Bad At Love

Chapter Ten

"Sofia!" I screamed out in excitement. My best friend entered our apartment with three bags of groceries. She beamed at me while she set down her bags of food. I skipped over to her, my freshly wet hair slapping onto my bare shoulders. After months of hard work and the distraction of handsome men, we both needed uninterrupted girl time. Ice cream, wine, face masks and a playlist of unsolved mysteries. I was beyond ready to have my best friend be all mine for the night, and I was certain she felt the same way.

"Okay, I got us three bottles of wine. Your favorite, Bubbly Prosecco. My favorite, Dark Horse Cabernet. And a third, Bubbly Rose, so we can get super drunk together. I also snatched up two tubs of our all time favorite Mint Chocolate chip and drum roll please." Sofia explained her acquired items. I began to incessantly slap my hands on top of the kitchen counter.

"Alfredo Pasta and Chicken Carbonara from our all-time-favorite Italian restaurant, Joe's Italian Cafe!" She grinned wickedly as she pulled each item from the brown paper bags.

I couldn't help but moan in satisfaction as she spoke. She knew the way to my heart, just as I knew the way to hers. I giggled excitedly as I began to help her set everything out on top of our counter.

"Tonight is going to go down in history," I sang. I turned around to face the cabinets to retrieve two plates. Then opened a drawer to grab us silverware. The clink of the dishes filled the air as I set them down beside the food.

"I was hoping you would say that. Now, let's eat this pasta, then put on our face masks and get to it. I am craving some unsolved mysteries," Sofia said. She began to open the styrofoam containers that held our dinner for the evening. I smiled excitedly as the scent of freshly baked alfredo filled my nostrils. I inhaled deeply as a moan released from my lips. Sofia let out a soft chuckle at my behavior. She spooned each dish onto our plates, before placing two slices of bread sticks onto them. I licked my lips in appreciation, before grabbing a hold of both of our plates.

"Go ahead and grab us some wine glasses, a corkscrew, and get your ass to the couch, so we can start our marathon." I sang excitedly. My feet bouncing on the tile. There was nothing more appealing than a night in with my favorite True Crime enthusiasts. Stephanie Harlowe and Danelle Hallan were our go-to Youtubers. Add a bottle of wine, and my best friend, it's a night in heaven. I made my way over to the couch, which already had our entire set-up prepared for a night-long binge.

"I am coming," I heard Sofia's voice ring throughout our apartment. The sound of clinking glasses and a cabinet shutting closed. I set our plates down on the glass coffee table that sat in front of the couch. Once I got them situated, I plopped down onto the couch. Reaching out for my remote. I leaned forward as Sofia plopped down in the empty space next to me. My fingers wrapped firmly around the plastic as I fiddled with the buttons.

The television flickered on to reveal the home screen filled with various apps. I switched on the YouTube app, while Sofia began to uncork one of the bottles of wine. The satisfying pop echoed throughout the apartment, along with the sound of fizz. I swayed happily on the couch as I flicked through various videos before deciding on one. I set down the remote hastily as the sound of Stefanie Harlow's introduction music played.

My head turned in the direction of Sof, who had poured us two graciously filled glasses of wine. She had an excited smile on her lips as she slowly handed me my own. As my fingers wrapped around the neck of the glass, I felt my own excitement bubble up. The last few weeks had been tortured without having my best friend around as often. She was my rock. With everything that had been, it's near impossible for me to mentally handle it on my own.

"Okay, as of this moment," Sof began to speak as she turned her body towards me. "Neither of us will be using our phones. I don't care if someone calls, we don't answer it. I don't care if it's your sister, my mother, your father, none of it. We are long overdue for this girl's time. And I'll be damned if a piece of technology will talk either of us away from that," she mused. A small smile lingering on her lips.

I raised my brow with a chuckle.

"Girl, you know damn well if Nic calls you tonight, you would answer that phone faster than lightning," I teased. Her cheeks grew rosy. She couldn't even begin to deny this, but I knew she would try. As much as I loved the girl, she always attached to men at their hips. With how happy she was with Nic, there would be no difference.

