Chapter 5
“What do you have for me?” Jada leaned forward on her desk, hands folded and expression expectant.
“Nothing new to report.” Sophie loathed being summoned. But when Jada Jet calls, you answer. And when she practically interrogated you, you do your best to answer without snark.
“Have you developed a friendship?”
“Not exactly.”
“And why not?”
“She doesn’t want to be my friend.”
That smug smile taunted Sophie. “That must be a change of pace for you.”
“She doesn’t trust me.”
“Understandably so.” She shrugged.
“I don’t have to keep doing this. You can find someone else.” Her steely facade was cracking.
“You will.” She leaned back in her chair.
“What makes you so sure?”
“You find her reluctance to be your friend a challenge. And from all I know about you, Sophie Moore doesn’t back down from a challenge.”
A long silence. Sophie bit the inside of her lips. It was frustrating. Putting forth effort and coming up with nearly nothing after weeks of visiting the bar and endless failed attempts to imitate a simple conversation. Ryan Wilder was an impossible code to crack.
“What’s your obsession with her anyway?”
Jada ignored the question as if Sophie didn’t even ask. “If you leave now, you’ll be able to catch her before the bar closes. And remember our agreement...”
“Pfft.” Sophie scoffed. “Yeah, yeah don’t fuck her. That won’t be a problem.” She missed the involuntary twitch in the CEO’s jaw.
…
Sophie checks her watch. Five minutes until closing time. She pushes the door open and saunters into the bar exuding a confidence that she doesn’t quite have anymore.
“We’re closed.” She heard her voice from behind the bar but she didn’t look up.
“Technically, I’ve got five minutes.“ She sat at the bar and propped her chin in her hand. “So, Whiskey neat? Please.”
Ryan finally looked up, lips pressed in a thin line. “No. I got stuck on the closing shift and I need to clean up.” She moved from behind the bar collecting stray pint glasses from tables. “If you want a drink, make it yourself.”
“Fine.” Sophie positioned herself behind the bar, grabbing a glass and the whiskey. She waited for Ryan to glance over before casually tossing the bottle behind her back and catching it in the other hand before pour it into the measuring glass.
“That’s an expensive ass bottle!” Ryan volume rose significantly. “You’d be the one paying for it.”
“I’m already single-handedly paying for it.”
Sophie smirked at the woman’s eye roll.
“Where’d you learn that?” She gathered the glasses she could carry and walked toward the bar to put them into the washing crates.
“What?” She feigned ignorance.
“Don’t play coy.”
She smirked. “Oh, this?” She pulled the move again. “Just an old party trick.”
“Show me.” It was a demand as she came around the bar, glasses abandoned.
Thirty minutes and four broken bottles of cheap vodka later Ryan just barely caught the bottle with the tips of her fingers. Sophie had taken over cleaning up the glasses and the bar and swept up the broken fragments of Ryan’s failed attempts.
“How'd you make it look so easy?"
Sophie just shrugged. “Practice.” She’d poured herself another glass while she watched the woman determinedly try to perfect the move with a sharp focus and seriousness. A small upturn of her lips was covered by a sip of smooth whiskey.
“Fuck.” Another crash of glass shattering the floor caused Sophie to chuckle and stand to grab the broom again. “You don’t have to do that.” Her focus wasn’t on Sophie though, only the next bottle of Kasser’s she picked up from the bottom shelf.
She just smiled and shook her head, grabbing the broom and sweeping up the tiny shards into the dustpan. She found herself staring at the crease above her nose as she tossed the bottle behind her and caught it almost effortlessly with the other hand. The shock and excitement came in like whirlwind. She jumped up and and down practically squealing and punching the air in victorious celebration.
The pride that swelled in her chest was unexpected. But even more unexpected was the swift movement, body propelled by some unknown force as she caught her on her next excited jump.
Her brain registered the strangeness of the response as she heard the surprised gasp and she nearly dropped the equally confused bartender mid-spin.
Ryan steadied herself and avoided the eye contact.
Sophie rubbed the back of her rapidly warming neck, flailing for an excuse for the impromptu display of affection.
“I…” She couldn’t come up with anything. Her body was still buzzing from the contact. “I’m gonna go.”
“Uh…okay?” She stared at the taller woman clearly overwhelmed with embarrassment.
“Thanks for the drink.” It was called over her shoulder as she all but ran out of the bar. She stopped just outside drawing in a deep breath of cold air.
Ryan followed her path and stared at the wooden obstacle after she’d turned the lock.
“What the fuck was that?” They both muttered on either side of the locked door.