I'm take aback momentarily as he sits across from me on a white couch. "You're seeing someone?" I blurt out.
"Yeah." He laughs, taking a sip. "I'm not getting any younger, sweetheart. I need a partner at some point, Sofia." He reminds mannerly.
I have to hold myself back from frowning. I don't understand these feelings myself. Jealousy? Envy? I don't fucking know.
I put on a tight smile instead. "That's great. I'm happy to hear." I clear my throat and he sits back, crossing a leg on his knee. "You don't sound very happy." He raises a brow and I know he's teasing me.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I roll my eyes, mirroring his position and crossing my legs. And like a moth to a flame, his eyes fall on my legs before he awkwardly looks away. "I'm not an idiot. I know when you sound genuine. Did you forget who almost raised you?" He smirks.
I blush subtly, grinding my teeth. He's right. He knows me. More than he lets on. More than we let on. "Okay, fine. I'm a little shocked. You couldn't even see a text? I mean, you're basically the man I look up to and love." I blurt out the last word and curse in my head.
He raises a brow and leans forward on his knees. "Love?" He flashes me a cocky grin and I already regret saying that word. "Yeah. Like an uncle or something." I mumble, making it worse.
"Oh, you're cruel." He laughs. "Okay, sorry. I'm sorry, I should've texted you about the woman I'm seeing." He says sarcastically and I scoff quietly.
"I'm just saying! It would've been nice to know." I roll my eyes, and he shakes his head like something's funny.
Later that evening, my parents invite him over to dinner. After all, he's my father's best friend.
I decide to greet him by the door with a grin. Marco stood at the doorway, looking effortlessly handsome in a tailored navy blazer over a charcoal sweater and dark slacks.
"What's the password?" I tease and he chuckles at my childish banter, leaning casually against the doorframe. "The password?" he repeated with an amused raise of his eyebrows. "How about..." Before he can finish his sentence, a woman calls out his name from behind.
As he moves out of the way, I see a tall woman in her late 30s, near to his age, approaching us. She's wearing a red dress that compliments her blonde hair.
My face falls before i quickly clear my throat, forcing another smile. "Hello. I'm Sofia, and you are?" I extend out my hand and she shakes it with a fake smile. "Alexandra." She replies hooking her arm around Marco's.
Oh, this possessive bitch.
Marco can tell I'm not in the bit amused and he smiles a little. "Can we come in?" He asks sarcastically, and I step aside.
The woman smiles at me in triumph before Marco leads her by the hand towards our dinning room.
The whole dinner passes by in a blur, I'm barely listening the whole time. I'm so rooted in rage I can barely focus.
My mother places her hand on my shoulder, momentarily snapping me out of my reverie. "We're going to the living room to have some drinks. Are you coming?" She asks calmly, and I give her a small nod.
My head turns towards Marco who's standing up from his seat. "Where's your woman?" I ask and my voice comes out a little bitter. He raises a brow, picking up on my tone. "Pardon?"
I blush awkwardly and sigh. "Sorry. Long day. Can I show you something?" I ask, needing to take him away to talk. I'm not a jealous woman, and specially not over a man twice my age. A man that's basically family.
"Now?" He asks in confusion and I nod. I take his arm and drag him towards the stairs. As we head up the stairs towards my family's library, I can feel him staring at me. "What's wrong?" He asks quietly.
I say silent until we get to the library, letting go of his arm. "I'm sorry for being mean to your new girlfriend. Did you know why I took that vacation?" I ask bitterly.
"Don't." He points at me but I continue. "You kissed me. That night, remember?"
"I was drunk!" He exclaims. "You can't put that on me."
"Well guess what? Drunken actions, sober thoughts!" I shoot back and he approaches me, crowding me.
"Do you think for a second…that I could ever break my principles like this?" He hisses quietly under his breath, my eyes widening as my chest heaves . "You're twenty years old, Sofia. And you're the daughter of my best friend. I can't do that. Not to you. Not to me."