Free Somewhere Between Black and White by Rosa Sophia, Shelly Hickman Page A

blech . You’re
seriously going to let this ruin your evening? Let it go!
    Sam wasn’t oblivious to her shift in
mood and squeezed her hand. “You know, this was quite a while ago. It was when
I was like, twenty-eight.” He kissed her on the nose. “Don’t start thinking
you’re a rebound girl.”
    “I’m not.”
    “So you’re not going to share anything
about your relationships?”
    “Well, I’ve never been engaged, if
that’s what you’re wondering.” She felt sick about his revelation, and she so did not want to be this possessive, jealous girl over something that took
place before they even met. Sophie, get a grip!
    “Nothing serious in your past?” he
pressed.
    “I wouldn’t say that, exactly.” There
was James. He seemed perfect in every way, and she was completely infatuated
with him at the beginning. But somewhere along the way, she realized he wasn’t
someone she wanted to spend her life with. He was a wonderful person whose
company she adored, but that was all. “There was this guy I saw a few years
back,” she told Sam. “We dated for about nine months, but he just wasn’t the
one. You know?”
    “No one mentionable since then?”
    She shook her head and frowned. “Not
really. There was someone I was really into, but the feeling wasn’t mutual.”
    “What the hell he was smoking?” Sam wondered.
“His loss, my gain.”
    It was the story of her life. The men
who went for her, she had no interest in, and the ones she pursued barely knew
she existed. It had been that way for as long as she could remember. Until now.
    Sam rose from the floor, then offered
his hand to Sophie to pull her up. “I’m gonna get me some coffee. Want some?”
    “Sure.” She followed him to the kitchen,
then leaned on the bar and watched him. He was saying something about a meeting
at work, but she wasn’t paying much attention. Deciding to put the news about
Sam out of her mind, her thoughts wandered to Evie, wondering what had
transpired between her and Christian. They had spoken since their time at the
mall, which was about two weeks ago, but Evie had not said another word about
it. She longed to learn the details, but Evie was becoming increasingly private
and overprotective of Christian, and Sophie had been trying extra hard not to
start another argument. She was beginning to feel like Evie’s relationship with
him was pulling her further and further away, but deep down, she knew it was
her own doing.
    “You got awfully quiet,” Sam said.
    “I need some advice.”
    “I’ll do my best.”
    “So, you know about my sister and her
illness,” Sophie said. “And you know how I am not a fan of Christian.”
    “Uh, yeah. You’ve mentioned it on more
than one occasion,” he kidded. Sam took a couple of mugs from an overhead
cabinet. Nice, wide mugs, the kind Sophie loved for coffee, but could never
seem to find in the stores. 
    “I’ve never hated the guy or anything,
or thought he was a bad person, but—Evie and I saw something that made it look
like he might be cheating on her.” Sam handed her a full cup and rested
his arms on the counter. “And . . . oooh! If he is, I will have to hurt him.”
    “That’s pretty rough.”
    “And the thing is,” she added, her eyes
widening with frustration. “I think even if he did cheat, she’ll stay!”
    “Hmmm.”
    “Hmmm?” Sophie echoed.
    “I guess I’m still waiting for a
question in there.” With coffee in hand, he walked toward the back of the house
and opened the French door. “C’mon. Let’s sit outside.” 
    Sophie grabbed the lightweight hoodie
she had draped on a barstool, before accompanying him outside to make herself
comfortable in the cushioned sling rocker on his patio. “I suppose I really
don’t have a question. But Evie says that I judge her all the time. That she
can’t confide in me because of it. I don’t think I’m being judgmental, I just
want what’s best for her.”
    Sam tossed some wood into the fire pit,