Page 43 of Recklessly You
Sophie’s nibbling on her burger like a mouse nibbling on cheese.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
Her brows knit together, and she chews on her lower lip. She’s nervous. I wipe my mouth with a napkin and wait for her to speak. Sophie places her burger on the wrapper in front of her and glances up at me. Her nose crinkles in embarrassment, and she can’t help but look away as she mutters, “It’s embarrassing.”
“Try me, baby. What is it?”
“When I was a kid…and until high school, I was super thin. I was always called names like skin and bones, twig, and other stuff. I got teased for it—a lot. I weighed a hundred pounds. Senior year, I began working out, trying to gain muscle, eating more, adding protein shakes. I started gaining weight. I was happy until I started hearing kids at school call me fat.” She exhales heavily, looking out the window.
“When Eric and I were dating, he was always commenting on my food choices. Dropping comments, telling me not to eat too much, reminding me I didn’t want to gain weight.”
Fucking asshole. Anger whips through me like a violent storm.
“It really messed me up. I don’t like eating in front of people. Except for Mila and my family.”
I take an angry bite of my burger. I’m going to look up this fucker and strangle him.
“Baby, look at me.”
She slowly turns toward me. God, she’s beautiful and sexy.
“First, that ex of yours is an asshole. That fucker doesn’t know shit. People like him have self-esteem issues and enjoy diminishing the confidence of others. He wanted to stay superior by putting you in a subordinate position. You’re a beautiful woman, Sophie. You. Are. Perfect. Any. Shape. Or. Form.” I drawl the last words out so she can hear every word.
Her lips curl into a shy smile. “He never remembered my extra pickles,” she whispers.
“What a dick,” I say.
She throws her head back and laughs. My heart thunders in its cage and bangs my ribs as if to break free with the vibration of her laugh, and it rings through me andlights up my world.
“Yeah, he is.”
I like that she acknowledges it.
“Thank you,” Sophie whispers softly.
I nod, not wanting to say more to make her feel uncomfortable. “Eat, baby. It’s getting cold.”
She takes a big bite.
“That a girl.”
She groans, and a soft moan leaves her red-stained lips. All I can think of are those lips on my body, wrapped in a particular place.
“God, you weren’t kidding. This is so good.”
I can’t get over how the asshole made her feel. He stripped her of her confidence. Who knows what else he’s done to her or why they broke up? No wonder she is self-conscious of her naked body. She’s so oblivious to how beautiful and hot she is.
After we devoured our burgers, we sat and talked. I knew she was hungry, and I’m pleased she felt comfortable eating in front of me after she revealed what she went through in her youth and with her ex. I wash down the rest of the fries with Dr. Pepper.
“What happened to your partner? Don’t you always have a partner?” Sophie asks.
“I dropped my partner, John, at the station. He needed to get some paperwork done, and I needed to go help Dominic and his brothers go through their mom’s house. That’s how I knew Mila went home, and how I knew you were here. I came and got you for lunch.”
“Oh, I appreciate it. Thank you for lunch.”
I nod. “No problem. Anytime.”
I knew asking Sophie out for lunch was more than what we agreed on, but I needed to see her. It was the perfect excuse. Now that she has given me a piece of her past, I feel the need to protect her and be around her more than I should. The honest truth is I enjoy being around Sophie, I can’t seem to get enough of her.
