Misinformed: Chapter One

Usually, mornings were Sophie’s part of the day, but since it was break from school for her younger siblings, they had been ruined. She was used to waking up and getting ready to peace. Having her tea, doing her hair and makeup, eating a quick but sensible breakfast, and giving Persephone her walk. But when her younger siblings, Mateo, Ari, and Stefan, were around, it was impossible.

As she stormed into work that morning with barely mascara and lipgloss on, her friend and coworker, Isla, could notice the storm raging.

“Aww, did baby not get her toast with lemon curd this morning?” Isla poked, hoping for a reaction from the firey red head.

“Yes!” Sophie growled as she tried to keep her hair slicked back into the bun she was forced to leave the house with.

“It’s just winter break, it won’t last much longer,” Isla laughed. “That’s why you get born the youngest, like me,” she said with absolute pride. “Not the sad middle child like you,” she smirked at Sophie who was glaring at her from the coffee bar in the office.

“I should have just gone with the on site housing at school,” Sophie growled as she poured the hot water for her tea. 

“Are you kidding?” Isla scoffed. “It would have been much worse. Roommates? Let alone starving college roommates?” She shook her head. “They would be using your Lancome face cream and your hot-cold rollers worse that Ari does.”

“Ari doesn’t even use them!” Sophie snaps. She then sighs and let her shoulders slouch. “She ransacks the place! She messes my stuff up I-” she clasps her hand to her forehead. “I don’t even know why she touches it!”

“She wants to get to know you better,” Isla laughed.

Sophie shook her head. “Bullshit,” she growled. “I tell her to leave it alone and she just-” she stepped away from the coffee bar as she tea steeped. “You’re lucky you get your own bathroom.”

“Yeah,” Isla giggled. “I am.”

Sophie sat at her desk, going over all the papers and documents the partners of the law firm had left. She tried to focus but she kept fuming over his living arrangements. Isla, for the most part, listened to her friend.

Sophie rambled for much of the morning. How Ari left their shared bathroom a complete wreck and torn the new curtains, she bought for it. How Mateo ate her favorite and brand new lipstick. How her father’s drinking friends always hollered and whooped from the den during games. Not to mention how her mother expected her to rise all above the cacophony and disorder because she was a ‘lady.’

   “A lady doesn’t have to keep taking it,” Sophie huffed as she stacked papers. “That’s what I told her! And she looked at me like I had a snot hanging from my nose.” Sophie flicked the tip of her nose. “Like I was the one asking too much!”

   Isla laughed, “well what can you do? You have such a big family.” 

“So do you,” Sophie scoffed at her.

Isla shrugged. “Yeah well,” she squeaked. Isla always seemed like things came easily and naturally to her. She was brilliant, beautiful, and talented. Life to her was like water off a duck’s back, a little rain and pain could happen, and it would slide right off her. She was short and curvy, just a little on a thicker side. She had long white hair and deep, dark skin. Isla was from a clan of selkies and Sophie had only seen her seal form a handful of times. Even as a seal she was disarmingly cute.

“What about your own place?” Isla asked. “Surely you’re smart enough to consider that? Or do your pointy ears pick up interfering signals?”

  Sophie cupped her hands over her ears. She was only half elf, but for some reason, the human of her dad’s side made her ears even more exceptionally pointed. It was a sore spot for her.

“Of course I looked!” Sophie scoffed, rolling her eyes. “I’ve looked at places to rent. I can’t find anything I can afford right now. What with school I can’t go full time here at work yet.”

   Isla shrugged, “I’d say you could move in with Leo and me but-” she trailed off, the corner of her mouth twitching upwards.

   Sophie and she both started laughing.

“I think leo would use my makeup more than Mateo eats it,” Sophie rolled her eyes.

Isla was filing her nails and she looked at the computer screen. “He’s been wanting you to come over so he can loot your overnight bag again.”

“Is he the one who stole my Clinique bag?” Sophie glared. “That bastard,” she growled under her breath as she logged things into the office itinerary. “Why are all the men in my life ruining my makeup?”

   “Ladies,” their boss said as he came out of his office.

   Sophie quickly stood up. “Oh! I’m sorry Mr. Makepiece, were we too loud?” She apologized, her face blooming red. 

