**Chapter 13**

**Ethan's POV**

Instinctively, my eyes searched for Sophia, hoping to find her nearby. But I came up empty with no sign of her in their luxurious home as Alex escorted us to their living room.

"Hey, I'm Alex. You must be friends with Julia and Ethan," he said with a friendly smile.

I wondered if he was overly friendly because he was nervous like me. Besides, who else would we invite?

Keilen and Emily exchanged polite greetings.

"We brought the ingredients. So where is the kitchen?" Emily asked, scanning the room. Noticing that the kitchen was nowhere in sight from the living room, we looked around, unfamiliar with the layout of their home.

My eyes widened in surprise at Emily's lack of filter. Ironically, she hadn't contributed to buying the ingredients. Her thriftiness often clashed with spending on a fun, extravagant cooking session. Although it didn't make sense, she was wealthy.

"Come on, babe, have patience. We're their guests, not the other way around," Keilen said, mildly shocked. Julia's mouth hung open in surprise at Emily's bluntness. Knowing Emily never had the patience or cared about her bluntness no matter who he directed at it.

Alex burst out laughing. "It's alright, no offense taken," and he started smiling as his laughter eased, "You're quite the character. I like it!" He seemed surprisingly relaxed and humorous about Emily's attitude.

"I'd be happy to show you," he replied politely. "Let me call my wife."

I expected him to go upstairs to fetch Sophia. Instead, he led us straight to the TV room, three doors from us, where Sophia was deeply engrossed in a program.

"Gracey!" he called out as we walked through the house.

It was anything but casual; Alex was shouting his wife's name like a frat boy calling out to one of his buddies. Who was across the road, not his wife, as we walked through their home.

Then I spotted Sophia in casual attire—a snug Stanford Med School T-shirt on her slender frame and tights—looking at ease in her home. I had to bite my lip to slow down on admiring her. I could taste the blood.

As we followed Alex into the room, my gaze remained fixed on Sophia. She sat there, seemingly absorbed in the program on the flat screen.

She deliberately avoided acknowledging our presence, her focus unwavering on the TV. I felt a twinge of discomfort.

My pulse quickened as I admired her. Even without makeup, Sophia's natural beauty shone through, her freckles adding charm to her face. I never understood why she wore makeup.

Sophia's casual presence still had the power to captivate. Her beauty was a sharp reminder of our shared past when we used to lie around the house, doing nothing but ordering Uber Eats. The memory made my heart ache.

I breathed a sigh of relief that Julia didn't observe me looking at Sophia. I started watching Julia.

I could sense Julia's curiosity about their dynamic. She tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing in thought. Her lips stayed pressed into a straight line, and I felt her grip my hand lightly, almost as if seeking reassurance. The way she looked up at Sophia and Alex, her brows furrowed slightly, made it clear she was trying to piece together the unspoken tension in the room.

I loved watching Julia's brain work, although I hope she doesn't realize my turmoil. It was for the best that I had Julia now. I needed her to keep me steady, to remind me of the present and our future together. I gently kissed her hair with gratitude, thankful for her presence.

"Gracey, they're here," Alex announced, stepping in front of the TV to get Sophia's attention.

"They're your guests, not mine," Sophia responded nonchalantly, her attitude unchanged.

She motioned for him to scoop over. Some things never seemed to change—she refused to be swayed or pretend for anyone's sake. I let a small smile out she still had some of the past.

"Stop being a brat!" Alex started but got cut off as a pillow flew towards him.

I  softly chuckled that Sophia was still as lively as I remembered, and I couldn't help but smile at the memory of times when I had been on the receiving end of her playful antics.

Alex glanced at us, his hands in his pocket, adding to his casual demeanor, a sheepish grin on his face, while Sophia shot him a glare, her icy grey eyes piercing through the room with intensity.

"Give us a minute," Alex said with a smile, ushering us to their nearby living room.

Julia leaned in, whispering, "This feels so awkward. Why is she so hostile?'"

My presence was the root of all the issues unknown to Julia. I overheard Sophia tell Alex she wanted me to stay in the past. Her words stung, but here I was, in her house, trying to balance my future with Julia and Sophia's new life. But my hand balled in a fist because this reaction was for me.

"You've got to agree, Sophia is a funny person," Emily chimed with amusement. I couldn't help but agree—that's Sophia for you with the don't give a fuck attitude.

"She is something alright," Julia whispered.

While Sophia and Alex walked over to us, I noticed a faint red mark on Alex's cheek from where the pillow had hit him.

Sophia muttered something to Alex, who nodded and replied, "I always pay my debts," planting a kiss on her cheek. She leaned away slightly, clearly frustrated and created distance between them.

Julia began to lean towards my chest as we stood. I tried to steady my breathing to lower my erratic heartbeat, which I could almost hear.

"I am Sophia," Sophia said as she turned to Emily, introducing herself with a forced smile.

"Hi, Sophia," Emily greeted warmly.

"Oh, come on, Soph, you don't have to cook tonight, and I'll clean up," Alex teased as he tried to close their distance, but she sidestepped his closeness.

"I've agreed to play nice with your guests, not with you," she warned him coldly while pointing a finger at him to stop.

"Well, you guys can follow me," Sophia stated as she turned around.

"Also, sorry for the delay," Alex started apologizing while he glanced at Sophia, who gave him a glare that made my spine shiver with fear.

Sophia led us toward the kitchen, her voice steady as she guided us through their home. I struggled to focus on anything but their conversation, trying not to eavesdrop. I focused on the location of the downstairs bathroom.

"So, who do you think will win?" Alex asked, breaking the ice.

"I don't want to be sexist and say Julia, but she seems more at ease, whereas Ethan is extremely focused," Emily replied as she observed me. I get why she thinks that with me having my face steady, attempting to hide my emotions.

"Smart choice, 'Em," Julia agreed as her laugh was ticklish on my chest with her relaxed demeanor. It was infectious how happy she could be.

"Come on now! Focus means dedicating himself to remembering his recipe," Keilen said, giving me a fist bump.