Chapter 9

Jim was furious. Furious with himself. He had really screwed up, and he knew it. It was the first time he had ever really liked a girl - and not just because of sex. No, he really liked Sophie. When she confessed her feelings for him, he just couldn't handle it. He was scared of appearing weak. Scared she would hurt him. He wanted to shout that he loved her too, that he was crazy about her, but the words just wouldn't come out. Instead, he was cold and hard. He rejected her. What an idiot!

He needed to find a way to make it up to her. He knew how much he hurt Sophie, and he couldn't forgive himself for it. He needed to clear his head and figure out what to do next.

***

Sophie had acted impulsively. She was so infuriated with Jim that she was doing the one thing that could bother him the most: meeting Henry again. But now that she was there, waiting for him on the terrace of that café, she wasn't very sure anymore if it was a good idea. After all, Henry had dumped her in a humiliating way in front of the entire campus. So why was she doing this? Well, Sophie wanted revenge, to take out her anger on him. Now that she had become a bombshell, all the guys turned their heads when she walked by. She noticed that Henry wasn't an exception to this rule. A feverish smile appeared on her lips. The time for revenge had come.

- Sophie, hi, Henry said.

Well, well, well. Always late, as usual. How disrespectful.

- Oh, Henry. Hey. I'm surprised you accepted to come.

- But why? I owe you that much, right?

Obviously, the dark asshole.

- Well, you wanted to talk about what? Us?

With a charming smile on his lips, Henry seemed more determined than ever.

Us? Us? Seriously though... Okay, calm down Sophie, stick to your main objective: revenge.

- In short, yes. I...

- Sophie, I'm really sorry. I should never have treated you that way, it was really stupid. You are truly sublime and I regret not seeing that before. Will you forgive me?

FORGIVE HIM? Is he serious?

Crawling back like a puppy because now Sophie was desirable in his eyes? If she didn't throw the lemonade she had ordered right in his face, it was only to carry out her plan: to seduce him, sleep with him, and dump him. Like garbage. She couldn't wait to see his proud expression break down.

- Oh, it's so sudden. You know, I'm still very affected by the way you treated me.

Come on, play the savior and the nice boyfriend!

- Sophie, I understand... Don't force yourself into anything, you know.

- Thanks.

A silence fell. Against all expectations, it was Henry who spoke first.

- But I hope you'll forgive me someday.

Never...

He grabbed her hand and began to caress it. Sophie just wanted to slap him with it. But instead, she gave him an embarrassed look. Which worked like a charm.

- Do you want to move somewhere else? I'd prefer a more intimate place to talk.

He knew what he was doing.

- Yes, good idea.

Sophie and Henry walked for a while and eventually arrived at the beach.

Seriously, the place of our first kiss? He thinks he can melt me with that? What an asshole!

- I thought this place was nice. The sea, is that okay with you?

To drown in it, yes!

- Oh, it's perfect.

Well played, Sophie, he's falling for it.

They settled down near the water in a small cove. The place was very nice. Isolated from all eyes, sheltered from the wind. A perfect love nest. The sun was beginning to decline and the atmosphere was very romantic. Sophie thought she would have liked to be here with Jim. It would have been so logical, and so much better.

- So? You and Jim Jones, is it serious?

Henry had asked the question as naturally as possible, as a friend checking in. But Sophie knew that Henry was jealous. She needed to play on that.

- No. We slept together a lot, but no, nothing serious. Anyway, I don't see him anymore.

- You're absolutely right. That son of a bitch doesn't deserve you.

- Wow! Why do you hate him so much? Do you know him?

- My father does, mostly. I know of him from afar. Well, I've mostly heard rumors."

But of course, Henry. You owed him money and he took it back... With MY help. You asked for it.

- Oh, what kind?

Good job, Sophie, keep playing the innocent.

- The kind where I've heard he's in a gang.

He said it in a whisper, so that no one could hear. He must have felt so powerful to have dropped that little bomb. Sophie snickered inwardly. If only he knew.

- Oh my God...

Oh, well done, Sophie. That faux-outraged and fearful tone was perfect.

- Well yes! You did the right thing to dump him. And besides, I'm here, don't worry.

To her surprise, he leaned in and lightly kissed her lips. Yuck! Sophie expected her plan to work perfectly, but not this quickly. This arrogant idiot was really fearless. She couldn't push him away. She had to play his game until the end. Revenge would be all the more sweet. So she responded to his kiss with fervor. She clung desperately to him. The more sincerely she acted, the more he would believe it and the more he would regret it.

- Sophie, I didn't know you'd be so enthusiastic.

A triumphant expression appeared on his face. He thought he had won. Fine.

- Stop talking and kiss me.

- At your command.

Sophie wanted this idiot to shut up. She climbed onto him and started kissing him on the neck and chest. She could hear Henry moaning with pleasure. He was officially at her mercy.

- Take me now, right here.

- Wow! Wait! Is this really what you want?

- Yes, of course.

- You've changed a lot.

- And you don't like it?

- Oh, but I love it. But I didn't expect you to become like this... So beautiful... So confident... So assertive...

It was true that she had changed. And for the better. Jim had had that effect on her. And even though he had reacted badly yesterday, Sophie couldn't help but think of him.

So she let her thoughts drift to the one she loved, while someone else lay her down on the sand and undressed her. While his hands touched her, she imagined his hands on her. While his mouth kissed her, she imagined his mouth on her. She didn't want to make love to Henry, she wanted it to be with Jim.

So when her ex-boyfriend penetrated her, she thought of the handsome brunette. She closed her eyes and imagined he was there with her. That he was returning her love and that they could finally love each other without constraints or shame. What a beautiful dream it was.