Isla, on the other hand, showed no shame, and even continued to file her nails. She had that grace, after all, she was the top of her class in school and was headed towards graduating valedictorian. Law offices were already fighting over who was going to claim wunderkind Isla Harwood.

   Thomas Makepiece was one of the partners at the law firm Sophie was working at. His family owned the firm for ages. Once his father died, he took over and brought in new partners and expanded against his father’s and sister’s wishes. It was all an act of spite, everyone knew that after all Thomas was the outcast of the Makepiece family. He was born with achondroplasia, which went in direct opposition to the Makepiece family's legacy of beauty, grace, and bullshit.

  Thomas motioned his coffee mug at her. “Ms. Starling, you said you’re looking for a place to rent?”

   Sophie shifted a nervous glance to Isla and back to Thomas. “Y-yes, sir.”

   “You should talk to Beauchamp, he has several fixer-uppers he’s been slum lording.” Thomas takes a sip of coffee. "I wouldn't trust him with my stapler, but he seems to have a fondness for your family."

   Henry Beauchamp was the reason Sophie even had this fantastic opportunity of a job. He was a childhood friend of her mother and was still attached to her. Being a satyr, Beauchamp's family had served Sophie's elven ancestors for centuries. If anyone could help Sophie, it would be him.

   "Oh," Sophie gasped. "Does he really?"

   "he has his fingers in all sorts of pies," Thomas rolls his eyes. "Part of why I keep him around. Part of why I don't want him around."

   Sophie glanced to Isla who shrugged at her.

   "What're you looking at me for? Beauchamp would do anything to impress your mom. Go for it, hell, I bet if you wore that perfume you stole from your mom he'd give it to you for free." Isla snorts.

   Thomas shook his head. "Now, now Ms. Harwood, let's not turn to prostitution just yet."

   Isla scoffed and shuffled her papers. "It's isn't prostitution, Mr. Makepiece."

   Thomas chuckles. "in court it would. For someone wanting to be a lawyer, you don't have a good mind for it."

   Sophie looked back and forth, trying to find her moment to step into the conversation. "Is Beauchamp still in?" She finally spoke up.

   Thomas scoffed. "I'm sure. Looking like some hairy Ebenezer Scrooge, like always."

   Sophie went down the hallway, going to Beauchamp's door and knocking.

   "Who is it?" He sighs from inside.

   "Mr. Beauchamp," Sophie started as she opened the door.

   Beauchamp sat in attention, smiling as Sophie stepped into the room. "Ms. Starling," he says with a soft voice, "what a pleasure. Please sit."

   Sophie chuckled. "No, I plan to make this quick. I uhm...I'm sure you've heard I've been a little upset with my living situations."

   "A house full of rowdy boys and your sister?" Beauchamp laughs. "I would say you've been quite stalwart."

   Sophie nodded. "Well, Mr. Makepiece said you had some rental properties. I was wondering if you had one I could rent?"

   Beauchamp's smile spread, and he nodded. "Yes," his voice a low whisper. "And I know the perfect one for you." He leaned forward at his desk. "Small cottage, just outside the park. It's a duplex so you would have a downstairs neighbor. But the upstairs, just right for a young lady striking out on her own."

   Sophie grinned in excitement. "Would I be able to have Persephone with me?"

   Beauchamp chuckled. "Of course."

   After a quick conversation with him, they went to the small cottage after work. The apartment was small and so dusty her shoes left tracks as she walked across the floor. One of the walls remained exposed, the framework and pipes and wires could be seen. Most of the windows were painted shut and it was like a game of chance discovering which ones opened and which ones didn’t. There was no central heating or air, and she had been warned the bathroom ceiling would leak.

   And she loved it.

“Judging from your reaction this is either going very well, or you think I’m a moron,” Beauchamp said as he walked around.

“I love it!” Sophie gasped, bouncing in place. “It’s perfect.”

Beauchamp’s grin grew. “I’m glad you think so. I’ll make sure the wall gets fixed, and the doors get new locks,” he replied. “The plumbing should be in good condition, I just had to replace some pipes downstairs as well.”

Sophie wasn’t really paying attention, she was too enamored with the place and daydreaming about the life she would live there. She could picture the perfect sofa for the living room, the coffee table, and the coffee mugs she would own.

   It was cute and offbeat, tucked away in a corner of the park, perfect for when she had to walk Persephone. There were trees and flowers all around her, her front door covered in vines. She was within walking distance of work and from downtown. Best of all she was alone! Blissfully and utterly left to her own devices. No siblings to deal with. No parents. Everything was perfect.

