Page 14 of Pirate

“Use what you need,” she answered back, just as loud. After brushing her own teeth and using the bathroom, Sophia planned on curling up in that massive bed and passing out. She couldn’t recall ever being this exhausted. Spontaneous weddingaside, she’d really enjoyed herself on this trip. That was entirely unexpected, given the objective of it.

Once the doors were open and the fireplace on, Sophia journeyed into the bathroom too. The expansive double sink and vanity took up an entire wall. A walk-in shower with four shower heads, a hot tub, and a separate toilet room took up the rest.

Pirate handed her a toothbrush with toothpaste already on it.

She accepted it gratefully. “Did you put the food away?”

He spat into the sink on the left. “You mean in the massive fridge in the massive kitchen in this place? Yes, I did.”

Sophia narrowed her eyes at him in the mirror. “I’r’ooo’ire’ooo’agoo’wi’oo’ight’ow,” she told him around the toothbrush in her mouth.

Pirate sloshed water into his mouth before spitting. “Gesundheit.”

She lowered her head to spit, careful to keep her hair out of the way. “Isaid, I am too tired to argue with you right now.”

“Who said anything about arguing? I didn’t even comment on the fact that this bathroom is bigger than my bedroom.”

“You’re welcome to go sleep on the street,” she told him before continuing brushing her teeth.

He was quiet for a moment. Finally, he ran a hand down his face. The stubble that had been growing since before their departure was starting to shape into a beard after not shaving for days. “Look,” he sighed, “I’m sorry. I’m tired and probably still a bit drunk.”

She smiled around her toothbrush. “That was some good rum.”

He chuckled. “Yes, it was. My point is, we’ve known each other for a while now. I don’t know what you are to me, other than annoying” —her smile turned cocky around her toothbrush— “but you’ve never been one to flaunt your wealth. Most of the time, I can forget your last name is ‘Groveton’. I guess thistrip, the spontaneity and the expense, has really driven home just how different our lives are, Sophia. I didn’t mean to sound bitter.”

Sophia took a moment to gather her thoughts as she washed out her mouth and spat into the sink again. She put the cup back down on the counter. Movement out of the corner of her eye drew her attention to the towel Pirate held out to her. She accepted it with a small, “Thank you.”

After wiping the corners of her mouth and chin, Sophia put it on the rack to her left. She turned, leaning her hip against the counter. “I don’t like being rich. I know,” she let out a self-deprecating laugh, “that’s something only a rich person would say, but it’s true. Do you know why I love Jasmine? Above everything else?”

Pirate shook his head. “I assumed it was because she put up with your crazy.”

“That too,” Sophia chuckled. “But the truth is, she is the only one who doesn’t see it—hasneverseen it.”

“Seen what?” he inquired.

“My money,” she answered. “Jazz has never once looked at me and seen dollar signs. She’s never asked me for money or believed that I would buy her things because we’re friends. Hell, when I offered to go into business with her when she got turned down for a loan to start up her clinic, she refused and would only partner with my dad. She loves mefor me, not because of my money.” Sophia shrugged, a little self-conscious. “When you have the money I do, it’s very difficult to make friends, to go on dates… You don’t know the intentions of the other people. Greed is a cruel motivator. I’ve been burned more than once. But not by Jazz. She is the one person in this entire world that I know will love me whether I have a single dollar or millions to my name.”

Pirate reached over and tucked some hair behind Sophia’s ear. “People can be cruel. I’m sorry you’ve been hurt because of your net worth.”

“When Jumper and Jasmine first got together, I wasn’t sure how he would act around me. Wasn’t sure if he would see Jazz as a way to get to me.”

Pirate’s eyes narrowed. “Has that happened before?”

“In college,” she answered sorrowfully. “We both thought this guy was into her but he only was with her because he assumed I would pay for things for him too. It blew up in her face and she got her heart broken.”

Rather than looking sad for his future sister-in-law, Pirate’s expression turned suspicious. “What did you do to him?”

Sophia grinned wickedly. “Broke into his car and peed on his front seat.”

He laughed before sobering. “You know Jumper’s not like that, right? He loves Jazz and puts up with you because he does.”

She snorted. “Yeah, I know.” Stepping forward, she closed the distance between them. “Neither are you, you know,” she said softly. “You don’t treat me like I’m special. I want you to know how much I appreciate that.”

“Oh, you’re special, all right,” he commented wryly. “Just probably not in the way you mean it.”

She laughed. “I may have gone a bit overboard. I just want to make sure Jazz’s wedding day is perfect. She deserves nothing less.”

“I live a simple life, Sophia.” Pirate indicated to the posh bathroom they were standing in. “The past few days aside, I don’t live beyond my means. And I do plan on paying you back for my half of this trip.” After a pause, he added, “Except the boat ride. That was all you.”

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