Page 26 of Intern

BOOM!

The entire building shakes as the sound echoes off the surrounding buildings. Racing to the window, I look to the nearby buildings before turning my attention down to the street.

Shards of glass cover the sidewalk and most of the street, as flames billow from a black car parked at the street in front of the entrance to the building.

“Sofia!” Her name rattles from my lungs as I race through the apartment to the elevator. I slam my fingers repeatedly against the call button. I hit it again and again, but it doesn’t come fast enough.

I slam through the emergency fire door with my heart pounding in my chest. Barely able to breathe, I jump down the stairs two at a time as I make my way down the eight flights. Barreling into the lobby, I push through the terrified residents of the building, screaming her name as I make my way onto the street.

“Sofia!” I scream trying to approach the car, but the flames shooting from the wreckage make it impossible to get close enough to see inside.

Turning around, about to completely fall apart, I see her on the sidewalk crumpled against the front of the building. Every step across the sidewalk feels like I’m walking in sand, and I can’t cross the distance between us fast enough.

Finally reaching her, I drop to the glass-covered ground and lift her face. Tears well in her eyes and drops of blood trickle down her face from a handful of small cuts. Pulling her against me, I exhale, “Thank fucking God you’re okay.”

“That was supposed to be me.” The words tremble from her mouth.

I carefully wipe glass from her clothes and hair as I continue to check her over to ensure that she truly isn’t actually hurt.

“I…I was in the lobby.” A tear falls down the cheek of the strongest woman I’ve ever met. “I should’ve been in the car. Ten blocks from here.”

She looks up at me, and I nearly break watching the tears stream down her face.

“You’re the only reason I wasn’t in that car.” She pushes out the pained words through her tears. “If you weren’t here. I wouldn’t have been late, and I would’ve been in the car.”

“But you weren’t. And you’re okay.”

“If you hadn’t forgotten your phone.” Her hand slaps over her mouth. “Those few seconds. You could’ve been in the car too.”

Her hands claw at the labels of my jacket trying to pull me close. Slipping my hands under her legs and behind her back, I lift her from the sidewalk and into my arms. She wraps her arms tightly around my neck, but I can’t seem to pull her tight enough to me.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I whisper the words against her bloody forehead before placing what I hope is a comforting kiss.

twenty one

SOFIA

With my arms around his neck, I burrow my face into his chest trying to get closer to him. He carries me into the building and past the crowd of people waiting at the elevator bank. Spinning around he, uses his back to push open the heavy door to the stairwell.

“You’re okay.”

“I’ve got you.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

He continuously repeats the words and softly kisses the top of my head. Cradling my body in his arms, he steadily makes his way up eight flights of stairs. Not a single exhausted exhale. Not a single complaint. Nothing but continuous words of comfort, tender kisses, and a firm embrace.

“Squeeze tighter.” His voice is soft when we reach the door to my apartment. I tighten my grip around his neck, so hard it likely strangles him, and he releases me for a moment to pull my keys from his pocket. Shoving them into the door, he makes quick work of the lock before carrying me inside.

Kicking the door shut with his foot, he pulls me tightly to him again as he takes us to my bedroom. Bypassing the bed, he walks straight to the en-suite and sits on the edge of the tub. My face still buried in his chest, I’m surprised by the sound of the running water and the fragrant aroma of my lavender bath bubbles.

“Gab—”

“Shhh,” He strokes the side of my face with one hand as he removes one of my stilettos with the other. “Please just let me take care of you.”

I don’t have it in me to argue with him, and merely nod in response. Sinking back against him, he removes my other shoe. His hand slides up my calf, over my knee, and proceeds up my thigh over my skirt. Passing over my hip, he tugs at the zipper resting against my lower back. Still holding me tightly with one arm, his fingers work the buttons of my blouse as he continues to place soft kisses against the top of my head.

“I’m right here, Sofia,” he whispers as he pulls my shirt from my body. Wrapping both arms around me, he pulls me close and unfastens the clasp of my bra. “You’re safe now.”

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