Addiction

Chapter 3-2

CLOSING THE LID OF the toilet, Sophie perched on the edge of it, trying to calm her racing heart. That guy would be the death of her if he kept giving her those eyes. After the snail debacle, she'd fled to the bathroom and in her haste had caught the toe of her shoe and tripped over the hem of her dress. With a deep laugh, he'd come to her rescue, offering her a hand up and pulling her tightly to his front as he did so.

She'd gasped something unintelligible and beat feet to get away from him. God alone only knew what fresh embarrassment she'd fling upon herself when she went back to the table; so for now, she was hiding out. Opening her clutch, she fished out her compact and lipstick, slicking some of the glossy red liquid on her lips. Aside from a few stray tendrils of hair, her look was holding up well enough.

A few minutes had passed before there was a gentle knock on the stall door. “Yes?” she queried.

“Soph, are you in there?” her mother asked. “Come out, sweetie, there's someone you need to meet.”

“Who?” She rose and opened the door, emerging into the wider space, to lean against the sink. “Crap!” Jerking away from the sink she dragged the back of her dress around and stared in rumination at the large damp patch now adorning her rear end. Would it never end?

“It's alright,” Marie tsked, swatting at her wringing hands. “It's hardly noticeable.” She grabbed Sophie's arm in a loose grip and pulled her toward the door. “We didn't even notice him arrive, can you believe that?”

“Who?” she chirped again. “Is it... him?”

Her mother nodded, setting Sophie's heart to pounding. Now that the moment had come, she wasn't sure she wanted to meet him. Not just yet. Her new brother was here, and she felt her palms go sweaty and her mouth go dry at the thought of meeting him. What if he hated her? What if she hated him? Oh, God. No, she didn't want to do this yet.

“It's him, alright. And I can't believe we didn't spot him when he arrived. It was only by chance that Harry spotted him at all, over by the bar.”

“Who arrives in the middle of the second course?” Sophie wondered aloud. How disrespectful of him. She decided to knock that chip off his shoulder if he set one foot wrong today.

“Oh no, honey. He's been here a while, he even said the escargot was especially tasty.” She smiled, and Sophie could practically see the thought 'things in common' flash across her mother's eyes.

Well if he liked escargot, perhaps he wasn't that much of a s**t. It was a shame there were no seats left available at her table. She'd like to get to know him in a social setting first. “What's he like?”

Her mother gave her an odd stare, halting their progress towards the bar for a moment. “He's...very handsome,” she finally admitted with another strange look.

She craned her neck to get a look at her mystery sibling, but couldn't see around Harry's broad back. The sleeve of a dark suit jacket was visible, but that was the extent of it. She found herself trotting faster, eager to meet this new handsome brother of hers. Maybe she could even set him up with Serena? Lord knew she was another in the sweet sixteen club.

“Harry, darling.” Marie took hold of her new husband's arm, gently turning him to the side so as to introduce Sophie to his son. “Logan, dear. This is my daughter – your new stepsister – Sophie. Sophie,” she smiled, introducing her to – of all people – hot-boy. “This is Logan. He's your new brother, sweetie.”

For a moment, the room spun, and Sophie reached out to grasp her mother's hand. No, surely not. The Universe was playing a mean trick on her. She glared at hot-boy Logan – her brother! – as if it were all his fault, and he dutifully shuffled his feet while looking just as uncomfortable as she.

“Hello,” she finally said, frost in her voice. She extended a hand, gritting her teeth when he chose to kiss it, rather than shake it. The feel of his mouth on her skin, the cooler spot where his moist lips had touched drove her half insane with want.

No, this was not happening. This would never happen. And she for damn sure wasn't going to be setting him up with Serena.

“Hello, Sophie,” he replied, his voice losing none of it's teasing tones from earlier. “It's such a pleasure to meet you.”

She winced. The way he said 'pleasure' made her want to cross her legs and squeeze. “You too.” What else could she say? It wasn't like he'd known, was it? The attraction was still there. On her part, at least. She had no idea about him. Perhaps upon being introduced to his new sister, he'd merely shrugged off the attraction and determined never to think of it again.

She took a moment to study him, comparing him to the picture in Harry's wallet. He'd filled out, and then some, no longer the scrawny, gangly boy with long awkward limbs. Oh, no – now he was godlike, all muscled physique and strong jawline. A lock of his dark hair flopped onto his forehead, and it looked so soft that Sophie had to restrain herself from sweeping it back with her fingers.

His gaze seemed to devour her, his chocolate brown eyes sparkling with mysterious thoughts. She shifted, embarrassment engulfing her once more when she felt a throb down below, her underwear feeling slightly uncomfortable.

“Am I missing something here?” Harry asked, his eyes narrowing to slits. Sophie wanted to slap his face for shattering her illusions about 'hot-boy'.

“We've met,” she replied carefully. “Logan is sitting at the same table as me. I just didn't know who he was.”

“I didn't know who you were, either,” he admitted, the sparkle gone from his eyes as if it hadn't existed in the first place. “Excuse me. I told my mother I would call her when I'd touched base with you all.” With the ghost of a smile, he retreated from their company, striding to the large doors as if something was chasing him.

Sophie sighed, turning to her mother and stepfather. “So...that's Logan,” she announced, for want of anything better to say.

“Yes,” her mother nodded. “It sure is.”

“I thought he'd be...” she shrugged.

“Different?” suggested her mother, while Harry turned his narrowed gaze upon her.

“Ruder.” By all she'd heard, he seemed like such an asshole that she half expected him to arrive in leathers and boots, sporting piercings and tattoos. But so far, he seemed pretty normal to her.

“Why did you think he'd be rude, honey?” Her mother frowned at her, still holding Harry's hand.

Sophie shrugged again, one shoulder lifting in an admission of ignorance. “I just thought he would be, that's all.” She ignored the little flip in her tummy that said she liked him just fine the way he was and offered them both a smile. “My food's getting cold,” she whispered lamely. “I ordered the chicken.”

“Alright sweetie, go eat.” Her mother drifted away, pulling her husband after her. Harry still stared at Sophie as if he'd missed a trick or two and was scrambling to catch up. After a moment, he directed his gaze towards the door Logan had disappeared through.

So, that's my brother, she thought. Did he have to be so hot?

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