7

CHAPTER 7

HENRY’S POV

Collins' call had left me on edge, a feeling of apprehension settling in the pit of my stomach. I couldn't ignore his request, not when he was my oldest friend and a business associate I couldn't say no to. But the thought of what was to come filled me with a sense of unease. There is no way I would survive in the same house as Sophia, there were just so much complication to that.

I dialed Lynda's number, hoping her cheerful presence could lift my spirits. As she walked in with that signature smile, she didn't hesitate to point out my less-than-stellar appearance. "You look like shit," she quipped. That was Lynda for you, she was just so direct about her approach and there was no way she would mince her words just to make me feel better.

I chuckled, running a hand through my hair. "Feeling like it too."

She raised an eyebrow, her gaze full of curiosity. "And why is that? Is your empire not standing as tall today?"

I let out a dry laugh. "Business is the least of my worries right now." I muttered, this wasn’t just about business and we both knew.

Lynda playfully nudged me. "You're always so serious, Henry. Lighten up a bit."

I sighed, feeling the weight of my concerns pressing down on me. "Believe me, I wish I could."

Her gaze softened, concern replacing her playfulness. "Okay, spill it. What's really bothering you?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to put my feelings into words. "Sophia is coming to LA."

Lynda's confusion was palpable, I had mentioned Sophia once but never had I gone into actual details about her. "Sophia? As in Collins' daughter?"

I nodded, my unease growing with every passing second. "Yeah, that Sophia."

She crossed her arms, a quizzical look on her face. "I fail to see how that's a problem. She's just his daughter, and she is also like a daughter to you, right?"

I let out a sigh, struggling to articulate the complexities of the situation. "It's not that simple, Lynda. Sophia is... different."

She raised an eyebrow. "Different how?" she was giving me the normal suspicious look and I knew I needed to give out more information before she sucks it out from me.

I ran a hand through my hair again, frustration bubbling up within me. "We have a history, a long one. She's not just his daughter; she's a girl I've known since she was a kid."

Lynda's confusion deepened. "Okay, so she's a kid that you have known since childhood. Why is that a problem?"

I leaned against the table, meeting her gaze with a sense of resignation. "Because it's not just that. She... she has feelings for me."

Lynda's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, I see. And you don't feel the same way?"

I shook my head, a heavy sigh escaping my lips. "No, I don't. She's young, way too young, and it's just a crush. But now that she's coming here, it's like the beginning of a disaster I've been avoiding for years." I tried not to give much information, but I knew I would eventually have to give more context to it.

Lynda's expression softened, understanding dawning in her eyes. "Ah, I get it now. You're worried about her feelings and how it might complicate things."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief at her comprehension. "Exactly. She's my best friend's daughter, for crying out loud. This situation is a minefield waiting to explode."

Lynda settled beside me, her presence a soothing balm to my frazzled nerves. She had always been the friendly face in the chaos since I'd moved to Florida, a true companion in the unpredictable world of business. Our friendship had grown as she supported my career, and her unwavering kindness had firmly sealed our bond. She had been friends with my ex-wife and I contemplated reaching out to her when I moved to Florida but when I did, she welcomed me with open arms and didnt make things weird one bit.

She looked at me, concern etched on her face. "Henry, seriously, why is this such a big deal? Sophia is just coming to stay with you, right?and I think it is merely for educational purposes, "

I let out a frustrated sigh, my mind tangled in a web of complications. "Lynda, it's not just about her staying with me. It's about what comes after. College. Life decisions. It's like a Pandora's box of complications waiting to burst open."

Lynda arched an eyebrow, her gaze steady on me. "And why is her staying with you through college a bad thing?" I knew this is the time, I needed to tell her everything that was involved.

I raked a hand through my hair, my unease evident. "Because, Lynda, she's not just anyone. She's the daughter of my best friend, Collins. She's practically family. She has a massive crush on me. Do you know how tangled things could get?"

Lynda's expression softened, a smile playing at her lips. "Henry, isn't that a good thing? You care about her, don't you?"

