Stan’s thoughts abruptly hit a wall. ’No. That’s not the important question. The important question is why are they suddenly acting like co-conspirators?’
That was significantly more alarming, though it was alarming in a good way since Stan was sure that this was to his benefit...
’Have they come to terms with each other as my girls,’ he sighed at this thought...
Maybe he should just stop stressing himself over this and let the girls do what they want...
Slowly, Stan lowered the phone and placed it face-up on the high table.
He stared into the middle distance.
"Well, I can’t wait to see what they planned..." The words escaped under his breath. Not loud enough for the surrounding music to swallow, but not quite quiet enough to be entirely private.
Marcus glanced over.
He hadn’t heard the words, but he was still concerned.
"Stan, bro." Marcus frowned. "Are you actually okay?"
"I’m okay."
"You don’t look okay."
"I’m okay."
"You look excited, well, what am I even saying, it’s only natural one would be so excited in a party."
Stan sighed, even though he didn’t care less about Marcus’ thoughts he still clarified; "I’m fine."
Marcus studied him for another second. Then shrugged. "Alright, man."
He took another drink and turned back toward the party.
Stan remained staring at his phone.
Based on his guess, he was pretty sure that somewhere in the crowd, Sophie and Maya were apparently planning a surprise together. He was not completely sure but that was what he thinks is going on.
And for reasons he couldn’t quite articulate, that fact was infinitely more terrifying than either of them acting alone.
Stan couldn’t help but get even more curious. ’These two cooperating? After all the tension earlier... this can’t be simple.’
Stan was halfway through his second whiskey and still trying to extract useful information from either chat when he noticed a hand waving at him from across the room.
He looked up.
Sophie stood beside one of the side tables near the edge of the dance floor.
For a moment, his entire train of thought regarding the mysterious Snapchat operation derailed as he fully registered what she was wearing.
She looked devastatingly sexy in that flashy party outfit, a tight, shimmering black mini dress that clung to every curve like liquid night.
The plunging neckline plunged daringly low, showcasing the deep valley of her full, heavy breasts that strained against the thin fabric with every breath.
The dress hugged her narrow waist before flaring over her wide hips and thick, juicy thighs, the hem barely covering the lower curve of her perfect ass.
Strappy heels accentuated her long legs, and her sleek black hair cascaded loosely over one shoulder. Light makeup made her eyes smolder with desire.
She caught his eye immediately. Then she smiled. Slowly, deliberately, she crooked a finger at him, signalling;
’Come please.’
Stan set his glass down on the high table.
"I’ll be back," he told Marcus.
Marcus glanced toward Sophie and immediately grinned. "Bro, take your time."
Stan ignored the look and started across the room.
The crowd seemed to part naturally as he moved through it. Some students recognized him and lifted their phones to record. Others called his name.
He paid none of them any attention. His focus remained fixed on Sophie.
Likewise, her attention never left him. By the time he reached her, the small pocket of space surrounding the table felt strangely private despite being only a few feet from a crowded dance floor.
Sophie was already pouring him a drink. A clean glass. Two fingers of something dark and expensive. Ice.
She handed it to him with the patient confidence of a woman who had known exactly where he would end up all evening.
Stan accepted it. Took a drink. Set the glass down.
Then leaned one hip against the table, studying her. "Where’s Maya?"
Sophie’s lips curved into a knowing smile. She didn’t glance away. Didn’t pretend not to understand the question.
She simply met his eyes directly. "Don’t worry about Maya."
"Sophie. You two sent me coordinated messages."
"Yes.."
"You’ve never coordinated with Maya about anything."
"True."
"So tell me, what’s happening, Sophie?"
She took a small sip from her own glass then et it down.
Then she reached forward and rested a hand lightly against his chest, over the fabric of his henley. The gesture was effortless, unhurried, dangerously romantic, the tension seemed to rise amidst the booming music around them.
"Just forget about how strange it looks tonight," she said softly, her voice barely carrying above the music. "Let’s have fun."
Stan narrowed his eyes. "Sophie."
"The least I can tell you," she continued, "is that we’re cooperating. We’ve talked. We’ve come to an understanding for tonight."
His eyebrows rose. "An understanding."
"Yes Stan."
"And that’s all you’re giving me."
"That’s all you need to know."
"And the surprise?"
Sophie’s smile deepened. "The surprise is the surprise. Trust me when I say you’ll love it. You’ll definitely enjoy the surprise we planned."
"Sophie."
"Stan." The way she said his name somehow managed to sound both affectionate and teasing.
"You’re going to enjoy yourself tonight," she said. "I promise."
For a long moment, he held her gaze. The system offered him absolutely nothing. No notification. No explanation. No convenient breakdown of whatever bizarre agreement Sophie and Maya had reached.
There was only Sophie’s hand resting lightly against his chest, her steady eyes, and her unwavering insistence that he stop worrying and trust her.
Stan turned the problem over one last time.
The most reasonable explanation, he decided, was that Maya hadn’t actually come.
Maybe the surprise was entirely Sophie’s idea.
Maybe Maya’s role had been limited to helping maintain the mystery through text.
Maya was practical. She might have decided that publicly sharing his attention with Sophie at a crowded campus party wasn’t something she was ready for yet and had quietly stepped aside for the evening.
The theory fit. It explained Sophie’s confidence. It explained her unusually relaxed mood.
It explained why Sophie seemed so certain he would enjoy himself.
Most importantly, it explained why Maya wasn’t standing here.
Satisfied enough, Stan finally let the question go. "Alright, I’m looking forward to this surprise you two are planned for me."
Sophie’s smile widened immediately. "Good, this might be really weird but it’s the best way forward for all of us."
"There you go speaking in parables again..."
She picked up her glass. "You’ll get what I mean soon, forget about that and drink with me."
Stan lifted his own. "Gladly."
"Eat with me."
"Easy enough."
"And dance with me when the music slows."
Something softer entered her expression. "It’s been a long time since we’ve had a proper dance together, my love."
For a moment, all of the mystery, confusion, and speculation faded into the background.
Stan smiled. "Alright, babe."
The smile Sophie gave him in return made it very clear she considered that the correct answer.