Vanguard Read Online Free PDF Page B

one she’d never expected to hear from him – and the overwhelming sexual stimulation, Sophie mind went into overdrive. The pressure in her abdomen started to build.
    Abruptly, someone grabbed her from behind and yanked her away. She gasped in fright. A low voice said, “Do up your pants.” Then the person rounded on Michael.
    It was Carter.
    “Have you lost your mind?” he whispered furiously. “The whole room saw you come out here, including staff. How long do you think before they come to investigate?” Michael lounged against the restaurant wall, flushed and smirking. Sophie struggled to do up her jeans, letting out a small shriek of horror when Carter slapped Michael across the face.
    “You’re a pig, Nariovsky,” he said. “She’s had too much to drink and she’s just a kid. She deserves better than a quick fuck against a wall.” Michael’s face went from fury to shame as Carter spoke. His glance flickered to Sophie, then Carter shoved him toward the restaurant. “Get out of here.”
    Once Michael vanished, she turned on Carter. “I can’t believe you did that! You had no right …”
    He gently covered her mouth with his big hand. “Stop. Before you say another word, answer me. Did he force you? Because if he forced you, I’ll kill him.”
    Sophie pushed his hand away. “No! It just came over us … it happened so fast. He wasn’t hurting me, Carter, honest.”
    “Then I’m sorry,” he said. “But I won’t see you taken advantage of by anyone, even my best friend.” Sophie stared at him. “Now take my arm and smile. Everyone will think the three of us came out here together to smoke or talk. You and Michael stay away from one another for the rest of the night. Maybe the rest of the year.”
     
    ~~ - ~~
     
    The next day, Sophie had a headache and a guilty conscience for deceiving her boyfriend. She blamed the wine, but deep inside she knew she was lying to herself, had been lying to herself for some time. The attraction between them was out in the open, and she had no idea how to undo it.
    Michael seemed uncomfortable about the whole thing, refusing to speak of the incident and acting uncharacteristically awkward in her presence through Germany and into Scandinavia. Sophie felt stung and confused. As they travelled into Finland, she got her answer.
    On an early travel day in in December, Sophie turned in her seat to answer a shouted question from the back in the coach. She couldn’t miss seeing Michael and Mirielle Desmarais sloppily kissing one another a few rows back. Sophie turned around without answering the question. Beside her, Ana looked back to see what had happened.
    “Didn’t you know?” she whispered. “They’ve been together since Morocco.” That hit Sophie even harder. Morocco had been weeks ago, before Barcelona. Humiliated, she shrank down in her seat in numb silence, wrapped in her friend’s arms.
     
    ~~ - ~~
     
    Christmas break couldn’t come fast enough for Sophie. Miserable, she avoided Michael and snubbed his constant attempts to rekindle their friendship. Instead, she focused on their upcoming two-week visit to the Soviet Republic. In their last Finnish city, she half-listened to the staff member droning on with the usual daily report.
    “We leave for the Soviet Republic in three days. Due to visa issues, Michael Nariovsky-Trent won’t join us. He’ll travel out of Finland to start Christmas early with his extended family in Orlisia, and will reconvene with us in Japan in the new year.” This didn’t surprise Sophie. The Soviet Republic didn’t grant visas to Orlisians, even ones with dual US citizenship. What came next, however, shocked her.
    “Michael is taking Mirielle home with him to Orlisia to meet the family.” The room filled with good-natured catcalls. “So make sure to wish them both a good holiday in the next few days.”
     
    ~~ - ~~
     
    After a successful tour of Asia, the class crossed the Pacific and landed in Ecuador in March. In