Page 48 of The Suitcase Swap

Sophie wasn’t entirely sure if she would classify their first kiss as a singleanything, but nodded anyway.

Edie leaned closer to the screen, her entire focus on Sophie. ‘He kissed you, flipped out, told you he was going to start his own monastery and die an untouched monk, apologized complete with friendship pact and blood offering, and then deliciously molested you on your sublet’s couch?’

‘I feel like at least half of that is nonsense, and molested is a terrible word that implies unwanted attention.’ Sophie might not know entirely how she was feeling about yesterday, but unwanted wasn’t part of the emotional tangle. No, his actions had been extremely wanted.

Edie rolled her eyes, set down her coffee and picked up her phone. When Sophie opened her mouth to speak, Edie held up a single finger, making her stop. She scrolled for a second, before lighting up with unholy satisfaction. ‘Deliciously fondled, then; held you in a torrid embrace as you delightfully canoodled on the couch in your sublet.’

Sophie scowled at her. ‘I’m taking away your thesaurus app. You clearly can’t be trusted with even a sliver of power.’

‘You got it on with a hot man and had what I am hoping was a spine-melting orgasm. He may be Captain Mixed Signals, but at least he delivered, yeah?’

Sophie thought about the way his eyes had blazed into hers as she fell apart on him. ‘Yes, he delivered.’

‘Did he, you know?’ Edie made a vague gesture that Sophie wasn’t sure how to interpret.

She gave it a shot anyway. ‘Pet a duck? Play cricket? What are you doing?’

‘Did it go both ways?’ Edie tried one more time for subtle, mostly in deference to Sophie’s slightly more delicate sensibilities, before giving up entirely and getting right to the meat of the matter. ‘Did he have an orgasm? Did you take him to a state of bliss? Did you fondle his titbits?’

‘Did I fondle his what?’ Sophie shook her head. ‘Hardly titbits.’

Edie raised her mug in salute. ‘Good for him and hopefully good for future Sophie.’

Sophie traced the rim of her cup with her thumb. ‘You don’t think I should put a stop to things? Because of the mixed signals?’

Edie snorted. ‘If that man managed to get you off using only his fingers while you were both fully dressed, I have high hopes for what he can do when he has his entire arsenal behind him. You deserve a good time after Asshole Andrew.’

‘Marisa has been calling him the Wicker Man.’

Edie barked a laugh. ‘I like her.’

‘You really think it’s okay?’

Edie pursed her lips. ‘You don’t have to marry the man. You don’t even have to date him. He’s only in the city for, what, two more weeks?’

‘I’m not sure,’ Sophie said, frowning. ‘It depends on a few different things.’

‘But he’ll be there less time than you?’

‘I think so.’

‘Great,’ Edie said, dancing in her seat. ‘Better than great. Perfect. There’s a built-in timeline. Have fun. End it when he leaves. Until then, emulate rabbits.’

‘I’m not sure I can do that.’ Sophie sighed.

Edie shrugged one shoulder. ‘Won’t find out until you try.’

Sophie bit her lip. ‘I’ll think about it.’

‘You do that,’ Edie said. ‘In the meantime, go and take that nap. You’re looking decidedly peaky.’

After signing off with Edie, Sophie took herself back to bed, surprised when she didn’t wake up again until noon. She still felt exhausted. In fact, she felt worse than when she’d gone to bed. Her body felt heavy, her throat scratchy. Her nose was somehow stuffy and runny at the same time.

She must be getting ill. That might explain a little of her behaviour yesterday. She’d fallen asleep on the poor man. Had he been put out about that? Maybe he’d been expecting reciprocation? She curled deeper into her blankets, replaying yesterday afternoon in her head. She hadn’t had any indication that he’d been upset. But maybe she’d missed it? She didn’t entirely trust her gut still.

After she’d fallen asleep in his lap, he’d tucked her into bed, despite the early hour. She touched her temple, sure there had been some kind of kiss planted there before he’d left. Should she feel embarrassed by her actions? Did she owe him anything? With Andrew—

No.

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