Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 96

Nicholas’ reaction was priceless. Sophia fought back a laugh.

He was rendered speechless, and at a complete loss of words.

It was at that moment Nicholas knew, he fucked up.

“Clarisse’s ex?” He asked.

He smiled awkwardly. He felt foolish and extremely idiotic. What’d overcome him?

“Sophia, can I borrow you?” Nicholas asked.

Sophia hid an amused smile.

“Sure,” she answered.

“We’ll continue this conversation later,” she told Blaine whilst smirking.

She took Nicholas by the hand and brought him somewhere else.

“You didn’t tell me you’d be having guests,” Nicholas began.

“A man catcalled me,” Sophia explained to him.

Nicholas’ facial expression changed from stern to furious in a matter of seconds.

He was no longer mad at her, instead, at the bastard who catcalled her.

How dare he?

To her?

Did he not know who she was?

He hoped the bastard would rot in hell.

“Who’s the jerk that did it?” He asked firstly, looking like he wanted to kill someone.

“Tell me who did it,” he demanded.

“Sophia, his name,” he said pleadingly.

“Blaine’s handling it,” Sophia answered not so reassuringly.

‘Blaine’s handling it’ was one of the last things Nicholas ever wanted to hear in his lifetime.

Sophia had been catcalled, why would Blaine handle it of all people?

“Why Blaine?” Nicholas asked, glaring at where Blaine once stood – he had left.

Sophia kissed him on the cheek to reassure him.

“I’m not dating Clarisse’s ex, Ambrose,” she assured.

“I wouldn’t do that,” she promised.

“Besides, I have you,” she said.

“You’re dodging my question,” Nicholas noticed.

Nicholas was then struck with realization.

“Oh.”

“Mhm,” Sophia nodded.

“And he’s dealt with the indisputable consequences?” Nicholas asked.

“We’re dealing with it at the current moment,” Sophia reassured.

He looked concernedly at her.

“You alright?” He asked.

Sophia grinned, “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Are you really alright?” Nicholas asked worriedly.

Sophia took a deep breath.

She repeated, “I’m with you, why wouldn’t I be?”

“It was his blood on your blouse,” Nicholas comprehended.

“Up top,” Nicholas made a fist, a

Sophia returned his fist bump before shooting Nicholas a strange look.

“He’s still getting fired though,” Sophia added.

Nicholas still didn’t seem satisfied.

“Got any plans?” Sophia asked him, walking beside him.

“I don’t,” Nicholas answered slyly.

“Why, intend to ask me out?” He asked.

“Aish,” Sophia pursed her lips.

“You made it no longer fun,” she pouted.

“Yes, I’ll go out with you,” Nicholas answered.

Sophia stopped to glare at him.

He gently ruffled her hair.

“You’re ruining my hair,” Sophia protested.

Nicholas moved his hand away.

“I never said I didn’t like it,” Sophia pouted.

Nicholas chuckled.

“Well then, I’ll do it again another time.”

“So, what have you got in mind for this date?”

Sophia batted her eyelashes.

“…”

Nicholas turned around to hide his growing blush.

“I like keeping things in suspense,” Sophia said, shooting Nicholas a seductive look.

Nicholas nearly tumbled down – he hadn’t been paying any attention to where he walked.

“Like I said, I like keeping things in suspense, even if you nearly fell for me again,” Sophia said shamelessly.

“You’re incredibly blunt,” Nicholas pouted.

“Then again I shouldn’t be telling you things you already know,” he reminded himself.

“When did you start becoming talkative?” Sophia asked.

Nicholas narrowed his eyes, “I’m not all black and white.”

“So… mind telling me where we’re going?”

“No,” Sophia refused.

“Please?” Nicholas asked hopefully.

Sophia looked at him strangely.

“Seriously, what is up with you today? You’re acting all differently,” Sophia tilted her head.

She shook her head, “I’m not complaining though.”

“Well then, this me will stay,” Nicholas kissed her forehead.

“You’re getting back at me aren’t you,” Sophia muttered.

“I’m not,” Nicholas denied.

Nicholas leaned closer, oh how the roles have swapped.

Sophia found herself backing away slightly.

What was up with her?

