Page 42 of Brittle Heart

Josh laughs. “Anyway, are you guys up for grabbing something to eat?”

“Oh, absolutely,” Sophia says, getting up from her desk.

He then looks at me and asks, “Are you coming?”

“No, I’m going to finish this up and head out afterward, if that’s okay?” I ask.

“Come on, Karen, don’t be like that,” Clay chimes in, giving me puppy dog eyes.

“Nope,” I respond, focused on my computer screen.

“Give me your number real quick so I can text you the details,” Sophia says, and without much thought, I jot it down for her. When I glance up, I notice Clay already has his phone in hand, apparently having typed in my number too.

“Please hesitate to contact me,” I tell him before turning back to my work.

Sophia grabs her bag and says, “See you tomorrow. Let’s go, boys.”

* * *

Josh

We leave the office and make our way to the cafeteria. Once we all have our food and settle at our usual table, I interrogate Clay. “What happened on Friday?”

“I told you I wanted to give Xander a ride home because the car was in the shop, and when I got there, he was finishing up and checking out Carolina. She got a pretty cool tattoo done. I think Xander already shared it on his socials,” he says.

Curious, I pull out my phone, fingers almost itching with anticipation.Why do I feel this need to know more about her?

There’s a beautifully detailed dead crow on Xander’s profile. “Wow, that’s stunning,” I comment, genuinely impressed but also wondering what it means to her.

Sophia leans over to look at my phone too. “He did an amazing job. Was it one of his designs?”

Clay grins. “No, it was her idea. He redid a sketch she made. I haven’t seen it, but he says it was pretty damn good.”

That surprises me. So, she draws? Another layer to her mystery. “And how did you know it was her birthday? I still can’t believe she didn’t tell me. I would have brought cake and balloons and stuff,” Sophia says.

“She would have hated that.” I grin.

Clay shrugs. “She filled out the paperwork before Xander started her tattoo.”

“So, she didn’t tell you, you know it from the form?” I ask, feeling somehow relieved.

“You think she’d share anything important with me?” Clay snickers.

Sophia laughs. “And here I thought you two were bonding.”

“I’m just glad she hasn’t punched me yet,” Clay mutters.

“Oh, I would pay to see that.” Sophia leans back in her chair.

“Ha-ha, thanks. So nice of you, sis,” Clay mutters.

“I’m not your sis. I only take responsibility for this dumbass,” Sophia says, pointing her thumb at me.

“Love you too,” I say. “You think she will come Sunday?”

Sophia shrugs. “Seems likely. She doesn’t strike me as someone who’d back out on her word.”

“I thought of getting her something, considering the weekend she’s had. A small gesture, you know?” I ask, trying to be casual.

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