   It had all come together flawlessly, this place was fated for her. 

Beauchamp drew up a contract for her, and Sophie at first felt like she was taking advantage. He was giving her a too good to be true price. Her rent is no more than what she spent on cosmetics each month.

   “It’s a work in progress. You’ll be a good test subject for the place.” Beauchamp said with a soft smirk.

   Sophie fidgeted. “It still seems too good to be true,” she wondered if he wasn’t being kind to take pity on her and because of her mother. She didn’t want to be seen as a pitiful girl on her own for the first time.

   “Well,” he sighed, looking over the contract as Sophie’s pen hovered over the page. “You’ll still have your neighbor downstairs. But I promise he’s very quiet.”

   Sophie furrowed her brow. “Oh, right,” she mumbled.

   “He lives in the basement area, it’s alright” Beauchamp replied. “It’s separate. The only thing you share is a set of stairs. I plan on putting a door that locks on each end of the stairwell. It won’t be for a while at the moment.”

   Sophie nodded, and her smile returned. “I’ll have to get a gate to make sure Persephone doesn’t bother them,” she was a bit relieved, but she still felt apprehensive. “You said it was a guy?”

   He nodded. “A bit of a recluse,” Beauchamp was looking down at the papers on his desk, shuffling them then locking them in a drawer. “I have no complaints about him. He’s worked for me before.”

   Sophie heard many, many, many rumors about Beauchamp during her time in the office. How he used his innocent appearance to lure clients into shady deals and situations and how he used dubious methods to win in the court.

“Well, as long as you get the doors and good locks.” Sophie signed the contract.

“Only the best for Ms. Starling.” He smirked.

She started her move not long after that. Within a week, she packed, and she was now standing in the little dusty cottage. She walked about, following Persephone’s paw prints to see where she wandered off too. They came to a stop at the infamous shared stairs. Her heart stopped, and she looked down the darkening hall.

“Persephone!” She hissed urgently. She heard nothing. “Persephone,” she snarled angrily.

She stepped down the first stair. “Persephone!”

No sound or sign of the dog.

Sophie stepped down further, peering into the shadows and came to the bottom. She stood there, hands braced against the door frame and looking about in the dark apartment. It smelled like a man. Like a sock drawer and old deodorant.

“Persephone,” she whispered out.

She stepped into the apartment, biting her lip. “Persephone! Here! Now!” She scolded, trying to sound in control despite how inside she felt like a vibrating ball.

She bumped into a small table and gripped onto its edge. “I’m sorry!” She gasped then huffed as she caught what she did. She looked around, trying to peer through the dim light to find her bastard of a dog.

“Persephone, here now!” Sophie snapped, starting to get angry along with anxious.

The cloudy light coming through the windows lit up the basement apartment a bit. All the walls were brick, and it was a much smaller space than upstairs. The entrance was also the kitchen, and where she stood, it looked like a combination living room and dining room. The sofa looked bigger than the counter in the kitchen.

She heard the jingle of Persephone’s collar, and she sighed with relief, seeing Persephone come out from a room beside the front door and sit there, looking up at the door as it opened.

   Sophie froze, standing there trapped as her new neighbor came into his home greeted warmly by a dog he didn’t know.

   “What the fuck?” He growled, his voice a deep rasp.

   Persephone leaped up, smiling and wagging her tail as she put her paws on his chest.

   He was huge, Sophie noticed right away. His face shadowed as he came into the dark apartment from the bright outside. He had long dark hair. His arms as big as tree trunks. His hand that came down on Persephone looked like they could rip tree trunks from the ground.

   More rumors of Beauchamp flooded her head. How they said, he hired men to threaten people. How lawyers he was facing against coward or walked away when they learned he was to be their opponent.

   “Oh god, he’s hired muscle!” Sophie thought in her panicked state.

   Persephone lapped at his hand as he pets at her. He then glanced up, seeing Sophie standing there. Light struck his face and Sophie could see his tusks jutting from his bottom lip. He was an Orc!

   “I’m sorry!” Sophie blurted out.

   Persephone skipped over to Sophie like nothing was wrong then disappeared back upstairs. In her head, Sophie was cursing her like a sailor.

