DOUBTS

Sophia sat on her couch, scrolling through her phone absentmindedly when she noticed the notification she had missed earlier. A message from Robert, timestamped at about 5 PM. Her heart did a little flip, she was not sure if it was out of excitement or more out of curiosity. She clicked on it, and the words blinked back at her.

“Got to work to make up for the time I’ll be spending on a blind date tonight, yh a blind date momma arranged . Can’t call back as promised, but we’ll talk as soon as I’m done. Talk later.”

And, of course, a purple heart to end it.

Sophia raised an eyebrow, letting out a soft, cynical laugh. A blind date, huh? She shook her head and placed the phone down on the armrest. She wasn’t even sure why she was slightly amused, or why she expected anything different.

Typical Robert, she thought. Always busy, always juggling a million things at once. That millionaire playboy aura was something he wore like a badge of honor, and it didn’t surprise her in the least that he had somehow managed to squeeze in a blind date arranged by his mother of all people. The man was probably juggling more things than he let on—business deals, meetings, and now, apparently, high-class matchmaking.

Her mind wandered, picturing Robert getting ready for the date. She could imagine him standing in front of a mirror, adjusting his suit and tie, exuding that polished, effortlessly cool persona that everyone seemed to fall for. It wasn’t hard to picture him walking into some upscale restaurant, flashing that charming smile that could disarm anyone. He had that whole package down to a science—smooth, confident, and always in control.

But the thought of him going on a blind date arranged by his mother? That part made her laugh. Who even still does that? It sounded like something out of an old-fashioned romance novel. She bet his mom had probably picked out some high-class girl for him, one of those daughters of her rich socialite friends. Perfectly groomed, perfectly poised, perfectly boring.

Sophia let her head fall back against the couch, sighing. And let’s be real. If things went well tonight, Robert probably wouldn’t be calling back at all. She doubted he’d even think about it. If this girl was what his mom wanted for him, she wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up fucking their heads out by the end of the night. And Robert? He wouldn’t exactly stop her.

She bit her lip, eyes narrowing as she stared at the ceiling. The thought irritated her more than she wanted to admit. Why the hell should I care, though? It wasn’t like she and Robert had any kind of serious thing going on. They were... well, what were they? Friends? Maybe less? Or maybe just two weird people, trying to bond again.

But still, something about the idea of him being with another woman tonight made her stomach turn. She could already imagine the scene playing out—Robert and this mystery girl sitting across from each other in some candlelit, overpriced restaurant, the conversation flowing easily, both of them laughing at each other’s dumb jokes. He’d probably flash that damn smirk of his, the one that always made people feel special, like they were the only person in the room.

Sophia clenched her jaw. It’s not like I’m jealous or anything, she told herself, trying to shove the thought aside. But deep down, she knew she wasn’t exactly thrilled about it either.

Her phone buzzed again, pulling her from her spiraling thoughts. It wasn’t Robert. Just a random notification from an app she didn’t care about. She tossed the phone onto the coffee table in front of her, crossing her arms. He’s probably out there right now, smooth-talking his way through this date.

Sophia ran a hand through her hair, pulling her knees up to her chest. Shit, maybe I shouldn’t even expect him to call back tonight. If his mom’s behind this date, then she probably set him up with someone perfect, someone who fits into his world better than anyone ever could. Some trust-fund princess or one of those overly-polished socialites who knows how to charm old money out of their wallets.

The kind of girl who wouldn’t question Robert’s busy lifestyle or demand more of his time. The kind of girl who would just slip seamlessly into his life, while he kept on living exactly the way he always had.

She chuckled darkly to herself. Hell, she’s probably everything his mom’s been nagging him to find—a well-bred, picture-perfect trophy wife. Someone who won’t get in the way of his precious business schedule.

And if Robert was even half the guy she knew, he’d probably go along with it, at least for the night. Maybe he’d charm the hell out of this girl, make her feel special. Maybe he’d go book an over-priced hotel with her, just to keep up appearances. Not like it would be the first time. Maybe they'd fuck till dawn.

The thought lingered in her mind, twisting her mood a little further south. Sophia grabbed her phone again, her thumb hovering over Robert’s name. Maybe I should text him? Ask him how it’s going? But then she realized how utterly stupid that idea sounded. She wasn’t going to be that girl—the one who sat around wondering what some guy was doing while he was out on a date with someone else. That was pathetic, and it sure as hell wasn’t her.

But still, that purple heart at the end of his message... that part threw her off. Was he trying to be cute? Trying to make me feel better about the whole situation?

Sophia sighed, dropping her phone back onto the couch beside her. It doesn’t matter. Whether he meant it or not, whether he called back tonight or not, none of it mattered. Robert was going to do what he always did—charm the pants off someone, literally or figuratively.

The thought made her scoff again. If she’s anything like what I’m picturing, he’ll probably have her in bed by midnight. That wasn’t fair, she knew, but it didn’t stop the cynical part of her brain from thinking it.

Still, despite everything, Sophia couldn’t help but picture him as he was now, doing exactly what he did best—being Robert. That annoyingly charming, impossibly frustrating millionaire playboy who somehow managed to keep her guessing. And as much as she wanted to write him off as just another cocky guy who never took anything seriously, there was always that little part of her that wondered... What if there’s more to him than that?

But tonight wasn’t going to be the night she figured that out. Tonight, he’s probably busy making someone else feel like the center of the world, driving this 'special person' to cloud nine with his dick.

Then, out of nowhere, a thought crossed Sophia’s mind, tugging at the edges of her cynicism. What if Robert wasn’t as she remembered? What if he had actually changed? People changed all the time, right? What if he had started taking life more seriously? What if he wasn’t just that playboy who fucks with any girl he found remotely attractive?What if the life he had lived outside San Francisco had taught him little and mild lessons?

She frowned, biting her lip. Nah, that’s ridiculous. Robert, settling down? Yeah, right. That image felt almost laughable from the impression she already had about him.

Still, the thought lingered, nagging at her. What if there was more to him than she had given him credit for? What if he was finally over the whole casual fling thing and was actually looking for something real?

For a split second, she could almost see it—Robert sitting across from some girl, listening intently, maybe even talking about his future plans in a way that didn’t sound like his usual nonchalant attitude. A more serious Robert... one who wasn’t just living for the next thrill but was actually thinking about his life, his future, the type of woman he wanted by his side.

Sophia shook her head, letting out a sharp breath. No way. Not Robert.

She brushed it off quickly, sinking deeper into the couch. He’ll never change.