Never the Right Time

Chapter 44

Sophia POV

As we walked down the street, I couldn't help but continue to glance down at our hands still intertwined. I had absolutely no urge to detach myself from him and I know that I've instantly become town gossip.

"This town is beautiful Soph. I can't believe you get to live here." Mark said almost wistfully.

"Yea, I knew immediately that I needed to live here when I found it and am so thankful that my shop has done so well."

He looked like he had way more questions, but resigned himself to wait or not ask. I guess I would find out. Before we knew it, we walked into the Italian place a few blocks away.

"Hey Soph!" The hostess, Carrie, greeted me and then gave me a sly smile when we glanced at Mark and then our hands, "Table for two...?" I couldn't help but roll my eyes, if we weren't before we are definitely town gossip now. My relationship status or lack there of has been town interest for quite some time and then add in the fact that he isn't a local is going to be of even more interest.

"So basically the whole town knows about you now." I laughed as we sat down.

"Oh really," he smirked, "and why is that?"

"Well for one my lack of a dating life is already the talk of the town and then add the fact that we we walking around hold hands. You're basically tonight's most famous person."

He just laughed, "Now I need to know why is your dating life so interesting to the town?"

"Oh goodness, we might need a bottle of wine for that story." I half joked as the waiter started to walk up to us. We ordered a bottle for the two of us and an appetizer.

"Ok ok, as we wait for liquid courage for you to tell your story, how long have you been here? Last I checked you were still near your parents, but then it felt like I stopped seeing anything of yours."

"I moved here a little over a year and a half. The shop had been a dream of mine for quite some time and I took a leap of faith and thankfully he has paid off."

"That's amazing! The shop is great. I had already decided I was going to make it my working spot even before I saw you."

"Your working spot? What do you do?"

"I'm a web designer. I've been doing it for a few years now and I work remote so I can work from anywhere." He said confidently.

"Ok, What about Emma and Rebecca? Where are they?" I asked hesitantly, not really sure if I wanted the answer.

His face darkened a little bit. "They are back in Mass. That is also a story for the bottle of wine that I can see coming now."

He didn't waste any time after taking a gulp of his wine. I subconsciously the same as I heard him ask, "So what made you move out here?"

"Oh goodness we will probably be here for a while." I half heartedly laughed into my wine before telling him all about Joel, the cheating, the break up, the stalking, then quitting my job and moving here.

He was shocked and slightly pissed after I told him everything.

"I can't believe he did that to you! What an asshole. Does he know where you are anymore?" He asked

"No thank goodness. I sold my house near my parents and moved pretty quickly. We also put everything in the business name so it doesn't immediately come up under a basic google search. Truthfully, it has been a blessing. I wouldn't be here if he hadn't become a psychopath about it all."