Chapter 5 - pinky promise

Absolutely, Oluchi 💙! Here's the fully revised Chapter 7 (~1,000 words), incorporating:

Sophie and Brenda deciding to work at the restaurant

Their friendship bonding

The promise to not let any man distract them

Ryan's advances and Sophie's lie about their promise

Brenda's playful reaction

Sophie's secret romance with Ethan

Subtle romantic tension and private moments

Chapter 7 – Summer Secrets

It was Sophie who had first suggested it. "Why don't we work at the restaurant together this summer?" she asked Brenda one afternoon as they sat in the café, sipping iced teas and reminiscing about high school. "We'll make some money, stay busy, and… spend more time together."

Brenda's eyes lit up. "That's actually a great idea! We'll be a team. Just us. No distractions, no drama."

Sophie smiled, relieved that her best friend had agreed. Working together gave them a sense of purpose and an excuse to spend long hours side by side, laughing, joking, and catching up like no time had passed. It was perfect—until the undercurrent of Sophie's secret romance with Ethan complicated everything.

From the first day, the girls fell into the rhythm of the restaurant. Sophie managed the busy floor, refilling drinks, taking orders, and making sure the customers were happy. Brenda, equally capable, handled the serving side with effortless charm, balancing trays with grace and teasing Sophie whenever she fumbled a tray or dropped a napkin.

They shared laughs over spilled coffee and competed over who could carry the most plates at once. During breaks, they lounged in the back, comparing notes about customers, teasing each other, and talking about everything from childhood memories to their dreams for the future. It was a summer built on friendship, trust, and the simple joy of working together.

"You know," Brenda said one afternoon, nudging Sophie as they carried a stack of menus, "I think we need a promise this summer. No men are going to come between us. Not a single one. Pinky promise?"

Sophie's chest tightened. The irony wasn't lost on her. How could I promise that when the man I want the most is your brother? she thought. She forced a smile and linked her pinky with Brenda's. "Pinky promise. Nothing will come between us."

Brenda grinned. "Good. Because this summer is going to be about us, not anyone else. And if I see someone who's actually worth it, I'll make sure you do too."

Sophie laughed softly, hiding a pang of guilt. She wanted to tell Brenda everything—about Ethan, about the stolen moments, about the way her heart belonged entirely to him—but the words were impossible. Ethan had agreed to respect her decision to keep their relationship private, and she intended to honor that.

As the weeks passed, their workdays were filled with energy, fun, and a little chaos. The restaurant was busy, but the girls thrived on it. They joked over spilled drinks, raced to carry trays, and supported each other when customers became impatient. Sophie loved the sense of teamwork, the shared experience that strengthened their bond.

Then Ryan started working at the restaurant. He was their age, charming, and clearly taken with Sophie. From lingering smiles to small compliments, his interest was obvious.

One afternoon, while Sophie refilled ketchup bottles, he leaned casually against the counter. "Hey, Sophie. Want to grab coffee after your shift?"

Sophie froze, her heart racing. She had been avoiding this conversation for weeks. "Thanks, but I don't think that's a good idea," she said politely.

Later, during a short break, Brenda noticed Sophie's tense expression and nudged her playfully. "You're ridiculous! He's cute, single… why aren't you saying yes?"

Sophie hesitated, then decided on a quick white lie. "It's… because of our promise," she murmured, linking her pinky with Brenda's. "You know, the one where we said no man would distract us this summer?"

Brenda's eyes lit up, then she laughed, shaking her head. "Ooh, it's fine. He's too cute to let go anyway. But okay, I get it. Promise first—love later, right?"

Sophie forced a laugh, hiding the flutter in her chest. She was grateful Brenda didn't probe further. If only she knew, Sophie thought, the man who already has my heart isn't Ryan—it's Ethan.

After a long shift, Sophie lingered in the quiet dining room, replaying moments with Ethan—the stolen kisses, teasing laughter, and private conversations that left her breathless. He appeared quietly, leaning against the doorway with that familiar, mischievous grin.

"Long day?" he asked softly.

"You could say that," Sophie replied, smiling despite herself. "But it's better now."

He stepped closer, close enough for her to feel the warmth radiating from him. "Better, huh? And how exactly is it better?"

Sophie hesitated, her cheeks warming. "You're here," she whispered.

Ethan's gaze softened. "I'll take it," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I was hoping we could… talk. Maybe just for a little while."

They found a quiet corner of the restaurant, and the tension between them, which had been simmering for weeks, finally flared. Their hands brushed, laughter turned into teasing whispers, and every accidental touch felt deliberate, intoxicating, and impossible to ignore.

Hours passed like minutes. They laughed, teased, and lingered in closeness that was impossible to ignore. Every glance, every whispered word, every playful touch made the attraction undeniable. Sophie felt her defenses crumble, the pull between them irresistible.

Finally, as Sophie prepared to leave, Ethan caught her wrist gently. "I respect your decision," he murmured. "But I can't stop wanting you."

Sophie's chest tightened. "I know… and I feel the same. But I can't tell anyone. Not Brenda. Not anyone."

He nodded, brushing a soft kiss over her knuckles. "Then we'll keep our secret… just us."

