Page 34 of Did My Heart Love Till Now?

Again, he shrugged. “Something he said on the news today.” He nodded his head toward me.

“What did you say?” She rotated to me folding her arms over her stomach.

I rolled my eyes. “I was trying to send you a message but now I'm guessing it was received wrong.” My phone vibrated against my leg. I reached in my pocket, pulling it out. It was my father’s attorney.

Hello?

Your father wants to meet with you immediately. He omitted the pleasantries as usual.

Okay.

I hung up, not giving him the chance to say another word. I squinted at Joey. “Would you please wait for me in the car?” Lifting my hand to my chin, I stroked the slightly longer stubble.

He sighed, nodding before giving Sofia a curt nod. He did not really like the idea of us being together but the fact he was supporting it as best as he could, meant a lot to me. “I’ll be in the car then.” He strode to the stairs, disappearing behind the wall.

I turned my attention to Sofia the minute Joey was out of sight. Caressing her arms gently, I dragged my fingertips from her hands to her shoulders, then to her jaw. Resting my finger under her chin, I leaned forward, pressing my lips to hers. The kiss turned urgent as if it would be the last time we would ever see each other. I peeled myself away reluctantly, whispering against her lips. “This place is too wide open for us to see each other.” I should have let her go at that moment. I should have ended things. I planned to! But I could not. I did not want to stop seeing her.

She nodded. “I agree.” She averted her gaze to the floor.

“Look at me.” Finger under her chin, I lifted it, forcing her gaze to mine. “But I don't want to stop seeing you, so I’ll find a way.”

“I want to keep seeing you too.” She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth, bowing her head.

“If I died tomorrow, I would want to come back and haunt only you.” I smirked, trying to lighten the mood and dry her watery eyes.

She giggled. “Why are you so morbid?”

I smirked and pulled her into my mouth again but only for a moment. Reluctantly, I paused our kiss and rested my forehead on hers just as my phone rang. “That’s my cue.”

Gripping my head on each side, she pulled my lips to hers once more. “So, when can I see you again and where?”

“Meet me at the beach house in three days at 7:00 a.m. Maybe we can grab breakfast.”

She nodded, trying her best to smile but her eyes told a more worried story.

“I have to go but you can hang out here for a while if you want. I think it will be okay this once since they will have eyes on me and not you. All I ask is that you remember two things.” I held up two fingers. “Please close the windows before you leave and do not let anyone see you exit. Lock the bottom knob on the way out.”

“Okay.” Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper as she smiled. It was obvious she was a little nervous.

I leaned down, placing a light kiss on her cheek before I made my way downstairs and outside. Making sure I locked the door for her, I jiggled the handle. Joey’s expression was rigid as I yanked the passenger door open and hopped in.

“It took you long enough, fuck!”

I shrugged. A smirk etched on my lips. “I wanted a moment to tell her bye.”

“You just let her stay there?” He peeled out of the small parking lot.

Pausing before I spoke, I peered out the window, rolling my bottom lip between my fingertips. “I did but I know I can trust her.”

“What about her family?” He pressed the horn and slammed on brakes as the person in front of us suddenly stopped. “Move over, asshole!” He shouted at the car in front of us. “Like I said, what about her family?”

10

After getting to the prison and checking in, I was met by my father's attorney who took me to a special area. It resembled a cafeteria with blue round tables scattered throughout, all having four matching stools attached to them. I picked a table in the center of the room.

My father entered in handcuffs, escorted by two guards. He appeared anything but happy. In fact, he looked as if he wanted to strangle me the moment his gaze met mine. He came to stop across from me. One of the guards stepped behind him, removing the cuffs from his wrists. Without taking his eyes off mine, he sat on a stool slowly. His hands were propped rigidly on the table where they would be seen by the guards. “Are you two not going to sit?” He cocked his head vaguely.

The attorney and I both sat instantly.

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