"Don't worry, I already figured that part out. I actually made him aware it was girls' night, so he should have his own guy's night. He and Silas should be out drinking right about now with the same policy, no phones allowed." Sofia said. She smirked in pleasure, before raising her glass in the air towards mine.

I chuckled softly as I raised my own. My mind began to wander to thoughts of Silas and his lack of communication. Part of me almost asked about him when she mentioned they were out at the bar, but I fought it back. I couldn't allow myself any attachment to the man.

"Sounds good to me. Time to get," I clinked my glass to hers, before raising my voice a few octaves, "white girl wasted!" I watched as Sofia nodded in agreement as we both began to drink from our glasses. In no time, we both felt absorbed in food, wine and murder mysteries.

~

"Suzanne Lyall deserves justice. I don't know about you, but I think the boyfriend did it." Sofia's slurred words caused me to giggle as I leaned into her shoulder. Suzanne was a victim we had just finished watching a video on. The young woman seemed to have vanished in 1998. She was last seen getting off the bus and never heard from again. Her debit card had even remained used after her disappearance, but nothing had ever come of it. The case was devastating, and the lack of evidence caused an ache in my chest for her family.

"All I know is that her family deserves the closure they need." I shook my head as I stood up to throw away our empty containers and bottles of wine. Sofia followed in suit behind me, her phone ringing in the far corner behind us. I released a small giggle as my head turned to look at her. Her lip tucked between her teeth as she hastily set down the empty cups on the counter, before rushing to her phone.

I shook my head, knowing she was hoping it would be Nic.

As I tore my focus away from Sofia, I quickly discarded the empty containers and wine bottles. After doing so, I heard Sofia's voice fade away into the room. I wasn't sure if it was Nic or not. To be honest, I'm sure she would have been more excited and had me speak to him.

I continued to clean up our mess from the evening. My hands found their way to the sink to wash the silverware and wine glasses. I heard footsteps coming into the living room.

"I swear, that was the only phone call for the night. He just called to tell me how wasted he and Silas were, and that they should do a guys night every night." Sofia giggled merrily as she grabbed the remaining small bits of trash we left behind.

"It's okay. I can allow one phone call, otherwise I would be worse than jail," I teased before turning off the sink water.

"Don't they hang out every night?" I questioned with raised brows as I dried my hands on the fabric of my pants. Sofia walked over to the counter, tossing the trash into the can before closing it.

"Yeah, I don't think they understand the true concept of it." She replied with a smile, before leaning against the counter.

"So, what are the plans for the rest of the night? The clock says it is half past midnight and we are already out of wine and food." Sofia mused, before twiddling with her phone in her hands. Her lips pursed slightly as her eyes bounced around the room. I couldn't help but scoff and grab the kitchen towel that rested on the oven handle.

I swatted her with the towel.

"You want to go see him!" I accused her, my cheeks screamed as the smile on my face widened. She couldn't see it, but I could. Sofia was in love, more than I had ever seen her before. The term head over heels doesn't even cover it.

Sofia's cheeks reddened as she recoiled from my attack.

"Okay, I will admit it! But not until he gets home," she paused briefly, before reluctantly stepping back. "Which happens to be in twenty minutes." She continued before wincing.

I scoffed at her again, before I swatted her shoulder.

"You and I both know it is a fifteen minute drive from here!" I teased her as I set the towel down on top of the oven top again. I sighed softly as I pursed my lips. There wasn't much else for us to do besides sit around each other while we played on our phones.

And that meant our time was better elsewhere.

"You can go," I said, defeated.

She squealed in excitement as she snagged me into a tight hug. Her lips pressed small kisses on the top of my head before she pulled away. Her smile beamed as she twirled around and waltzed out of the room.

I sighed quietly, looking around the now empty living space. I had to fill my time, and the thought of shooting a text to Silas sounded appetizing. But the more I thought about it, the more I pushed the thought away. If he had wanted to see me, I am sure he would have texted me by now.

The ball should be in his court.

Even though I want him to be mine, he has to choose me first.