Page 9 of While You Sleep

Sophia: How is it you can make me laugh when I’m on the verge of tears?

She thought Dean was funny for some reason. I didn’t know how to be funny, I was just observant, but mainly I channeled my brother. Women seemed to like him, found him humorous.

Dean: Don’t cry over that douchebag. There’s a reason you didn’t invite him up, yeah? If you were into him, he’d be there with you now.

Sophia: You’re right. I was trying to force something that wasn’t there.

The lights in her apartment went off.

Dean: You gonna be okay?

Sophia: Yeah. Thanks. I think I’ll just go to bed and pretend tonight never happened.

Dean: Night, Soph.

Sophia: Night, Dean.

I’d make sure she was okay. As soon as she fell asleep, I’d go to her, and if that fucker caused her nightmares, I’d be there to hold her down.

I quickly sent the picture of Brian to Declan, along with his name.

Me: I want to know what this fucker eats for breakfast.

Declan replied with a thumbs-up.

I had a bad feeling about this guy. He wasn’t going to go away easily, I knew that much. He wanted Sophia, and he wanted her badly.

If he didn’t take the hint after tonight, I’d make him go away. No, I didn’t need a reason to put a bullet in his head, but I preferred there to be more than just being the idiot dumb enough to get a hard-on for Sophia Brennan.

If that was the criteria, I’d have to shoot half the guys who crossed her path.

Then turn the fucking gun on myself.

Chapter Four

Sophia

It was Saturday night, I was supposed to be out with Fiona, but I decided to stay home instead. I was avoiding Brian. He’d been calling constantly, and I didn’t want to run into him, not yet. I’d texted him and told him as nicely as I could that we weren’t a good fit, that I didn’t want to see him anymore, and still I’d seen him waiting outside the cafe when I arrived earlier today to work. I’d actually hidden so I didn’t have to talk to him. He’d freaked me out the other night. He’d kind of acted like one of the men my father surrounded himself with, instead of the mild-mannered guy I’d gotten to know. He’d become aggressive, and abusive, and honestly, I didn’t want to be alone with him. We definitely had nothing more to talk about.

Lying back on the couch, I scrolled for something to watch.

My phone chimed and another text from Brian popped up on the screen.

Brian: Would you just meet with me? Give me a second chance, please.

I swiped it away trying to ignore him, but my phone started ringing a few seconds later. This was getting ridiculous. He wasn’t taking no for an answer. I had no idea why he was so persistent. We’d been friends, yes, but only for a short time, and he’d destroyed that when he’d behaved the way he had. I didn’t want to talk to him, but he obviously needed to hear me say it.

Taking a fortifying breath to ease the nerves rioting in my belly, I answered. “Brian…”

“Soph, fucking finally. What the fuck? Why are you ignoring me?”

If he thought snapping at me would help his cause, he was seriously mistaken. God, he even sounded different, like he’d been hiding an entire side of his personality. “I told you why. It’s not going to work between us. I’m sorry, but I don’t want to see you anymore.”

“You’re not thinking right. You don’t want to take things between us further yet, fine. I’ll give you more time, okay?”

“You’re not going to change my mind. This is over—”

“For fuck’s sake, Sophia! Why are you being such a fucking bitch?”

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