Page 169 of Power Play

I can’t speak. Sophie’s eyes shine. And just like that, the world tilts again. But not in a bad way. In the way it does when everything shifts into focus.

We walk home in silence, hands clasped, our future kicking off inside her one cell at a time.

“You okay?” I ask as we turn onto our street.

She nods. “Terrified. Also starving.”

“That’s my girl.”

SOPHIE

Here’s the thing no one tells you about falling in love again after a breakup; it feels even better the second time. Because this time, you know what you almost lost.

Murphy hasn’t stopped being patient. Or funny. Or slightly unbearable in the mornings. He’s reading parenting books now. Made us a spreadsheet. Hasn’t brought up marriage once, which I weirdly love him for.

We don’t need labels. We just need us.

Except now there’s going to be a third.

A little messier. A little louder. A little more chaos in the mix.

And honestly?

I can’t wait.