“I’ve got… a date… to plan… and it’s going to take a while,” Sophia fumbled with her words.

She averted his gaze, unaware Nicholas was smirking.

She walked away, her face cringing when she heard what Nicholas said.

“Leaving so soon, Windsor?”

“Shut up you,” she answered.

Nicholas couldn’t contain his laughter.

He was behaving differently, but he liked his new self.

Sophia didn’t seem to have a problem with it, and he sure as hell felt great.

Perhaps it was because he discovered it was a false call or because he had nothing to worry about when it came to Sophia being interested in someone else.

He swatted all his intrusive thoughts away.

He was going on a date with Sophia.

He was all smiles.

“She’s taking me on a date,” she sighed relievedly.

He had a skip with every step he made back to his quarters.

While walking back, he couldn’t believe it.

She shared his feelings.

She felt at least somewhat similar.

Just a mere glance of her made his world stop. It made his heart momentarily stop beating, it made the whole world dissolve, leaving nothing but him and her. After their first kiss he couldn’t get her out of his mind, she was the only thing inhabiting his mind, nothing else.

A voice in his head would reason with him, saying, he hadn’t known her that well, he hadn’t known her at all other than a few details she’d told him in the past as a matter of fact. He’d once thought she wanted nothing to do with him at one point, and that damaged him to his core.

His feelings for her were indisputable, genuine and clearly not going to lessen any time soon.

He’d be able to go on and on about everything he adored about her.

Her smarts…

Her sassiness…

Her caring gaze…

She had the ability to light up his sky with her smile, she was able to stun him everytime he saw her, and she could render him speechless almost effortlessly.

He wondered how she was able to do that at first, how she had him so captivated. So enchanted.

He didn’t want her as a friend. Hell, not a partner-in-crime either.

When he’d seen her with Blaine, his heart had dropped. Seeing her with any other man, it enraged him. He was jealous. Clearly, duly jealous.

He’d never been on a date before, he hadn’t any experience with dates, but he’d given his all on their first.

He never confessed to anyone before, but he didn’t bother to hide any of his feelings when he wrote that letter to Sophia. One he thought she’d never read, hence his unbotheredness.

Whenever her eyes bore into his, he wanted to tell her how his feelings grew everytime he chatted and bantered with her. Even the smallest details made her fall for her more and more as time passed.

He knew others would’ve found him pathetic.

He’d once tried to convince himself not to fall for her, thinking her forbidden fruit to help, but that never once worked.

He ended up adoring her more.

His feelings continued developing, and the only reason he never considered she reciprocated his feelings was because he was overwhelmed with feelings of his own.

Disregarding all her flaws, she was perfect, to him.

Her every flaw made him admire her more. Her every imperfection, her every ‘defect’, it didn’t matter to him. He adored her for her.

He wasn’t far from telling her those three important words, but he thought himself ridiculous.

They weren’t dating, he didn’t know if she’d agree or want to date him; it was far too quick for him to tell her – or so he thought.

He laid on his bed, gazing at the ceiling of his quarters.

He remained silent before he heaved a long sigh.

‘What does she think?’ He wondered to himself.

‘What’s she planning?’ He wondered next.

His mind wandered off, starting to ponder on what similarities he and Sophia shared – something he found incredibly random.

From what he learnt, Sophia had lost both her parents, while he still had them.

Her father never cared for Sophia up to the time of his death, and her mother had died during childbirth.

While in his case, his parents were still here, except they’d never treated him the way parents were to treat their son.

His parents were dead to him from the start, and what was dreadful was how they’d raised him and Oliver differently.

Nicholas had spent his entire life living on separate wings, while Oliver and his parents stayed on the same wing. He was excluded, while Oliver was welcomed with open arms.

He was the family’s golden boy. He was everyone’s favourite, with Liv excluded. His younger sister was innocent in this situation, and he was glad his parents hadn’t treated her the way they did him.

She was a sweet girl; he resented his parents was because they hadn’t allowed him to spend time with his sister.

He blinked, realizing how far his mind had wandered off. It’d went from Sophia to Olivia.

He checked the wall clock, realizing how long he’d been staring at the ceiling and thinking to himself.