Lucky Chance at Love: Sofia and Mark's Story

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 

I whistle from the bar for some help to carry the tequila shots. The girls are just coming from the bathroom. What is it with girls and the bathroom?  

We pass the shots around the table

Nikky motions for a toast: “To Sofia, those old dudes at the Ferguson Grant won’t know what hit them. They better be ready. Lucky for us, we get to keep you a while longer.” 

“YEESS!” the girls scream. 

“Stop, you’re going to make me cry, Nikky.” Sofia’s eyes water. 

“To Sofia.” Nikky says we all follow in unison: “To Sofia.” 

“We have to clink and look each other in the eye.” Marge urges.

“Yes, it’s bad s*x luck.” Cloe continues.

“Says who?” Frank asks.

Cloe turns toward him and stares him down. “I won’t risk bad s*x just because you don’t want to do it.”

Frank leans down next to Cloe’s head, and very smoothly, might I add, says 

“Don’t go blaming me for your bad f***s, darling. Let me know when you get tired of them boys.” 

Frank looks at me for support, but I just shrug.

When it’s our turn -Sofia’s and mine- to clink, I tilt my shot glass and tell her:

“To you, I suspect you’ll be taking the world by storm.” 

Our eyes linger on each other a little longer, until Pete says,

“Oh for f**k’s sake, just drink the damn shot!” 

The liquid burns our throats, I chase it with a beer. Apparently, tequila’s the liquid courage Sofia needed because afterward, I hear Marge count, five, four, three, two, one…

Sofia finishes her drink, kind of slams the cup into the table, and turns her body to me: “Why don’t you show me your moves, Mark?” 

Sofia dares me and I’m not one to back down from a challenge.

Marge looks at Nikky and says, “Pay up b***h!” Cloe just laughs. 

“Oh shut up Marge. I still think it’s a bad idea,” Nikky answers. 

“I have to pee,” Cloe admits. 

“They do know we can hear them? Right?” I ask Soph as we are walking to the dance floor. 

She just shrugs. “Nikky has taken on the role of my protector.” No s**t.

We start dancing. I know I should stop myself from holding Sofia close. I don’t think you can fit a paper between us right now. But I’m a selfish bastard and I don’t want to let go of her. I enjoy having Sofia in my arms–she makes me smile. 

Sofia has the most captivating eyes. If I didn’t know any better, I would bet they’re black, but I know black eyes don’t exist. In fact, hers are so dark that you can’t distinguish the pupil from the iris. It makes me want to get lost in them. 

Her head is resting against my chest as we dance. 

Abruptly, Sofia sighs “I’m happy.” 

I bark out a laugh. “I’m sure you are, you deserve to be,” I tell her honestly.

“I don’t mean happy from the drinks.” Sofia lifts her head and rolls her eyes- I’m actually happy right now with how my life’s going.” 

I lift my hand to her face, brushing a strand of hair from her face behind her ear. I should pull my hand back. Instead, my knuckles trace her jaw and I lean into her. Our lips are inches apart.

“I’m glad Soph.” is all I’m going to answer. It feels like a confession on her part, more for her than for me. I don’t want to press her and ruin the moment. The rest of the night goes on without a hitch. We all forgot about the minor hiccup. 

“I have to go pee again.” Cloe interrupts our dancing while clinging to Nikky.

“That’s what you get for breaking the seal too quickly. I’m not going with you again.” Nikky hints at us intently. 

“I’ll go.” Sofia volunteers, but I think she just needs a few moments to collect herself after the moment we just shared.

Nikky and I head back to the table. 

“She doesn’t need your protection; you know that right,” Nikky tells me. 

“I’m aware, Nicole,” I call her Nicole, just to piss her off.

“My name is NOT Nicole.” She corrects me, clearly annoyed. “Look, I get you want to be all macho around Sofia, but she isn’t a scared little girl you need to protect. That girl can hold her own, and if she can’t, she’s got us.” 

“Don’t get your panties in a wad woman. Sofia probably just wants to have fun,” Pete tells Nikky. 

Pete is one of the most chill guys I have ever met. For him to get riled up and lay it on Nikky is something all right. 

I gotta get out of this conversation before it turns into some deep s**t, maybe splash some water on my face. 

I head over to the bathroom as I’m opening the door. 

Someone slams into my arm. My arms immediately hold this person steady, but somehow my hands end up on their hips. I look down and it’s Sofia. Each time she runs into me, she feels even better than the previous time.

Cloe walks ahead, unfazed. 

“Seems I keep running into you.” Sofia giggles as she skates her hands across my chest and down my arms, but my face’s stoic. This is pure torture. I want to grab her legs and wrap them around my waist while kissing her senseless. 

She loses her grin. Heat must’ve taken over when she notices the intensity with which I’m looking at her, boring into her eyes. 

What Sofia says after, rocks my world. My brain must’ve short circuit for a second.

“Take me home, Mark. You’re in my bed tonight.”