Sensing Sofia was going to reject me, Lyon urged further, "I'll bring you back, or you can stay over at my place. Your choice."

"I'll call Zara first," I replied.

I quickly called Zara and explained briefly what happened, and asked if I could stay over a couple of nights with her.

Zara, annoyed, promptly said she'd pick me up.

As I was about to obey, Lyon snatched the phone from me gently.

"It's too late for that. I'll take Sofia home. You don't have to come," he said firmly.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line before Zara shouted, her voice so much...