Page 34 of Heat It Up (Off the Ice)
The ‘what happened’ that I can’t stop thinking about.
“But he got it all wrong,” I say to Sofia. “There is more to the relationship. Or at least I want there to be more.” It’s not until the words come out that I realize how true they are. I do want more than just a friendship with her. How much more I don’t know though.
Joni stiffens. Sofia stares at me, several different emotions flickering on her face, uncertainty ranking on top. I hook my finger under her chin, then guide it up and kiss her. It’s a tender kiss, nothing that would steam up a car window. Nothing like the fake kiss I gave her for her grandmother and Joni’s benefit. But it’s enough to show her and Joni that what I feel for her is more than I’ve felt in a while for any woman.
And yes, there’s a bit of marking my territory going on here, because let’s be honest, no way in hell am I letting her end up with Joni. “Nik’s got a summer cottage. He’s invited a few people to join him next weekend. I’d like it if you would come with me.”
Joni huffs and I try not to grin, my focus still on Sofia.
“I’m not sure that would be a good idea,” she says. Her words are cautious, but there’s no mistaking her slight intrigue.
“It’s a great idea,” I say. “You can keep me out of trouble. And I bet there are tons of abstract photo opportunities waiting for you.”
“What kind of trouble?” Joni’s tone is as cold as Sofia’s was when I first showed up. That doesn’t surprise me. If our places were reversed, I would have zoomed in on that too.
“Dude, it’s just an expression. She’s safe with me. Promise.”
“I’m in,” Sofia says. “Joni, you’ll need to explain to my grandmother so she doesn’t worry about me. If I try, she’ll never figure out what I’m telling her.”
He blinks then his forehead scrunches. “I don’t think this is a good idea, Sofia. You don’t even know him very well. You can’t go off for a weekend with him. It’s too dangerous.”
I barely manage to keep from rolling my eyes. “I’m not a serial killer.”
“Maybe not. But you could be a rapist.”
“And so could you,” I fire back.
Sofia backs away from both of us, eyes searching us for signs of serial killer or rapist tendencies. Her hand tightens around her phone. I step closer to her and lean down so my mouth brushes against her ear. “I didn’t hurt you last night and I would never hurt you.” I press my lips against her cheek.
Then I walk back to my car.
Chapter Eighteen
Sofia
It’s that moment I live for, if you subtract scrubbing the urinals from the equation. It’s time for Operation Scrub the Sauna. Cue the fanfare.
As I thunk, thunk, thunk my way to the women’s locker room in my not-so-stylish, oversized rubber boots, a man in his thirties wearing athletic pants and a plain t-shirt walks toward me. I’ve seen him around the physical therapy clinic in the sports center.
He stops in front of me. “Sofia Philips?” I nod. “I’m Rafu Jarvinen. Kyle Bennett mentioned you’re studying athletic training back home.”
“That’s right.”
“I work in the physical therapy clinic here and one of my part-time assistants is away next week. Would you be interested in covering for her then? I thought it might be good experience for you and I would certainly appreciate the help. I’m short staffed as it is at this time of the year.”
I look down at my uniform to make sure I still have it on. Surely he realizes I already have a job here, unless he means the position is for the evenings and weekends. “What are the hours?”
“She works Mondays to Thursdays from three until eight in the evening.”
“I’d love to do it, but I don’t finish this job until four.” There’s also the matter of helping Joni out with his soccer team like I promised.
“I can talk to your boss and see what happens.”
Luckily my boss is all for it, especially since it’s only for the week. Rafu is the one who comes to tell me the news. “She feels bad that you’re working here as a member of the cleaning staff when you could be doing something career related.” Maija told her what I’m studying back home during my first week here. While I don’t regret my decision to come to Finland for the summer, even if it is just to clean toilets, I’m ready to do handsprings down the hallway, in my uniform and rubber boots, at his news. The goal for the summer was to become the new me, the one who has thrown out her pity-party decorations and has a fresh start.
I’d say this is another step in the right direction.
After work, Maija and I walk to Stockmann, the huge department store where I love to shop. Somehow, I need to steal away and buy condoms. I’ve never had to buy them before now. Ian always took care of that, plus I was on the pill. I stopped using it after he died. Figured there was no point to it after that.
