Inventing Herself Read Online Free PDF Page A

that clearly. But then he shuffled back in the shadows and she tried to tell if he was doing what he needed to do. She wanted to clean it up, after all.
    He came out of the darkness and circled around her legs, his face a mask of puppy happiness.
    ‘Well? Did you?’ she asked, exasperated.
    Sophie leant forward to look and he ran right under her, tipping her off balance. She reached her hands out, bag flapping, to catch herself. Landing in an awkward downward dog position, she was able to find her centre – the irony wasn’t lost on her – and balance her centre of gravity. She was just thankful her hands hadn’t landed in anything beyond some still frozen snow and some twigs and leaves.
    ‘Simon,’ she growled, still trying to find purchase to right herself. Good news was, from what she could see, no poo to clean up.
    ‘Is this how you spend your time now? Wooing strangers on the street with odd yoga positions. Though I must say,’ the voice went on. ‘I do miss this ass.’
    And then a soft touch along her lower spine, just above her bottom.
    Sophie gasped, jerking up into a standing position to find herself face to face with Tony. Her Tony. Well, her ex Tony. Her head swam with fairy lights as a head rush overtook her. Without considering it, she reached out a hand to steady herself. His big biceps flexed under her grasping fingers as he put a steadying hand on her hip.
    ‘You OK, Soph?’
    She nodded her head. Bad move. Stupid move. ‘Yes, you just surprised me. And I stood too fast. And …’
    Simon was winding himself around their legs, butting between them, imposing himself between her and Tony so Tony would notice him. She swore sometimes he was more feline than canine.
    ‘Who’s this?’
    ‘Simon.’
    ‘As in simple?’
    Sophie snorted shook her head. ‘As in Le Bon.’
    ‘Ah yes, 80s crushes never die, do they?’
    She couldn’t help but laugh. ‘How are you?’ she asked. No reason not to be a grown-up. They’d not broken up because of any melodrama or big issue. They’d broken up because life had gotten busy and they’d each started brushing the other off. Not in a malicious way, just in a modern way. I’m so busy and you are expendable, was how it felt. Which made it clear to them both that they weren’t destined for any big fairy tale love.
    ‘I’m fine. Finer now I saw that luscious ass of yours.’
    She swatted him. ‘Knock it off.’
    ‘Nice hair too.’
    Sophie patted her head. ‘Jesus. I fell asleep on the sofa. And I just brought him out to do his business. I didn’t think I’d see anyone.’
    She was blushing. Why was she blushing? But maybe this was what she needed. She needed to get laid . That was all. And who better to get down and dirty with than someone who knew her – her likes and dislikes – and who she was comfortable with?
    Right?
    ‘Well, you’re seeing me, Soph. How’s stuff with you?’
    ‘Fine.’
    Confusing …
    ‘Good. Glad to hear it.’
    ‘And with you?’ she stammered, repeating herself. She’d already asked that, but here she’d said it again. Standing this close to him she could feel the heat radiating off him even though the cold January wind was blowing. Sophie glanced up and saw the corner of a blind twitch. Not her apartment. Kevin’s. Sneaky little spy.
    ‘Good. Better now. Like I said.’ He chuckled, a gust of wind lifting some of his corn silk-coloured hair. She couldn’t see in the shadows of the street, but she knew his big, brown eyes would be flashing with humour. ‘So, Soph …’
    ‘Yeah?’ she asked, cocking her head, heart beating wildly because she knew what he was going to ask and what she was going to say.
    ‘Want to have a drink with me tomorrow?’ He touched her finger with his finger. Her hands felt frozen but the touch was electric. At least she’d figured it out. She just needed an old-fashioned fuck with someone she found attractive. Perfectly normal. Perfectly natural.
    Everyone had needs. Everyone