I couldn't deny it; I did care about her. But caring came with its own set of challenges. "Lynda, you don't understand. It's not just caring. It's... complicated."

She leaned in, her gaze unwavering. "Okay, then tell me. Tell me why this is such a big deal. Maybe I can help. Because she was a kid when she had this “Massive” crush on you, she is a woman right now, and I am sure she must have moved on from all that,"

I let out an exasperated breath, knowing that if I didn't share the truth now, it would only become a greater weight on my shoulders. "Lynda, there's something I've never told anyone, something from my past that has shaped how I see things. And Sophia... Sophia is at the center of it."

Lynda's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and curiosity dancing within them. "Henry, what are you talking about?"

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of years of silence lifting as I prepared to share my secret. "Lynda, Sophia's adopted mother, she was... more than just my friend's wife. We had a connection, a deep bond that I've never told anyone about. It happened before she met Collins, and I've carried that guilt and confusion with me for years."

Lynda's hand reached out, gently touching mine in a gesture of support. "Henry, that's a lot to carry on your own."

I nodded, my gaze distant as I recalled the memories I'd buried for so long. "It is. And now Sophia is here, and it's like the past is staring me in the face.Collins never knew about me and his wife and now with Sophia, he would freak out of his mind, "

Lynda squeezed my hand, offering a reassuring smile. "Henry, you can't keep holding onto the past. You've got to face it, let it go. And maybe, just maybe, having Sophia around could help you do that. Just take things as how it is, your friends daughter is coming over and that is all that it is,"

I couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "Lynda, you always manage to bring a dose of wisdom to even the most chaotic situations."

She winked, a playful grin on her lips. "That's why you keep me around, right?"

I chuckled, grateful for her presence and her ability to make even the weightiest situations seem a little less daunting.

Lynda and I settled in closer, the weight of my confession hanging in the air between us. I took a deep breath, knowing that what I was about to reveal had been a burden I'd carried for years. I had already started, might as well just finish all.

"When Sophia was younger," I began, my voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and trepidation, "she sent me an email. A... heartfelt one, to say the least."

Lynda's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked at me. "An email, huh? About what?"

I handed her my phone, scrolling to the email that had haunted me for so long. "About her feelings. Her feelings for me."

Lynda took the phone, a playful grin forming on her lips. "Oh, come on, Henry. Teenagers always have crushes. It's a rite of passage."

I shook my head, my gaze serious. "Lynda, this isn't just a teenage crush. It's... different."

She raised an eyebrow as she read through the email, her expression shifting from amusement to surprise. "Wow, this is quite intense for a sixteen-year-old."

I let out a humorless chuckle. "Tell me about it."

Lynda's gaze turned mischievous as she looked at me. "So, what are you so worried about? Even if she still has feelings for you, she's an adult now."

I frowned, my mind clouded with the complexities of the situation. "Lynda, you don't understand. It's not just about her age. She's Collins' daughter, Ihave explained this so many time, but you don’t want to get the big deal with it and I'm twice her age. It's... complicated."

Lynda shrugged, a smirk playing on her lips. "Well, Henry, age is just a number, right? And you can both consent."

I rolled my eyes, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease just a bit. "Lynda, you're oversimplifying things."

She waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense. I'm sure Sophia doesn't even remember that email. It's ancient history."

I let out a sigh, realizing that Lynda's perspective was a welcome respite from my own anxieties. "Maybe you're right."

Lynda grinned, her gaze shifting to the TV. "Now, how about we watch a movie? It'll take your mind off things."

As we settled in to watch, a sense of calm began to wash over me. The movie's storyline pulled me in, distracting me from the tangled web of emotions that Sophia's impending arrival had stirred up.

But just as the tension in my shoulders started to ease, the sound of the door opening caught my attention. My heart skipped a beat as I turned my head, my eyes widening in surprise.

There stood Sophia, framed by the doorway, I was consumed with an expressionless shock. And in that moment, as our gazes locked, I knew that the epic disaster I'd been dreading had just begun.

“Sophia,” I whispered.