   “You must be the new tenant.” He growled, everything he said sounded vaguely threatening.

   “Yes,” Sophie attempted to unclench herself. “I’m sorry,” she repeated again. “I have a gate to put up, she won’t come down again.”

   He tossed something on the kitchen countertop and turned on a coffee pot. The small red light glowed bright in the shadows of the kitchen. The orc said nothing to her, didn’t even acknowledge her.

   “Uhm…” Sophie wasn’t sure what to do. Should she introduce herself? Go away? He wasn’t saying anything.

   “If you need anything just let me know,” the words slipped out of her mouth. “Since we’ll be neighbors.”

   His back was to her as he opened the refrigerator. He still wasn’t saying anything, not even an acknowledging grunt, which was unnerving enough for Sophie.

   Sophie started to dance out of nerves. Fidgeting in place and standing on the tips of her toes. “Uhm...I know sometimes upstairs neighbors can be noisy. If there is anything we need to discuss, I don’t want to ruffle feathers.”

   “No feathers to ruffle,” he snarled.

   Perhaps it was better he didn’t talk, Sophie thought. He already sounds annoyed with me.

   She took a step backward towards the stairs. “Once my things get here I’ll set up the gate to make sure Persephone doesn’t bother you.”

   He grunted towards her as the refrigerator closed. He reached for the coffee pot.

   “I’ll leave you be then.” She turned and crashed into the table again, letting out a loud “oof!”

As the corner plowed into her stomach. She felt his eyes on her, in the barely lit room, she couldn’t make out his face. Only the shape of his burly, lumberjack hitman body.

   “Excuse me,” she rushed to make her escape, clambering upstairs where Persephone was waiting for her at the top. Sophie scowled at her as she licked her face.

   “All this is your fault,” she scolded, taking hold on Persephone’s collar and shaking her. All Persephone did was grin and let her tongue hang from her mouth.

   Sophie unpacked the few things she brought with her when her brother dropped her off. Her cosmetics and clothes, Persephone’s things and food, and a box of cleaning supplies her mother sent.

She began cleaning up, sweeping and dusting and setting up space for Persephone with her bed and toys as she waited for the moving van. Everything was tidy, but dust took over. She had to step outside to catch a fresh breath. She let Persephone out and tied her to a post on the small porch.

Sophie took in the cool, fresh air and sighed. She mopped up her face with the bottom of her shirt, exposing her back and stomach. As she turned, she looked down, her porch looking over her neighbor’s front door and yard. Out front, there was a slick, black motorcycle that looked as babied as Persephone was.

From the corner of her eye, she saw something move. His broad shoulders came out from under her porch, and she saw him moving something. He was wearing dark grey sweats and matching hoodie. His pitch hair was lanky and messy. She felt her cheeks flush, did he see her when she pulled her shirt up. She wasn’t wearing much of a bra.

Persephone has already ruined my first impression, she thought, hearing his front door open and close.

A moment later the moving van pulled up, and soon the place became filled with boxes and what little furniture she had. She watched as they brought things in and went to her bedroom, expecting to see her bed assembled and set up so she could take a nap. All she saw was just the pieces lying there next to the mattress which was laid against the wall.

“Are you going to set this up?” Sophie asked the last mover as he wrote up the check.

“We’re just movers,” he handed her the slip. “We have other jobs today, young lady.”

Sophie stared in disbelief. “But...I can’t set that up by myself.”

“Pretty thing like you don’t have a boyfriend who can do it for her?” The mover asked before he headed out the door.

Sophie stared with her jaw slack, and she dragged her hands down her face. She would be offended if she wasn’t already at her wits end. She called her brothers, asking for help. Oliver was busy, said he could help the next weekend. Roman said he was busy too and could come tomorrow during lunch.

“What am I supposed to do tonight?” Sophie bemoaned as she stood on the porch. She slumped on the steps, Persephone laying down beside her. She heard a loud clunk and glancing down she saw her neighbor working on his pretty motorcycle.

He looked handy, at least he knew what he was doing with his bike. Maybe he knew how to put together a bed. No doubt he was already annoyed enough with her. Her dog snuck into his house and caught her tiptoeing around herself.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” she mumbled to herself, and she stood up. She walked down the small path to his front yard and swallowed, Persephone trotting over to him and laying down on the warm concrete before his door.

“Uhm-” Sophie started off, unsure what to follow up with.

