AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He truly was a sweetheart. And god, the way her heart clenched justthinkingthat word. He was also fierce and loyal and unapologetic. Especially when they were arguing over who Melissa fromLove Lockedshould end up with.
“Mitch, I like you. I really do.” She lifted her chin and met his eye. “You’re the first person, maybe ever, that I’ve felt this way about. But this whole thing scares the crap out of me. Watching my parents’ marriage break down in the cruelest way possible put a damper on the ideas I once had about romance.”
This close, Sophie was helpless against the fond look he’d directed at her, the slow, caring curl of his smile. He had this way of filling up her senses, as bright and unavoidable as the sun itself.
Mitch flexed his grip around her waist. “After the divorce, I hated splitting time between my parents. When Mom said she was moving away and I had to choose, I was relieved. I didn’t want to go, and I definitely didn’t want to leave my dad. I was sick of watching them pretend everything was fine when it wasn’t. Faking smiles for my benefit, even though they were both miserable.”
“Is she happier now?”
He nodded once, pressing his lips together. “I think so. We don’t talk much. When I have kids, I’ll make sure they know I’m there for them, no matter what.” Mitch moved to cup her cheek. “I don’t ever want them to feel alone.”
“If I ever have kids, I want a partner who will help. My mom did the best she could, but she did it all on her own. She worked herself to the bone to support us. I lost so much time with her, and she feels guilty about that. It’s why we talk every day now.”
“Dad was like that too. He’s a great parent, and I’ve never needed more than what he gave me. But yeah, I didn’t see a whole lotta him when I was a kid. Learned quickly how to keep house, and it was nice, looking out for each other like that.”
Her childhood had been filled with quiet nights with only a distracted babysitter and Levi for company. “What about you? It must have been hard when your mom left.”
“I, uh, had ways of keeping myself company.”
“I know we’ve slept together, but I do not need to hear about your teenageliquid dreams.”
“You sure about that? You seemed pretty interested in them last night.” He brushed his lips along the high point of her cheek. “But actually, I made up a friend I could talk to.”
Sophie’s breath caught. “Ever since I was little, I’ve had—” Her throat was a desert. Why was it so hard to open up? “I used to have an imaginary friend. Levi. He popped up out of nowhere one day and kept coming back when I had no one else.” Sophie’s pulse skyrocketed. Now, every time he looked at her, he’d think she had lost her mind. “I know how it sounds.”
“It doesn’t. You know, I’ve never told anyone that though.”
It was killing her not to kiss him. “I guess we’re both a little ridiculous, then.”
“I don’t mind being ridiculous if it’s with you.”
The truth was, Sophie felt the same way. Mitch, in all his occasionally awkward glory, had a way of loosening the ache in her chest. Every time Sophie questioned his motives, he left no room for doubt. There was no reading between the lines with him because his feelings were printed in bold.
She liked that. Even if she couldn’t give him the same back.
* * *
MITCH
“Did your friend have a name?” Sophie asked.
They’d given up on the door, and when Mitch had taken a seat on the floor, she’d surprised him by climbing into his lap.
He really wanted to make a cat joke, but Sophie’s nails were a little too close to his jugular right now.
“Eva.”
Sophie sniffled, but her eyes were bright with amusement, so Mitch counted it as a win and continued.
“She pretty much saved me growing up. Mom moved out of state before I’d finished middle school, and Dad had to pick up extra shifts to pay the bills. It’s why I’m so protective of him.” He hugged Sophie a little closer. “He worked himself to the bone, and that meant having to cook and learning to help around the house. Eva kept me company. She was the only stable thing I had going back then. She was there when I made my first lasagna, when I flooded the laundry room, when I got my first job.”
He’d been grateful for Eva then, warm and kind and playful in a way that reminded him of his dad rather than the typical stuffy adults he encountered in most other aspects of his life.
“When Mom lost everything except me, I still had Levi,” Sophie said, clutching Mitch’s shirt. “No one’s been there for me the way he has. It sounds silly, and it’s probably just a projection of my own mind keeping me safe, but that’s why it’s so hard to let go. He’s a part of me. Any time of day, anywhere. I’ve never had to truly feel alone.”
“And when you miss being around people?”
“I can fill my bed anytime I need to.”
