Addiction

Chapter 16-1

Chapter 16

February 2006...

“Oh, Mom it's beautiful!” she gasped, turning around to let her fasten the clasp of the tiny diamond pendant. “You shouldn't have.”

“My baby girl turns eighteen and she says I shouldn't have bought her a diamond?” Marie laughed, delighted. “I knew I raised you right. But then again, you deserve this.”

“Happy birthday, Sophie,” Harry murmured, his hand resting on her mom's shoulder with affection.

“Harry!” she exclaimed. “Don't think you're getting out of this without a thank-you hug.” She knew Harry had to have contributed to the cost of the gem, and with its cold weight around her neck, she reached up and pulled them both into a tight hug. “Thank you both.”

Her mother surreptitiously wiped a stray tear and watched with a proud expression as Sophie examined her new pendant in the foyer mirror. “Happy birthday, darling.”

Vibrating with excitement, Sophie took up her coat and joined them as they walked out of the house. Only one hung back – Logan. She turned her head a fraction to see him still framed in the living room doorway. “I'll be right behind you guys.” She walked back inside, nerves making her jumpy. Logan dug a hand into his pocket as she approached him. “Are you okay?” she asked, expecting the usual grunted reply.

“I wanted to give you your present,” he told her, his voice no more than a whisper. “But I wanted it to be private.”

Private? What sort of 'private' gift had he got in mind? Her mind reeled, taking her back to the last time they'd been alone together for any length of time. They hadn't even spoken as much as this the past entire year. She felt nervous around him and ever so slightly uncomfortable, as if he didn't enjoy her company anymore. “What is it?” she whispered, fearing what he would offer and what she might still be too weak-willed to turn down.

“Something you should save for a time you really need it,” he replied. His hand removed from his pocket, he offered her a tiny ring box with a red bow decorating the lid.

She held her breath as their fingers touched, taking the box with a curious smile. Upon opening it, she realized there was a tiny note, rolled up like a scroll, laying on top of a shiny new penny. Her fingers fumbled and the scroll dropped, coming to a bouncy stop by Logan's foot. She lowered herself to one knee, reaching for the scrap of paper.

“Soph?”

“Yes?” she gazed up at him from her vantage point, noticing his darkly amused expression.

“Are you proposing to me?”

“What? Uh, no.” Face glowing, she snatched at the scroll and rose once more, laughing self-consciously. “I hope that's my quota of mortification for the night,” she whispered, unrolling the paper. Her eyes watered as she read the neat masculine script.

You wasted your wish last year, it said. I'm officially giving it back.

His image swimming in front of her as she grasped his forearm, the urge to kiss his beautiful face almost more than she could stand. “It's perfect.”

“It's no diamond.” He seemed nervous.

“It's better,” she assured him, leaning in to place a chaste kiss upon his cheek. “It's exactly what I need.”

“Don't mention it,” he told her, actually blushing. “Come on. Dinner awaits.”

It seemed like a new chapter in their lives as she inserted her hand into the crook of his elbow, allowing him to lead her outside. Harry was revving the engine of Mom's car like he was impatient to be off, and her mom gave her a curious look and a soft smile before opening the rear door of the car.

Sophie slid in one side, while Logan climbed in the other, and then there was nothing but the sound of the tires on the road and the soft jazz music from the stereo floating around the car. Harry's eagerness to get to the restaurant showed itself in the way he took the turn onto main street. Sophie gasped and slid across the leather seat until she toppled against Logan. He grunted at the impact. With no traction because of her hose, Sophie almost went right into his lap, her knee landing between his thighs.

She tried to ignore the solid feel of his leg between her thighs, and with a soft shriek, threw herself off of him. Her face was on fire, and Logan steadfastly refused to look at her. With a thrill still running through her, turning her insides to mush, she fastened her seat belt – a thing she'd forgotten to do when first she'd gotten in, her already confused mind still working over-time about her stepbrother, as usual.

This past year she'd allowed herself to think that maybe, just maybe it had all been a stupid childish crush, but seeing him now, up close and personal for the first time since her last birthday, she could admit that there was still a frisson of attraction there that shouldn't be. Perhaps there always would be. It was just something she'd have to learn to ignore.

With that thought cemented in her mind, she crossed her legs, noting that Logan's eyes were fixed on the expanse of thigh she was showing beneath her little black dress. With a lighter heart from knowing she wasn't alone in this... this... whatever it was, she focused her eyes forward again, catching her mother's stare in her compact mirror as she applied a slick of lipstick. With a smile that let Sophie know she was in for a 'talk' later, her mother closed the compact and pointed at the front of a classy little Italian place. “Here we are. Harry dear, you go ahead and have a drink tonight. I'll drive home.”

*