He stood with his back to her. He was reaching through the front window next to the door, turning on the sink below it. He was wearing a shirt now which had the arms and sides ripped open. His back was muscular, his arms covered by thick, dark hair. His skin was an olive green with patches like dark freckles here and there.

He scoffed. “What is it, girl?”

“I…” Sophie took a deep breath, feeling herself stare. “If I order food and feed you, will you help me put my bed together?” She clenched her fists.

He turned a little, his hair covering his face. The wide open sides of his shirt showing off his chest was also covered in a thick black pelt. His stomach was a bit pronounced, but it looked just as hard as the rest of him. Sophie’s lips parted, she wasn’t even aware this attraction existed.

“You don’t have a boyfriend who could-”

She was sick of it, and she wouldn’t have another second of it. “No!” She snapped, her foot pounded into the ground. “And I called my brothers too! No one can help me today! And the movers were assholes who laughed at me! I’m moving out on my first time! If all you’re gonna do is smart off to me, then I’ll sleep on the floor!” She stomped her foot hard again.

His laugh was dark and raspy. It was like the comforting sound of feet crunching on fresh gravel. Sophie flinched, stepping backward. She didn’t expect laughter.

He turned around, and Sophie’s breath stuck in her throat. Her voice choking off.

“For food, why not?” He wiped his brow. His grey eyes studying her, waiting for the reaction he knew was coming. “Don’t go plowing your leg into the ground on my account. Your legs are far too nice for that.”

Sophie studied his face, his features sharp and dark. His eyes deep grey, well, the right one was. The left was milky, filmed over. The left side of his face scarred and burnt. The skin pocked and melted dark red. Then she relaxed and chided herself. She was being rude. A lady wouldn’t stare, a lady wouldn’t make someone feel uncomfortable.

“Pizza or Chinese?” She bit out, keeping her irritated tone from before.

He smirked, “you pick. But I’ll drink beer with either.” He growled. He then tilted his head to his bike. “I’ll finish this, and I’ll be up.”

Sophie felt a slight surge of relief. “Thank you,” she murmured. “I’m uhm...my name is Sophie, by the way.” She said, stealing one last look at this man. A veritable beast yet his laugh was comforting.

“Silas,” he growled after her.

“Silas,” she repeated to herself, easy enough to not forget. She then knelt and whistled to Persephone who rolled onto her back and let her tongue flop out.

       Sophie patted her thigh and whistled. “Persephone, here,” she was getting the idea Persephone wanted to cause trouble with the new orc neighbor.

   “I’ll bring her up,” Silas reached down and rubbed Persephone’s belly. “You can leave her with me.”

   “You sure?” Sophie asked.

   He nodded, returning to something on his motorcycle.

   She sighed then looked to Persephone. “You behave, alright? You’ve already embarrassed me enough for today!”

   Persephone snorted.

   Sophie frowned down at her dog, telling her with her eyes to stop schmoozing up to the neighbor just because he had big warm hands. Well, she assumed they were warm. She turned and went back up the hill to her apartment.

   Her mind wandered back to Silas. His face startled her, frightened her even. She felt guilty that it shocked her so, he couldn’t help it. He must have been in pain for a long time. She touched the side of her face, her skin soft and smooth. She wondered if Silas could feel anything on that side. Did it still hurt? She was curious about him, but she felt as if she would be weird or rude to ask anything too personal right off the bat. Since he was helping her, it would be twice as rude.

   She unpacked her candles and lit a few. She then began hanging her clothes in the closet and setting up the bathroom which she was sure was going to be her favorite room. It was a little cramped, and the countertop needed replacing, however, there was a huge old-fashioned bathtub. High walls, claw feet, beautiful gold spigots, everything she ever wanted.

As she was hanging the shower curtain, Persephone came rushing in and jumped into the tub.

“Silas?” She called out, peeking her head out the bathroom door. She saw him in the kitchen, setting down a six pack of beer in the fridge.

She walked out, “I’ll order the food now I guess.” She said, pulling out her phone.

Silas cracked open a beer and held it out to her.

“For me?” She took it, her fingers touching his.

Oh, his hands are warm, she thought as she grasped the neck of the beer. She took a sip as she made an order on her phone through an app then set it away again.

“The bed is back through here,” she pointed, but Silas was already on his way there, a toolbox in his hand.

