Page 22 of Sleeping with the Frenemy

Sofi winced at the memory of the epic hangover she’d gotten that night. “Yeah, I don’t actually remember much after the party bus, so I apologize for what had to be a bad first impression.”

“It definitely wasn’t good,” Leo said loudly, causing her to startle.

She dropped Roman’s gaze immediately as if she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t. Then she remembered that she was a single woman and could do whatever she wanted. She scowled at Leo. “I didn’t ask you.”

Leo gave her an annoying smirk. “I’m just trying to be helpful and coax your memories out. I remember everything about that night. I can share more if you want.”

She one hundred percent did not want, because one of the only things that she recalled was raving jealously at Leo for his audacity in bringing his basic-ass date to a party she’d planned. It was not one of her finer moments.

“I don’t believe that at all,” Abuela Fina decreed. “Mi negrita es una dama perfecta.”

Leo, who’d just taken a drink of water, spit it all over the place. He started coughing and laughing at the same time.

Sofi ignored the fact that she’d asked her abuela many times to not call her “mi negrita” in front of other people. It was a nickname she only allowed her mother and grandmother to use and she didn’t want anyone else to even get the idea that calling Sofi their “little Black girl” was an acceptable possibility. She didn’t want to have to put anyone in check. Except for Leo. She loved checking his ass, so she glared at him. “Are you saying that I’m not a perfect lady?”

“Yes. That’s one hundred percent what I’m saying.”

“Leo,” Valeria said in a stern tone.

But Leo didn’t appear to listen. He stared at her in a way that made her heart pick up the pace. “There are a lot of words I’d use to describe you, butperfect ladydoesn’t make the top of the list.”

Her thighs clenched. She knew exactly what words he’d use, because he’d said them all to her before. Moaned them in her ear really.

“She is too the perfect lady,” Abuela Fina said. “She’s been sleeping on the couch because she refuses to take the bedroom from me even though it’s her bedroom.”

Sofi really wished she hadn’t said that, but she loved her abuela for defending her honor. “It was my bedroom when I was a kid. Now it’s your room.”

“Why are you on the couch?” Valeria asked. “What happened to your apartment?”

Sofi shifted her feet. “I’d sublet it for a few months because originally that’s how long the job in France was going to be. When I ended up staying longer, I tried to hold on to it, but the owner was in the process of selling the building anyway. I had to give it up.” She didn’t want it to seem like she was irresponsible so she continued explaining herself. “I was supposed to get one of our company apartments when I got back, but there was a mix-up and it ended up going to someone else, so now I’m looking for a new place.”

“Stay here with Leo,” Papo said.

“What?” Sofi and Leo asked at the same time.

“The apartment above the restaurant is basically empty, except for him,” Papo said.

“What?” Sofi asked again, because it just wouldn’t compute.

“Santos and I moved out last year,” Valeria said. “Eddie built us a place at his house, so the apartment was empty.”

“Expect for those few months of Lola using it with the kids,” Leo said. It was clear from his tone that he liked this Lola person.

Who the fuck is Lola?Sofi grit her teeth. There was no way she was living in the apartment that Leo had shared with some girl and her kids.

“But now it’s just Leo and it’s a five-bedroom apartment,” Valeria said. “There’s more than enough room.”

“Let’s not call it five bedrooms,” Kamilah said as she walked up to them holding Liam’s hand. “Some of those are glorified walk-in closets that you used to make us sleep in.” She looked around. “What are we talking about?”

“We’re talking about how Sofi should move in upstairs. She doesn’t have a place and is sleeping on her mom’s couch,” Papo said.

“Sofi and Leo sharing an apartment?” Liam shook his head. “So we’re actively trying to get Leo murdered now?”

Kamilah laughed. “I just got Sofi back. I don’t want to lose her to prison.”

“Excuse me,” Leo said with very real offense. “I’m a fantastic roommate. I keep all common areas clean, I don’t make tons of noise, I share whatever I buy, and I’m no drama. Ask Ricky.”

“That’s not what I remember,” Kamilah said.

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