Page 52 of King of Kings

“Hello?”

“Knox. Are you still in bed? What is going on with you? We have things to do. Get to the office immediately,” my dad says before hanging up.

“Everything okay?” Sophia asks.

“No. That was dear old Dad, reminding me that this fantasy of spending forever wrapped in your arms isn’t going to happen anytime soon,” I say, turning towards her, pulling her face to mine.

“What’s stopping you from telling him to fuck off?” she asks, surprising me.

“I don’t know. Every day I ask myself that same question.”

She leans over, kissing me before pulling away to get off the bed.

“Don’t let me keep you,” she says, pulling her shirt over her head.

“What are you doing today?” I ask her.

“My landlord is supposed to call today and let me know when I can move back home,” she says, pulling her shorts up.

“You’re leaving?”

“Well, yeah. I can’t live here forever,” she says, like I’m crazy.

“Why not?”

“You can’t be serious, Knox? Whatever is happening between us is still new. We were just fighting again last night. You can’t possibly think I’d move in with you,” she says, putting her hand on her hip.

“Why wouldn’t I think that? I want you here when I wake up in the morning and when I go to bed,” I say, walking over to her, wrapping my arms around her waist.

“You’re insane,” she says, putting her hands on my chest to shove me away.

She thinks I’m joking, but I’m not. I’ll figure out a way to get her to stay.

“I’ve got to go get dressed,” she says, kissing me quickly before running up the stairs.

I watch her walk away, already wishing there was some way to stay home and be wrapped up in her all day.

After a quick shower, I get dressed, grab my keys, and head upstairs.

I don’t see Sophia anywhere, so I head upstairs. I’m not just going to leave without saying anything. Not after last night.

Her bedroom door is cracked open, and I can see her pacing back and forth in her room. She’s on the phone with someone, and she looks irritated.

“I am taking my life seriously. I don’t know what is so hard for you to understand. I’m doing everything I’ve always wanted to do. I’m sorry that you and Dad don’t approve.” She sighs, moving the phone to her other ear.

“Bye, Mom,” she says, frustrated, hanging up the phone and tossing it on the bed.

I take the opportunity to open the door and she turns in my direction, smiling, but it’s not a genuine one.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“How much of that did you hear?”

“Enough to see that you're frustrated,” I tell her, walking across the room and wrapping my arms around her.

“My mother has that effect on me.” She sighs, melting into my arms.

“I get it,” I say, kissing her forehead.