CHAPTER THREE

Still, I find myself nodding my head and I turn to my KIA before I say something else. My thoughts are rattled and all I can think about is how soft his lips look and how those eyes captivate mine.

Suddenly, he catches my hand again and immediately my heart speeds up as the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

His touch resonates through me and when I see the sincerity in his eyes, I gasp audibly.

"Can I at least have your name?"

This man's drawl knocks my heart into overdrive again, his eyes searching mine for long seconds.

I wonder what he's thinking as he trains his eyes intently on my face. A strand of my hair flies in front of my face and he deftly lifts it away and tucks it behind my ear.

When his fingers dip to my cheek where a blush has spread across my skin, fireworks spark underneath the touch.

“Sophia," I whisper just loud enough for his ears, my name a whisper on my lips.

He nods, his eyes heating with something I wish I had a name for as his finger grazes my cheek and my eyes never leave his.

"Gavin," he murmurs, giving me his name. I bite my lip at the sound of it and find myself wanting to lean into his touch. The name fits him so well. Gavin.

"I’ll see you tonight, Gavin." I breathe, feeling lighter as he smiles that crooked smile at me and takes my hand in his once more, not letting go until distance pulls our fingers away from each other.

"Tonight," he says.

***

"You're blushing, Sophie. Holy shit,” my sister says, giggling as we pull away from the curb where I can still see Gavin leaning against his car.

Her eyes meet mine in the rear view mirror and I inwardly sigh. I can't stop thinking about the way he seemed to focus completely on me.

A man I've never met. I've never felt that with anyone I've dated. Undivided attention.

"That was...intense.” I mumble to my still blushing sister as she starts her car.

“I'd say. And that car had to be expensive. Like something out of a movie.”

I turn left and flit my eyes over to her with a grin. It was a Jaguar.

It's one of the most expensive foreign automotive brands out there. When I explain this to her, she looks at me as if I have two heads and shakes her head.

"Forget the car, he was beautiful! You should have given him your number, honey. He was looking at you like you were water and he was thirsting for a tall glass.”

I burst into giggles at that and she joins me as we pull into our apartment lot. "You're horrible, Kel. I swear I don't know where you got your sense of humor.”

She grins at me, giving me that look again. She knows I'm delaying what she wants to talk to me about. About the mysterious man we met today. About how I feel about seeing him again.

"Oh, come on, you couldn’t take your eyes off him. I've never seen you react to a man like that. I think you should get back out there, Sophie. Don't you think it's time?”

I sigh, feeling both terrified and excited at the idea of seeing him again.

"I don't know, Kel. It's only been four months and honestly, I have no idea how to put myself out there again. I'm not ready."

"I know, but if you don't try you could really regret not taking the chance.” Her bright eyes implore me to say something, but I’m speechless.

I haven’t - no, I couldn’t - let myself think about starting something new ever since I woke up in the hospital four months ago.

I can’t be hurt again. I won’t let that happen. But Gavin…he looked at me like no other man has and it confuses me. Am I ready?

“I don’t know. It was like he saw me, the real me. Not the ballet dancer or the rich girl or the heartbroken teenager that everyone else sees when they look at me. But you saw him, Kel. He probably has a girlfriend or a wife! I can’t compete with God knows who."

She doesn’t answer me, just shakes her head and gets out of the car, then leans back in through the window to meet my guarded gaze.

"I didn’t see a ring on his finger. And you’re beautiful and mysterious, remember?"

I folded my fingers in my lap, trying to clear my thoughts. She's right. He did say that. The thoughts and emotions inside me have me tangled up, confused, hesitant. I don’t know if I’m ready, will I ever be?

"We both know I’m not ready for any sort of a relationship right now!"

The words tumble out of me, my own insecurities voiced. My eyes sting with emotion and I turn my gaze away from the window.

I get out of the car and circle the back to meet her in the front of my car. I hope that maybe she’ll just let this go, please just let this go, Kel. But I feel her brown eyes on me as I take the stairs.

Taking my hands, she tugs me down to sit on the top step with her. My determined-as-hell sister looks at me, imploring me to listen, and it’s not the first time today.

Sighing, I squeeze her hands with mine so she knows I'm listening.

"Sophie, it was never your fault what Bryce did to you, and it doesn’t mean that you aren’t just as deserving of love as anyone else in this world."

No. With the sound of his name, my voice dies in my throat. I don’t want to think about him. My chest aches with the memories that flood me from the sound of a man's name I haven’t heard in weeks.

Kel doesn’t let go, though. She takes hold of my wrists and glides up the sleeve of my sweatshirt until the yellowing bruises on my skin are revealed, along with the cuts marring the pale skin there.

Shame washes over me, and my eyes close briefly as I fight to push down the sadness that tries to make its way into my thoughts.

When the pain had gotten to be too much, when I believed I was just as useless as he made me feel, I found a way to take away the pain in my own way.

It was the lowest point in my life and I couldn't see my self-worth when I was with him. I see it now, though.

"Look at me." Kel has tears in her eyes as she wipes the side of her cheek.

In her eyes I see how much she worries for me. She knows just how much I’ve gone through, how long it’s taken me to feel whole again.

“You. Are. Beautiful. Sophia. It wasn’t your fault what he did to you and you should never let the fear of getting hurt again stop you from going after what you want, honey.It’s been four months, and the fact that you’re dancing again tells me that you’re moving on from the hurt and the pain Bryce inflicted. Just keep your heart open, okay? You deserve happiness. I found it with Lucas and I know you can, too."

I nod, unable to speak as my heart swells with love for my remarkable sister. Kel kisses my forehead and squeezes my hand, giving me strength in this moment.

Taking a deep breath, I decide to give myself a chance. A chance for happiness. One date never killed anyone. Right?

"Let’s go get ready for this party, huh?" I grab her hands and pull her to stand, hooking my arm in hers as we head upstairs to plan a celebration.