Sophia awoke alone the next morning, which was unusual. Usually when she awoke her eyes immediately landed on the bright blue eyes of the gorgeous man she'd fallen asleep next to. The more she awoke, however, the more that he was obviously in the kitchen and up to something became clear. She could hear him moving around, singing to himself, clanging plates and pans around. She took a moment to breathe in the previous day. An argument, that could hardly be called a fight as it only lasted but a few hours, a lust-filled round of make-up sex…and three words she'd been consciously trying not to say. Not that she didn't feel it. She had, for while, she was just scared. Now…now it was all out there. She was vulnerable. He was vulnerable. They had all the power in the world to destroy each other and the fact that it falling apart was her first thought, frustrated her to no end. She took a deep breath and crawled out of bed, slipped into a Tshirt and a pair of tiny shorts and headed into kitchen, knowing the second she saw those eyes, every worry would melt away.
When she arrived in the entryway for the kitchen, she paused and leaned up against the frame, an enormous smile strewn across her face. He had no idea she was there as he sang and danced around while trying to compose some sort of breakfast. Suddenly the worries that had filled her mind when her eyes opened were completely gone. This was without a doubt the man she wanted and he, without a doubt, wanted her. As he bent over and reached into the oven, Sophia whistled. He jumped, slightly startled, but managed to keep hold of the muffin pan in his hand.
"Jesus, woman!" Tom exclaimed with a laugh.
"Whatcha doin', sexy?" she asked with a grin, walking up behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Well…I WAS trying to surprise you with breakfast in bed but…it appears that you are out of bed, so that plan is spoiled," Tom stated. He turned to face her and instantly pressed his lips into hers. "Good morning."
"Good morning," Sophia smiled. "Did you bake me muffins?"
"I did," Tom nodded. "I mean…I kind of did. I bought a mix…but I…mixed it…"
Sophia laughed. "You're so cute." She kissed him again. "I don't think anyone has ever made me breakfast."
"Well I didn't really MAKE much. I mean…muffins, fruit, yogurt…pretty much all done for me," Tom chuckled, slightly embarrassed of his display. He scratched his head awkwardly. "Yeah, maybe we should go out…"
"No!" Sophia exclaimed. "We will do no such thing. It's beautiful…and extremely healthy… and you did it and did it for me. And that's all I need." She reached up and pulled his face to hers, kissing him lovingly, passionately. A few moments passed before she pulled away. "I love you."
Tom grinned like an utter idiot while trying not to laugh. "I love you too," he laughed.
"Why are you giggling like that?" Sophia asked awkwardly.
"I don't know!" Tom exclaimed. "Because I like hearing it? It's only like the third time. It's still new and exciting."
"My God. You are the most ridiculously adorable person I know. I hate you."
"You just said you loved me…" Tom smirked.
"I do…but I also hate you."
"I'll take it," Tom said shaking his head before kissing her again. "Come on. Go get back in bed. You ruined the surprise."
Sophia laughed. "Fiiiine…" she whined.
"I'll be there in a bit."
"You gonna feed me too?"
"If you ask nicely."
Sophia just laughed as she practically skipped back down the hall.
"Hey Tom."
Tom, lost in a book, looked up just in time to get hit in the nose by a grape. "Really?"
"You were supposed to catch it," Sophia giggled.
"This is how you wanna play?" Tom asked, closing his reading and setting it on the bedside table. "You wanna do this?"
Sophia shook her head, a certain villainous look in her boyfriend's eyes. "No. No I don't I'm sorry. I've changed my mind."
"Oh it's far too late for that," Tom chuckled, lunging toward her.
Sophia shrieked and giggled uncontrollably as Tom pinned her to the bed, straddling her waist as she squirmed and tried to get away. "No! No! I'm sorry!"
"I don't think you are," Tom laughed, grabbing hold of her flailing arms. "Stay still. It'll only hurt for a minute." After he wrangled her wrists above her head, he reached to the table on what was apparently "her" side of the bed and stuck the tips of his fingers in the bit of leftover yogurt.
"NO!" Sophia screamed. "Don't you dare!"
"What? You wanted a food fight… Hold still."
"NO! Don't! Tom!"
"It's probably really good for your skin, so just relax. It'll be like a facial."
Sophia tried not to laugh. "Don't say that. Don't ever say facial when…parts of you…are near my face…"
Tom closed his eyes and tilted his head toward the ceiling, silently laughing. "You are…quite possibly the dirtiest woman I know. My God…"
"What!?" Sophia giggled. "You said it."
