorry for her. I'd watched her pick fights before, so her tears didn't work on me.

She whispered, "It's been so hard for me."

I picked up my bag. "Everyone's got it tough. The bare minimum for an adult is not to use your own problems as an excuse to mess with someone else's life."

She looked up at me.

I stood up and added, "Whether Alex is marriage material or not, that's for me to decide. You don't need to vet him for me."

I turned to leave. As I reached the door, my phone rang. It was Alex.

I answered, and his voice was tight with anger. "What did you say to Sophie? She's crying."

The river breeze slipped through the door, blowing my hair against my face.

Suddenly, I wasn't mad anymore. The whole thing only seemed absurd to me. "Alex, she cries, and you're blaming me. But when I saw you holding her last night, who was I supposed to blame?"

There was silence on the other end.

I said, "You need to figure out if you're my boyfriend or her personal after-sales service." Then I hung up.