Sophie was quiet and agreeable most of the time, so I didn’t know where all this shit was coming from. Had she always felt like this?
The realization that she didn’t have any faith in my music was a shock even though she had never taken much of an interest in the band. I just assumed it wasn’t her type of music, which was fair enough. I still thought she respected what we were doing and what we had accomplished.
Sophie had been on the road with us for the past month. I had been a little surprised when she had mentioned wanting to come along for the last leg of our east coast tour, but I had been happy to have her along. Maysie was always with Jordan and Riley and Viv spent a lot of time with Garrett and Cole so it would be nice to have someone there for me.
But Sophie had never really gelled with the rest of the group. I knew she felt it. I felt it. The guys probably felt it too. So maybe that’s where all this was coming from.
“Why are you getting so mad?” Sophie asked, looking confused.
“I’m not mad,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Are you two ready to order?” the waitress asked, appearing out of nowhere. I was glad for the interruption though. Because my sweet, unassuming girlfriend had majorly pissed me off.
When we were finished giving our orders Sophie put the menu back and looked at me. “Do you want me to go home?” she asked sharply.
“I didn’t say that,” I muttered.
Why was I getting so annoyed with her?
Sophie was safe.
Sophie was constant.
She didn’t have issues or demons.
Sophie wasn’t complicated.
And I needed that right now.
“You didn’t order me anything? There goes your hand job later.” Cole body checked me as he slid into the booth beside me.
Sophie gave him a tense smile. “Hi, Cole.”
“Hey, Tits McGee,” he greeted, using a nickname he had given her after walking in on her in the bathroom as she was getting out of the shower.
“I’ll give her one thing, she’s got a nice rack,” Cole had said with a leer, closing the door as she screamed.
No matter how many times I tried to get him to stop using it, the nickname had stuck. I had a feeling Cole continued to use it because he knew how much it annoyed me and Sophie. He was a dick like that.
“Please don’t call me that,” Sophie huffed. Cole of course ignored her.
“Move over, Tits. Jordan and Garrett will be here in a sec. They’re in the head.” Sophie looked slightly murderous, but she moved over.
“Why do you eat this shit?” Cole complained as the waitress brought my and Sophie’s food. He picked up my veggie burger and made a face.
“Because I like the thought of not having a heart attack when I’m forty,” I replied.
“You’re so not rock and roll, dude. It’s amazing that you get any tang,” Cole said.
Sophie tensed even further and I knew that Cole’s antics made her uncomfortable. She had never gotten used to it.
Jordan and Garrett joined us a few minutes later. Garrett sat beside Sophie and Jordan pulled up a chair at the end of the table. Garrett gave Sophie a smile, which she returned but neither said anything to each other.
I realized that I couldn’t remember the last time Sophie had a conversation with any of my friends. She was always there, by my side, but she never attempted to join in any way. She always declined when Garrett asked if she wanted to play the X-box. She continuously turned down Maysie’s invitations to go to the store to pick up supplies for the bus.