Tethered Hearts | ✓ | Books 1 & 2

Episode 50| Her Moral Compass

Bryce's P.O.V.

Sophia proclaimed in the living room that she was hungry and didn't mind having a quick breakfast in the apartment. "I don't think I should waste money on eating out at a diner. I can just have oatmeal."

"It's okay, Sophia," I found myself grinning. "I don't care. I'd pay for your meal. You wouldn't have to."

She frowned. "I don't want to use your money."

"You should get used to spending it since I'm the only one who makes money."

"I could get a job."

"You're not getting a job." I protested firmly. Any sense of positivity in my expression was no longer prevalent on my face. "You don't need a job with the amount of money I make."

"Bryce, I said I don't want to use your money. Getting a job could be a good thing. I could help pay for food," she suggested, pulling open one of the cabinets. "I worked at the grocery store during my freshman year. Things got hectic though so I had to leave. I'm taking one less class than I was then. I'm sure I can handle a job again."

"It's not about handling a job or not. It's about what could ensue from you receiving a job offer. Grayson is still out there," I told her. "I'd rather be safe than sorry if something happened."

"You're so pessimistic," she scoffed, sweeping her hair over her shoulder and throwing me a look. "If getting a job is making you wig out so much, I can take a campus job. Maybe even work at the campus library."

"No," I objected. When Conner nearly lost Kelsey, it opened up the floodgates to hidden thoughts of how I felt when Julia died. "You can't, Sophia. Don't you remember yesterday? Kelsey got hurt. I thought going through that would show you how much danger I'm potentially in at all times. "

Sophia pushed her back to the countertop with her fingers clutching the edge. "What do you want me to do then? You asked me to stay with you in your apartment for a few weeks and I agreed. Are you expecting me to be stuck here after classes every day of the week?"

"Thank you for understanding," I breathed. We were finally on the same page. This whole relationship business wasn't so hard.

"I wasn't being serious," she exclaimed, lightly swatting at my hand when it came up to her waist. "Bryce, I'm not going to be stuck up here like Rapunzel every day."

"Not every day," I assured her. "Just most days...well, until I can get a hold of Grayson and know for certain that he's not going to be a problem."

He definitely wasn't going to be. He'd get what he deserved for putting all of us in that situation. I didn't give second chances to people who double crossed me.

"I have friends, too, Bryce. Friends I'd like to visit and see when I don't have other plans."

"You are more than welcomed to bring them here."

She cocked her head to the side, peering at me. "You're serious about this, aren't you?"

"I'm serious as a heart attack." I said in a monotone voice. "Look, I'm not saying it's always going to be like this. It's not. You can do whatever you want once I neutralize the enemy."