In what would become together her bedroom, the pieces of the frame laid about. The mattress lay in the corner with boxes and now Persephone on top of it. Silas looked around, seeing the dresser sat against the wall already covered in cosmetics and perfumes and creams. Her closet was already overstuffed with clothes.

The candle she had lit made the room smell like lemons and sugar. Silas blew it out.

“You can go about your business,” he said as Sophie came in behind him. “Tell me where you want it, and I’ll get it set up for you.”

“Oh,” she hesitated for a moment. “I was hoping to watch, or even help.” She replied, placing the lip of the cold beer against her mouth. Silas stooped down and began unbundling the metal frame. Her eyes trailing down the muscles that his shirt opened to along the sides.

“I want to become, I dunno, less helpless.” She attempted to seem less nervous first. Sophie wasn’t used to orcs. Being part elf, her mother had never really had anything good to say about them. Her dad was more forgiving, but Sophie had never met one to make up her mind. 

“Like uhm...just in case, I’m single forever.” She attempted a joke.

Silas huffed, grumbling something Sophie couldn’t make out under his breath. He set his toolbox down. “Where are the feet and screws?”

Sophie took a bag off the door and handed it to him. Inside all the tiny small parts.

“That's one step above most first-timers,” he said. “Ok now, just...stand somewhere out of the way.” He waved his hand.

Sophie frowned at his back yet did as he bade, stepping around and going to sit with Persephone. She watched as Silas laid out the screws and placing the feet back onto the frame.

As he began placing screws, Sophie stood up and watched over him, curious.

“Do you have to stand there?” Silas growled, exasperated.

Sophie glanced down, seeing him watch her over his shoulder. “I told you I wanted to know what to do.”

Silas rolled his head and returned to his work. “You can find instructions to do this on youtube. Watch it there.”

Sophie walked around him. “Isn’t it hard to set up alone though?”

Silas shook his head. “If I need your help I’ll tell you what to do. For now, watch from a distance, like a nice lady.”

She scowled down at the brute and stepped aside, following his orders, not happy about it. She sat back down with Persephone and took the beer to her lips and watched. She wondered again how he came to be acquainted with Beauchamp. Hired muscle? Someone big and frightening to scare the opponent into being submissive. He looked the part. His large body, big hairy knuckles, and his face. Like he was a half-finished wax statue. Like Icarus’s wings.

He waved her over. “Ok, come hold this up.”

Sophie made her way towards him and does as he commanded, holding up one metal beam as he fixed it to another.

He has her move around, and they do it to the other side. Soon the frame was together, and they set up the headboard and baseboard. He complained about why she needed something heavy and gaudy. Then once the mattress was on there was a knock on the door.

“Must be dinner,” Sophie beamed at the bed, feeling somewhat accomplished she helped as much as she did. She left and answered the door, taking the two big boxes of pizza.

“That place is terrible,” Silas grumbled as he came and stood by the counter.

Sophie frowned at him. “Too bad, I already got the work out of you.” She opened one of the boxes.

He was in the fridge, taking out two more bottles of beer. “Oughta go in there and dismantle it all.” He opened them, setting one before Sophie.

Sophie snorted, taking a slice and a great big bite. She sighed, looking around. “Sorry, the only seats I have right now are blankets.”

“You got the bed.” Silas quipped as he took a slice.

Sophie blushed, covering her conflicted feelings by frowning at him. “Awful forward of you, sir.”

“No sir here.” He looked around her place. “Why no furniture?”

Sophie huffed. “It’s all still in storage. Mom has to go through it to pick out things for me.” She rolled her eyes at this. “Only need a sofa and a table set, yet she acts like I’ll be hosting queens or something.” She looked at the label on the beer. “Mr. Beauchamp said he would put doors up on the stairs soon. You won’t have to worry about Persephone breaking in.”

Silas shook his head after a drink. “Not her I was worried about.”

Sophie scoffed. “Well excuse me.” She stole glances at his face, his burns. She didn’t want to stare, yet she couldn’t help it. Her mind was full of questions she wanted to ask.

Silas finished off his beer and the first pizza. “You should blow out those candles.” He growled as he took his beer from the fridge. “Good night.”

His abruptness surprised Sophie, and she couldn’t respond by the time he went down the stairs. She huffed, balancing her chin in her palm. “Good night,” she grumbled as she stood in the kitchen alone.