Sophie's heart swelled. No promise, no summer job, no friend could change the fact that her heart belonged entirely to Ethan. And for the first time, she allowed herself to simply feel—the longing, the thrill, and the dangerous joy of being exactly where she wanted to be, with the one person who

It was Sophie who had first suggested it. "Why don't we work at the restaurant together this summer?" she asked Brenda one afternoon as they sat in the café, sipping iced teas and reminiscing about high school. "We'll make some money, stay busy, and… spend more time together."

Brenda's eyes lit up. "That's actually a great idea! We'll be a team. Just us. No distractions, no drama."

Sophie smiled, relieved that her best friend had agreed. Working together gave them a sense of purpose and an excuse to spend long hours side by side, laughing, joking, and catching up like no time had passed. It was perfect—until the undercurrent of Sophie's secret romance with Ethan complicated everything.

From the first day, the girls fell into the rhythm of the restaurant. Sophie managed the busy floor, refilling drinks, taking orders, and making sure the customers were happy. Brenda, equally capable, handled the serving side with effortless charm, balancing trays with grace and teasing Sophie whenever she fumbled a tray or dropped a napkin.

They shared laughs over spilled coffee and competed over who could carry the most plates at once. During breaks, they lounged in the back, comparing notes about customers, teasing each other, and talking about everything from childhood memories to their dreams for the future. It was a summer built on friendship, trust, and the simple joy of working together.

"You know," Brenda said one afternoon, nudging Sophie as they carried a stack of menus, "I think we need a promise this summer. No men are going to come between us. Not a single one. Pinky promise?"

Sophie's chest tightened. The irony wasn't lost on her. How could I promise that when the man I want the most is your brother? she thought. She forced a smile and linked her pinky with Brenda's. "Pinky promise. Nothing will come between us."

Brenda grinned. "Good. Because this summer is going to be about us, not anyone else. And if I see someone who's actually worth it, I'll make sure you do too."

Sophie laughed softly, hiding a pang of guilt. She wanted to tell Brenda everything—about Ethan, about the stolen moments, about the way her heart belonged entirely to him—but the words were impossible. Ethan had agreed to respect her decision to keep their relationship private, and she intended to honor that.

As the weeks passed, their workdays were filled with energy, fun, and a little chaos. The restaurant was busy, but the girls thrived on it. They joked over spilled drinks, raced to carry trays, and supported each other when customers became impatient. Sophie loved the sense of teamwork, the shared experience that strengthened their bond.

Then Ryan started working at the restaurant. He was their age, charming, and clearly taken with Sophie. From lingering smiles to small compliments, his interest was obvious.

One afternoon, while Sophie refilled ketchup bottles, he leaned casually against the counter. "Hey, Sophie. Want to grab coffee after your shift?"

Sophie froze, her heart racing. She had been avoiding this conversation for weeks. "Thanks, but I don't think that's a good idea," she said politely.

Later, during a short break, Brenda noticed Sophie's tense expression and nudged her playfully. "You're ridiculous! He's cute, single… why aren't you saying yes?"

Sophie hesitated, then decided on a quick white lie. "It's… because of our promise," she murmured, linking her pinky with Brenda's. "You know, the one where we said no man would distract us this summer?"

Brenda's eyes lit up, then she laughed, shaking her head. "Ooh, it's fine. He's too cute to let go anyway. But okay, I get it. Promise first—love later, right?"

Sophie forced a laugh, hiding the flutter in her chest. She was grateful Brenda didn't probe further. If only she knew, Sophie thought, the man who already has my heart isn't Ryan—it's Ethan.

After a long shift, Sophie lingered in the quiet dining room, replaying moments with Ethan—the stolen kisses, teasing laughter, and private conversations that left her breathless. He appeared quietly, leaning against the doorway with that familiar, mischievous grin.

"Long day?" he asked softly.

"You could say that," Sophie replied, smiling despite herself. "But it's better now."

He stepped closer, close enough for her to feel the warmth radiating from him. "Better, huh? And how exactly is it better?"

Sophie hesitated, her cheeks warming. "You're here," she whispered.

Ethan's gaze softened. "I'll take it," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I was hoping we could… talk. Maybe just for a little while."

They found a quiet corner of the restaurant, and the tension between them, which had been simmering for weeks, finally flared. Their hands brushed, laughter turned into teasing whispers, and every accidental touch felt deliberate, intoxicating, and impossible to ignore.

Hours passed like minutes. They laughed, teased, and lingered in closeness that was impossible to ignore. Every glance, every whispered word, every playful touch made the attraction undeniable. Sophie felt her defenses crumble, the pull between them irresistible.

Finally, as Sophie prepared to leave, Ethan caught her wrist gently. "I respect your decision," he murmured. "But I can't stop wanting you."

Sophie's chest tightened. "I know… and I feel the same. But I can't tell anyone. Not Brenda. Not anyone."

He nodded, brushing a soft kiss over her knuckles. "Then we'll keep our secret… just us."

Sophie's heart swelled. No promise, no summer job, no friend could change the fact that her heart belonged entirely to Ethan. And for the first time, she allowed herself to simply feel—the longing, the thrill, and the dangerous joy of being exactly where she wanted to be, with the one person who had her heart completely.