Page 48 of The Forces of Love

Lust was familiar, sure. She’d learned to recognize it, harness it, give people what they wanted. If she satisfied them, then it didn’t hurt so much when they left. Because they always did. Sophie had never given much thought to what would make someone stay.

She had contemplated, however, why no one had stuck around. Clearly, she lacked that special quality that made her worth having around long term. Her dad had seen it, then Meg. Certainly every lackluster date she’d had.

But Mitch stayed. Even when she was grumpy, even when she snapped at him. And he held her accountable for it. Took apart every one of her defenses and stood with her. He’d developed a soul-deep strength. Being forced to grow up too young would do that to a person. She understood it all too well. Though that strength was nestled under a playful charm that disarmed her.

For the first time in her life, she didn’t feel alone. Mitch understood her because his past wasn’t so different from her own, and what he didn’t already know, he discovered.

Maybe the only person who knew her better was herself. And Levi.

It scared the shit out of her.

Because what happened if it ended? If she messed it up?

She tipped closer again and kissed him sweetly.

It wasn’t the ravenous passion of their first, or the hurried frenzy of their second, third, fourth. This was delicate. Tender.

Sophie’s heart practically shivered in her chest. Because this wasn’t a casual kiss. These weren’t throwaway feelings.

Because she didn’t want to walk away from this. From Mitch.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“Just because.”

ChapterSeventeen

SOPHIE

“Are you happy?”

It was a question Levi had asked her many times.

This time, it stuck with her, lingering behind every sent email, every drive home, the comfort sitcoms she played while she cooked dinner and picked her outfit for the following day. While she washed her makeup off and all through her nightly skincare routine.

She was happy. So why did she feel guilty about it?

What more did she want?

All this time, being on her own, she hadn’t been waiting for someone. Sophie had always raged against the thought that she couldn’t be happy without a partner, and she’d proven it.

Before Mitch, she was… okay, maybehappywasn’t the word she’d use. But content? Definitely.

She’d never wanted her life to revolve around a relationship. Knew her value was worth more than how badly she was wanted. Even though she still enjoyed the act of wanting. Of having someone around to share with.

And that was it, wasn’t it?

The fullness of a life was in how much of it was shared.

Whether expressing it through art, creating a work for others to enjoy. Or sharing an interest with a friend. Say, music or a shared hatred of an idiot boss.

Family, found or born, and friends, new or old.

Romantic love wasn’t a necessity, but everyone needed people.

Sophie needed people.

Mitch had proven that before their first kiss.

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