"I didn't mean it like that, you creep," Tom laughed. He began looking around. "Dammit…I need a napkin…" Just as Sophia thought he was releasing her, he quickly turned back and smeared the finger full of yogurt across her nose. "HA!"
"Oh my God. I hate you," Sophia stated as Tom climbed off her and she tried to wipe the goo from her face. "C'mere. I need your shirt."
"No!" Tom shouted, pushing her back as she tried to lean into him. "This is your fault. You deal with the consequences of your actions."
"You're mean," Sophia said with a pout, wiping her face on the back of her hand.
"You started it!"
"IT WAS A GRAPE! I didn't wipe white stuff all over your face!" Sophia watched as Tom bit his lips closed and began snickering. "I…I didn't…dammit."
"That was all you. AAAAALL you," Tom stated shaking his head as Sophia's phone rang. Apparently the ringtone was enough for her to know exactly who was calling and by the expression on her face, she was somewhat less than excited. "What? What's wrong?"
"It's Sam," she stated, her phone still behind her on the table.
"Are you gonna answer it?" Tom asked.
Sophia shook her head. "No. I haven't talked to her since I left New York. I have nothing to say." She breathed a sigh of relief as the ringing stopped.
Tom sighed, the mood of the room suddenly becoming very different. "Maybe it's time."
"No. No it is definitely not time. She and Grant can live in their perfect little betrayal filled world. I'm perfectly content here without them."
"Soph…"
"Don't. I don't need a lecture," Sophia stated, getting off the bed and heading into the bathroom to wash off the evidence of their short-lived food fight.
"I'm not trying to lecture you, darling," Tom assured, following after her. "I just… I know she hurt you. She hurt you worse than…I could possibly even come close to imagining, but she is your sister..."
"Sure didn't stop her from sleeping with my boyfriend."
Tom sighed, knowing if he didn't tread carefully she would enter all-out fight mode. "Look, I'm not telling you to forget what happened. I don't think you or anyone ever could. I just think maybe… since… you've moved on. You're obviously in a much different place, maybe…you should think about making amends."
Sophia gave him a disapproving look. "You're joking, right?"
"At least talk to her. Listen to what she has to say."
"I don't care what she has to say."
"That's not true. I can see in your eyes that it's not true."
Sophia's eyes began filling with tears. "I'm not ready. I need more time."
"No, no, no. No tears," Tom said, his voice calm and soothing as he wrapped her in his arms. "I'm not saying right now and I'm definitely not trying to force you into anything, okay? Just…think about it, alright? And I will be here, right beside you, if you decide to talk to her. Whether it's tomorrow or further down the road, alright?" Sophia just nodded as he took her face in his hands and kissed her softly. "I love you. I didn't mean to make you sad."
"You didn't," Sophia said with a laugh. She wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I don't know why it still affects me so much. It shouldn't. I mean…look where I am. I'm here…with you…I honestly couldn't be happier. I just…"
"It's alright, my love," Tom assured. "Just because you're happy and you're in a good place, doesn't make the past not hurt. I don't expect you to completely ignore it." Sophia gulped and nodded her head once again. "You need to deal with all of this on your own time. I know that. I just don't want you to hold onto the anger and the sadness for too long. It'll only hurt more in the end."
"I know."
"A little forgiveness goes a long way, for you especially."
"Could you stop being the nicest, kindest man in the world for like two seconds? It's kind of obnoxious."
Tom laughed. "I'm sorry. I'll work on it."
"Thanks," Sophia smiled. "I'd really appreciate it." She sighed. "I need to shower and get going. We have press before the opening tonight."
Tom pouted. "I wish I could be there."
"Me too," Sophia stated. "Pretty sure Ben is the only one coming."
"What about Maggie?"
"Work. She'll be there tomorrow."
"I'm sorry, darling."
"It's okay. It doesn't matter."
"It does matter. You know we all want to be there to support you. I promise I'm just as disappointed as you are."
Sophia smiled sweetly and gave him a quick kiss. "I know. Call me after you get done tonight?"
Tom issued her a nod. "Of course." He kissed her again, firmly before she headed into the bedroom for her bag and then toward the door. "Hey." She stopped and turned back toward him. "I love you."
"I love you too," she smiled before disappearing.
Tom smirked ever so crookedly and chuckled to himself. He was going to have to get used to missing things, after all, five months of missing things was on the horizon, but this first one was really bringing him down.
