36| Hosting Friends

Sophie barely had enough time to collect herself before the sound of car doors slamming shut and laughter drifted through the crisp evening air.

Just ten minutes ago, the man she had the biggest crush on—the man she was married to—had kissed her like she was the only thing keeping him grounded. Now, she had to face a roomful of people as though nothing had happened.

Somehow, she and Ethan managed to straighten their clothes and smooth their hair before the doorbell rang. Ethan gave her a small, knowing smile before opening the door to find David and the rest of the lake house crew standing on the doorstep, all grins and carefree energy.

David, oblivious to the disruption, spread his arms theatrically. "Hey, you two! We thought it'd be fun to have an impromptu gathering. Hope it's okay?"

Ethan glanced at Sophie, his expression caught between amusement and exasperation. "Of course. Come on in," he said warmly, though Sophie could sense the lingering tension from earlier.

The group piled in, filling the quiet house with lively chatter. David immediately dumped an assortment of drinks and snacks onto the coffee table. Everyone found spots on the couches and chairs, and within moments, the room was buzzing with energy.

Rachel plopped down beside Sophie, nudging her playfully. "Soph! We definitely missed you at the lake house."

"You have no idea," Emily chimed in with a dramatic roll of her eyes. "I didn't know how much I hated spending time with just Rachel until I had to spend a whole day alone with her."

"Torture," she whispered, causing Sophie to burst into laughter because she knew how close those two were. Rachel gasped in mock offense.

"Well, I'll have you know it wasn't exactly a walk in the park being stuck with you either," Rachel said, leaning closer to Sophie. "Ignore her. Anyway, we brought all your favorite snacks—hope you're ready for the game."

Mark and Alex claimed seats near the TV, patting Ethan on the back. "Hey, man, hope you're not mad about us crashing like this?" Mark asked, grinning.

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Do you want the polite answer or the honest one?"

Mark scratched his head. "Okay, fair. I'll take the blame. But for the record, David was the mastermind. I just... went along with it."

David scrolled through channels until he found a sports game, pointing at the screen like he'd won something. "Perfect! The game's just starting. Alright, let's place some bets. Who's in?"

The room broke into playful debates over teams and odds. When David turned to Sophie, she blinked. "What's your bet, Sophie?"

"Uh... what game are we even talking about?" she asked, earning a round of laughter from the group.

Ethan stepped in, shaking his head. "Leave Sophie out of your bad habits, guys. No betting."

"Aw, come on, Ethan," Alex chimed in. "Don't be such a buzzkill."

"That's funny coming from people who weren't even invited," Ethan shot back, earning a round of groans and playful jabs as the bickering escalated.

Rachel rolled her eyes and grabbed Sophie's hand, pulling her off the couch. "Come on, Sophie. While the boys argue over nothing, let's get the snacks ready."

Emily trailed behind them into the kitchen, leaving the men to their loud banter. In the kitchen, the atmosphere was instantly more relaxed. Rachel handed Sophie a bowl of chips, and Emily started arranging dips on a tray.

"So," Rachel began, her tone dripping with curiosity, "how are things going with you and Ethan?"

Sophie hesitated, her cheeks heating up at the memory of Ethan's kiss. She managed a soft smile. "Great. We're... really good."

Emily, always the tease, smirked. "That's good to hear. It definitely felt like we interrupted something when we came in."

"You didn't interrupt anything," Sophie lied quickly, though her blushing cheeks betrayed her.

"Gosh, you two are adorable," Emily cooed, nudging Rachel.

Rachel leaned closer, a playful twinkle in her eye. "Speaking of love, I have a confession. I've had the biggest crush on Mark since college. And now, after reconnecting at the lake house, those feelings are back—stronger than ever."

Emily feigned shock. "Really? I totally didn't notice!" Her exaggerated tone earned a laugh from Sophie.

Rachel blushed, looking slightly embarrassed yet excited. "Ha, guess it was really obvious, but he's just so... kind and funny. I can't help it."

