•Night Angel•

CHAPTER LXXXV - MY SWEET, BEAUTIFUL, SOPHIA.

June 2010. 09:30. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles. CA.

Sophia's POV.

I was waiting in line for my coffee, before going to Tony's place and spending some time with him while he was in lockdown. As I looked through my phone, I received a message from Mickey.

"Hey beautiful. I'm almost done with the mission. I'll be back tonight or first hour tomorrow morning. -MS"

I smiled and replied back.

"Hey handsome. Okay, I'll wait for you. Can't wait to see you :( -S."

Just as I was about to put my phone in my pocket I got another text from Mickey.

"Can't wait to see you either. Be back home soon. I love you, Soph <3. -M."

I smiled again as I felt my stomach sink in a pool of butterflies and how my cheeks started to tint red. After so many years, Michael still made me feel like the first time when we were dating and flirting. He still made me nervous beyond belief and that just made me realize that he was the one for me.

He has always been.

Right when I was about to reply back, someone called my name from behind me.

-Sophia?.- A distinctive voice made its way through my ears and I felt myself cringe at the sound. Closing my eyes shut, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for what was to come.

I turned around, mustering the most cynical and fake smile I have.

-Justin, hey.- I said to the man standing in front of me, who had a smile from ear to ear and just by seeing him, my cheeks started to hurt.

-Sophia. My sweet, beautiful Sophia. Hello, gorgeous.- Justin Hammer said as he got closer to me, planting a kiss on my cheek. I placed my hand on his shoulder and pushed him back gently, letting a small fake laugh escape my lips.

-Hi, yeah. Uh, what are you doing here?.- I asked as I saw him eyeing the coffee menu on the back of the place. - I thought you were in New York.- I said as I stepped further away from him, walking closer to my coffee delivery.

He smiled at me (again), as he placed his hands in his pockets and clicked his tongue on his teeth.

-Oh, yeah, but my friends from the army called. They need me to weaponize a suit of theirs.- As soon as the words left his mouth, my lips parted a little.

-A suit of theirs?.- I asked, raising my eyebrows as I took a step closer to the man. My ears must've heard wrong.

-Yeah, you know. A suit they have, I think. They didn't really give me much detail over the phone. But, you know. I am an army man. I help my country in any way I can.- He said as he leaned on a stool, making it move and him stumble back, but he gained his composure, trying to seem cool.

A suit? Since when does the army asks for a weaponized suit? There is no way it can be, unless it is like...

Oh, shit.

Rhodey.

I closed my eyes for a moment and damned the man I call a friend.

How could he?

I didn't want to get all worked up about this, because first of all, come on. I mean, the person saying this to me is Justin Hammer. My brother's archnemesis, rival and the person he hates and envies the most.

I should not believe anything that comes out of this man's mouth. Not one word.

Someone called my name from the coffee bar and I walked towards the place, grabbing the two cups, and the bag with muffins that I had ordered. Justin followed after me and just as I was about to grab the bag of muffins, he took my hand in his.