Chapter 7: Don't Mock the Gods

*Sophie’s POV*

"Fantasies, they never live up to the expectation. Don't live in fantasy land. You better get that nonsense out of your head. This is the real world."

My mom said those words when I told her I wanted to go to Disney World. I don't know how to dream anymore, and even when I try, I hear my mother's voice. It's been a year since I've seen her. Finally, I chose to walk away for my sanity.

"Go ahead, leave me like your father. You're just like him," were her last words as I slammed the door shut.

At that moment, I knew why my father had left her. She killed his will to dream. She was and still is the epitome of a "negative Nancy."

I grabbed my phone and scrolled to Nigel's number. I'd be lying if I said I don't want to meet with him, and how could I resist the opportunity to ask him any questions I wanted, even if it was off the record?

Yet, I felt hesitant.

I wondered if I was afraid of meeting Nigel because he represented everything I was told I couldn't have. Girls like me didn’t get happy endings, especially the kind that ended with marrying a billionaire.

Billionaires were groomed to marry women designed to live that lifestyle. Besides, better to not hope than to hope and be disappointed. 'Oh my gosh! I sounded just like my mom.

"Hey, you were supposed to wake me last night and tell me about your randevu with Mr. Billionaire,"

Addy interrupted my contemplation by bursting through the door and jumping on my bed."

"It wasn't a randevu; it was an interview,” I corrected.

Addy playfully rolled her eyes.

"So, what was it like partying on a yacht?" she asked, handing me a slice of toast with strawberry jam.

"It was a unique experience."

Addy's eyes narrowed as she glared at me.

"What?" I replied, biting a piece of toast.

"You spent a whole night on a yacht with Miami's hottest billionaire bachelor, and all you have to say is that it was a unique experience?" She shrugged and swept the crumbs from her toast onto the floor.

"Ugh, you're vacuuming my floor today," I replied, propping my feet on her lap.

"Don't try to change the subject, Sophie!"

"Alright, alright. The truth is, I don't know how I feel right now," I stated.

"What do you mean?"

"I enjoyed the experience, but I also felt out of place. Being on that yacht was a constant reminder of what I'll never be able to have. I've never been triggered by what I've seen when interviewing celebrities, but with Nigel, I feel the pain of what I don't have. I don't understand it because I've honestly never wanted material things or cared about having lots of money. Ugh, I'm so conflicted."

I rolled over onto my stomach and smashed my face into my pillow.

"Sophie. It's okay to desire luxurious things and feel discouraged by not having those things. It just means you're human. Maybe you didn't desire expensive things before, and now you do. We can change who we are and what we want throughout life. Look at me. I dropped out of college studying biochemistry to study metaphysics, and I'm telling you, there's some strong chemistry between you and Nigel."

Addy swore she was blessed with the gift of prophecy and could sense people and environmental moods. She also thought she could feel when there wa's strong chemistry between two people with this prophetic ability. I loved her, but I would scream if I heard one more thing about my chakras being misaligned.

"Speaking of chemistry, Nigel offered me an opportunity to do an ‘off the record’ interview with him, asking any questions I want."

Addy leapt off the bed and began pacing the floor.

"Uh-huh, yes, yes. I can sense it. I'm getting some strong vibes that you are meant to go on this date, Sophie."

She continued pacing the floor and staring at the ceiling as if she was receiving a prophetic revelation from God.

"It's not a date, Addy. It's an ‘off the record’ interview, and I'm sure Nigel will try and turn it into a date. And guess what? I don't need some cosmic, spiritual revelation from God, the gods, or any other spiritual force to know the interview will shift into a date,” I replied, waving my hands in the air in a spooky manner.

"Don't you dare mock the power of the supernatural, Sophie,” Addy responded as she stopped pacing the floor and pointed her finger at me.

"Uhh, okay. You're going into wired mode. I'm going to go brush my teeth now," I laughed and walked toward the bathroom.

"Look, Sophie! I have goosebumps all over my arms." She pulled her sleeves up and thrust her arm into my face.

"You're probably just cold," I noted, pushing her arm away.

"We live in Miami, one of the hottest places on earth. How can I be cold, smarta**?" she replied, following me to the bathroom.

"Ugh, air conditioning, smarta**," I shrugged.

"I'm telling you, Sophie. You and Nigel are meant to be, and if you two actually hook up and get married, I want one hundred million dollars for my services; you'll be able to afford it after marrying him."

I burst into laughter and spat my toothpaste all over the mirror.

"Ah, now we get to the real motive of why you desperately want Nigel and me to hook up."

"Mock my supernatural gift if you want, but you'll remember this day," Addy whispered as she walked past me and sat on the toilet.

"Umm, I extended grace for peeing in the toilet while brushing my teeth during our freshmen year in college, but yeah, I can't let that fly anymore."

Addy rolled her eyes and continued peeing.

I sat on the edge of my bed and grabbed my phone.

"Okay, Addy, let's put your supernatural gift to the test. If you can guess what number I'm thinking of, I will call Nigel and tell him tonight's a go. If you guess wrong, you owe me dinner tonight instead."

Addy washed her hands and walked out of the bathroom.

"Under one condition. You must write the number down on a sheet of paper first and put it in my drawer. After I guess the right number, you can never question or laugh at my prophecies again."

"It's a deal." I walked toward Abby, and we both pinky swore. I then walked to Addy's desk and wrote down the number I was thinking of. 'God, I can't believe I was putting the fate of my future in the hands of guessing a number; this was pretty sad.

"Alright. Done." I placed a folded sheet of paper with my number in Addy's drawer.

"Are you ready?" Addy whispered, like an angelic being with beaming sun rays around her.

"Ready when you are, oh, great and all-knowing one." I laughed and bowed while waving my arms up and down.

Addy took a deep breath. “The number you thought of and wrote down is the number eight."

I gasped in disbelief and immediately felt goosebumps all over my body. Addy was right. Eight was the number I had in mind and wrote down on the paper.

"Step aside, oh doubtful one. And by the way, did you know that the number eight represents new beginnings?"

Addy pushed me out of the way and opened up her drawer. She grabbed the paper and unfolded it.

"Looks like you have a phone call to make."