Sophie beamed, warmed by their friendship. "That's so sweet. What do you need our help with?"

"Maybe you could discreetly find out how he feels about me," Rachel suggested.

"Say no more, we'll be the perfect wingwoman," Emily declared, her grin infectious.

With the snacks ready, they headed back to the living room, carrying trays of chips, dips, and drinks. The guys were now engrossed in the game, their cheers and groans filling the room.

"Here we go, boys," Emily announced, setting the trays down on the coffee table.

"Perfect timing!" David exclaimed, grabbing a handful of chips without taking his eyes off the screen. "Thanks, ladies."

Sophie and the girls settled in, finding spots on the couches. Sophie ended up next to Ethan, their legs brushing as they sat down.

A thrill shot through her at the touch, and suddenly, everything felt heightened. The warmth of his body beside her. The faint scent of his cologne. The memory of his hands on her.

Get it together, Sophie.

When she risked a glance at Ethan, she found his blue eyes already on her. Heat spread across her cheeks as she quickly turned back to the game, but she could still feel his gaze.

As the game continued, Emily and Sophie exchanged a knowing look. It was time to put their plan into action. They found Mark in the kitchen, refilling his drink.

"Hey, Mark," Emily started casually, leaning against the counter. "So, what's going on in your love life?"

Mark looked surprised, then laughed. "Wow, jumping right in, aren't we?"

Sophie joined in, her tone light. "We're just curious. You know, catching up on everyone's lives."

Mark shrugged, a smile playing on his lips. "Not much to tell, really. Been focused on work mostly."

Emily and Sophie exchanged a quick glance before Emily pressed on. "No one special? Come on, there must be someone who's caught your eye."

Mark hesitated, then sighed. "Well, there might be someone. But I'm not sure how she feels about me."

Sophie's heart raced. "Maybe she's just waiting for you to make a move."

Mark looked thoughtful. "You think so?"

Emily nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely. Go for it, Mark. Life's too short to wonder 'what if'."

Mark chuckled. "You're right. Thanks, guys."

With their mission accomplished, Sophie and Emily returned to the living room, feeling satisfied.

Sophie settled in beside Ethan, their legs brushing as they sat down.

Ethan leaned in close to Sophie, his breath warm against her ear. "Everything okay?" he whispered, his fingers brushing her knee as he leaned in.

Sophie sucked in a quiet breath, willing herself to stay composed. "Yes," she whispered back, though the way his touch lingered just a second too long made her heart race.

The night continued with lively banter, especially between David and Emily, who argued playfully about their favorite teams.

"I'm telling you, my team is going all the way," David insisted, looking smug.

"Come on, David, my team's been on fire this season!" Emily declared with a fiery glint in her eye.

David retorted with a grin, "Your team doesn't stand a chance come playoffs."

Alex, ever the peacemaker, tried to intervene as the game neared its end. "Let's just enjoy the game, guys." But his efforts were in vain as Rachel and Mark joined in, the room growing even more boisterous.

Amidst the chaos, Ethan took Sophie's hand in his, their fingers interlocking naturally, as if they had done this a thousand times before.

Sophie's heart raced at the touch, the noise and laughter around them fading into the background, leaving just the two of them in their own private world.

Ethan's gaze softened as he looked at her, his feelings written plainly across his face.

Sophie smiled back, though a thought lingered at the edge of her mind—what if it was just the two of them? No friends. No interruptions. Just them.

And from the unreadable intensity in Ethan's expression, she had a feeling he was thinking the same thing.

As the game wound down and their friends began to gather their things, preparing to leave, Rachel pulled Sophie aside.

"Thanks for tonight," Rachel said softly. "And for being such a great friend. I really appreciate it."

Sophie hugged her. "Anytime, Rachel. We're here for you."

Mark approached, giving Ethan a friendly pat on the back. "Great night, man. We should do this more often."

"Definitely," Ethan agreed, smiling.

The friends exchanged hugs and goodbyes, leaving Sophie and Ethan alone once more. The house grew quiet, but the warmth of the evening lingered in the air.

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