Seven Souls

Plans changed

Sam's POV

My eyes looked deeply into those green eyes as she concentrated on shaving my beard. Her legs were wrapped around my waist securely to keep me still.

Just an hour ago, I broke out in front of her when I was supposed to be her wall, the support for her, but everything was becoming too much, weighing my heart down with fear and guilt.

The past month was the worst, the guilt increasing, especially after I knew I would c***k any day.

Kylie and Alec pointed out my early symptoms, how I was falling into depression myself, making me realize Sophia wasn't the one who was bottling her feelings as I assumed.

It was me. I picked silence because I didn't have someone to talk to, to express my feelings. I couldn't talk to Sophia. She wasn't ready for this; she wasn't ready for the truth.

I was the one who silenced my pain, shoving it to the back of my mind so I could help her. Her gaze snapped to mine, and her eyebrows eased as she noticed I was zoned out.

"Are you okay? You haven't said a word since we showered…" she murmured, her hand withdrawing away from my skin.

"Not really, I just realized we lost that connection where we sit and normally talk our emotions out, those past months were all angry s*x, we never sat and had our regular heart-to-heart talk…" I paused as she brushed the wet strands of my hair away from my face.

"We can talk now if you want… we have the day for ourselves," her soft voice came as a whisper.

"I needed therapy. So you don't have to feel guilty for sending me without consent. I was stubborn, and I refused help. You were there and pushed me to get better. It's my turn to do the same for you, Sam." The peaceful smile crept to her lips, her hand resting on the nape of my neck, playing with my hair.

I was about to lean on her for a kiss, but she pressed her finger on my lips, stopping me from moving any closer. "No more kisses until I'm done shaving your beard. It became annoyingly itchy," she complained, and I chuckled at her.

Her gaze fell on my lower face, bringing the sharp razor close to my skin. "You were really a professional in doing this," I hissed at the sudden twinge of pain as she cut my skin.

"Then stop moving," she scolded me, pulling the hair at the nape of my neck, causing me to flinch.

After a few minutes, she pulled away, grabbing my chin and turning my face from side to side. "And we are done," she beamed, patting my shoulder for me to put her down.

I lifted her off the counter; her legs still wrapped around my waist as I turned around, so she was facing the mirror now. One arm was on her back and the other under her to support her weight.

She narrowed her eyes before rolling them and pecking at my lips. "There. Let me down, please," she said in a fake, sweetened tone.

"I think I'll take another cold shower," I breathed, and she nibbled on her lips, her face turning slowly to a deep shade of crimson red.

Yes, it wasn't healthy s*x. We needed to talk again, have our connection back, and regain our healthy relationship. And I'm working on that.

I'll make an appointment with the therapist, Alec suggested. Josephine can't be my therapist. She's a close friend, a family to me… I needed someone else.

"Seriously, you couldn't last a month without s*x. You're weak, Mr. Stevens," she teased, a playful look glinting in her bright green eyes.

Both of us had a rough month. The first two weeks were all about recovery from the surgery, and she was still attending therapy while recovering. The moment I got my green card to go back to work, I did, busying myself with anything to stay away from home.

Afraid after what Josephine told me about Sophia… a part of me thought about her words. How could she be Christiana because of the heart transplant?

It was an absurd theory that Josephine let it grow in my head for the past two weeks, making me delusional.

She unwrapped her legs off my waist and I placed her down, my gaze following her as she scurried out of the bathroom.

"Hurry, I'm starving," she shouted over her shoulder and I carried myself to the sink, cleaning my face from the remaining shaving gel, then I cleaned the razor, returning it to the cabinet.

I don't know, but a part of me was relieved to get things off my chest. I thought Sophia would chicken out. She wasn't the same after her second time in the hospital and I know why now.

She was pissed off at me for lying to her, waiting for me to tell her the truth.

I got out of the bathroom, seeing Sophia standing in her matching red lacy undergarments, peering into the wardrobe for something to wear.

I walked behind her back, hugging her from behind and kissing her neck. "Thank you," I said, and her confused gaze snapped to mine.

"You've done too much for me. Let me repay you. I owe you that."

I pressed a quick kiss on her lips, and she cracked a small genuine smile. "I love you, and I'm sorry if I scared you yesterday. I was afraid of losing you… or you leaving me," I confessed, and she cupped my face.

"You're never getting rid of me this easily," she joked, followed by her soft chuckle as I kissed her cheek, tightening my arms protectively around her.

This little happy moment couldn't last for another hour. I never had the option of being carefree, taking a day off, and relaxing. I groaned as I heard my phone ringing, knowing it was either a problem or maybe it was Alec checking if I was fine.

Hopefully, it's Alec.

I left Sophia, walking to the nightstand and grabbing my phone, seeing an unfamiliar number flashing on the screen. I answered the call, pressing the phone to my ear. "Yes?" My voice croaked out.

"Hi, Mr. Stevens… um… There's a little problem. Remember the meeting you told me to reschedule with Mr. Klein? They called earlier and refused, insisting on meeting today. They have been waiting for you for the past thirty minutes," my secretary, whom I forgot her name, said all in one breath.

I shouldn't have trusted Alec with hiring another secretary.

Sophia sent me a concerned look, and I cracked her a reassuring smile. "Tell them I'll be there in thirty minutes," I said in a defeated tone. It's not like I have any other option.

"But you said today is off, you need a break for yourself, Sam," Sophia argued back, standing in front of me in one of my hoodies that were double her size, engulfing her petite figure.

She was right. I needed the day off, maybe the whole week. But I didn't let one in charge, and in those moments I would've depended on her, not that newbie assistant in the office.

"Also, gather your stuff. I don't want to see you when I arrive. Leave the files in my office, and hand the keys to the security." I hung up the phone, not wanting to hear her voice.

"Maybe you should've waited until you got there-"

"It's an important meeting, and I can't let it slip away. She had already messed up before. I can't leave her, taking care of things she can't handle," I said as I paced in the room, grabbing my clothes from the wardrobe and placing them on the bed.

I was pulled out of my bubble when Sophia pushed me to sit on the bed. My gaze fell on her face and I couldn't really read her feelings. I didn't know if she was pissed off at me or genuinely concerned.

"Calm down, Sam. Take a deep breath, work isn't the end of the world," she tried to calm me down, my eyes lowered to her lips as she spoke.

I inhaled sharply, and she cracked a soft smile for me, her hand running in my hair, stopping at the back of my head as she sat on my leg. "If it's really an important deal, then go. I'm not a fan of you leaving home in your state… but I know I can't stop you."

Her eyes locked with mine as her hand caressed the back of my head in soft motions. "I'll call you when I arrive, and I'll try not to be late," I tried to make her worry less about me, but my words didn't brush off that concerned look in her eyes.

"Fine," she whispered, ruffling my hair before getting up and walking to the door. "I'll make you something to eat before you go. Get dressed."

"Okay," I said loud enough for her to hear as she closed the door lazily behind her.

I glanced at my phone, grabbing it with hesitation. The screen flashed open, unlocked, as the screen lock recognized my face.

I open the messages app, pressing Kylie's name. Sophia would hate me for inviting her over, but I wasn't sure about leaving her home alone after yesterday and our early conversation.

I needed someone with her while I'm away.