𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐇 ⌈ 𝗄𝖺𝗂 𝖺𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗈𝗇

CHAPTER EIGHT

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PLAYING HOUSE

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It was the last day of the school week, and Sophie sat across from Aria, enjoying their lunch and chatting between bites. Sophie's phone buzzed and she glanced down to see a message from Kai. They'd been texting here and there, catching up , but this message sent a ripple of anxiety and excitement through her. She felt her cheeks warm as she read it.

Dinner tonight?

As long as you're cooking.

I'll be there at six.

Noticing the shift in Sophie's expression, Aria set her fork down and eyed her friend with curiosity. "Who's got you all smiley?"

Sophie took a deep breath and placed her phone on the table. "Micah's father."

Aria's eyes widened, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "Since when was Daddy in the picture?"

Sophie took a deep breath, sorting through the complicated mess in her head. "It's... complicated," she admitted. "He didn't even know about Micah until recently. We'd... separated, I guess you could say, before I found out I was pregnant."

Aria's expression softened as she processed that. "And now he wants to be involved?"

Sophie nodded. "Yeah, he does."

Aria shot her a knowing look, her lips curling into a smirk. "So... are you gonna fuck him?"

Sophie sputtered, her "No" coming out way too fast for Aria to take seriously.

"No?" Aria arched a brow.

Sophie sighed, cracking a smile. "Maybe. I don't know. I don't want to get my hopes up again, and I definitely don't want to mess things up for Micah."

"Oh, no," Aria put on a dramatic tone, clutching her hands to her chest. "Micah's mom and dad together—it's the end of the world!"

Sophie rolled her eyes, grabbing a crouton and tossing it at her. "You're the worst."

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Sophie stood in the shower, letting the steam and warm water work away the stress of the day. She ran the razor along the last strip of her leg, feeling a bit winded after shaving head to toe. She had absolutely no plans to sleep with Kai... but still, it didn't hurt to be prepared.

Just then, the doorbell rang, and her eyes snapped open.

Sophie quickly rinsed off, shaking off the last of the suds, before stepping out and wrapping a towel around herself. As she headed into the hallway, she spotted Micah moving toward the door.

"I really hope you're not about to answer that door," she scolded, stopping him in his tracks. "You know better."

Micah sighed, rolling his eyes. "It's just Kai."

"I don't care if it's Santa Claus. You only open the door for me or Uncle Nicky. Got it?"

"Yes, Mom," Micah groaned.

"Good." Sophie shot him a quick smile, then opened the door to find Kai standing there with a bag of groceries and a grin.

"You're early," she remarked, stepping aside to let him in.