Page 27 of Forever Yours
“Einstein had a lot of doubts about quantum theory, and he announced those thoughts to his fellow scientists. The seed of that doubt is that he believed that things kept going even if we couldn’t see them right in that moment. He said, “I like to think the moon is there even if I’m not looking at it.”
I walk from behind the podium. “Einstein and I can agree on this. I would like to call someone up front, if that’s okay with you, Dr. Edens?” Dr. Edens nods her head eagerly. I worked this out before class with her. Thank God she’s a hopeless romantic.
“Sophie, can you come down here for a moment?” A murmur goes through the room and I’m pretty sure most of them have heard about the blow up we had at the party a couple of weeks ago.
I don’t look at anyone else but Sophie. Her cheeks redden and she shoots me a death glare but stands up anyway. I hear her say, “The things I do in the name of science,” and I can’t hold back my grin. My Sophie is in there, even if she’s tried to hide from me the last couple of weeks. And it has been the most miserable two weeks of my life.
I turn to face Sophie when she reaches the bottom of the stairs. She walks towards me slowly and hesitantly, and I can’t help but long for the days when she would readily jump into my arms.
“Liam, what do you need me to do?” She appears more than a little put out, but as long as she’s here, she’s trapped and has to listen, so we’re good.
“Just stand right here next to me, Soph. That’s all I need you to do. That’s all I’ve ever needed you to do.” I hear her sharp intake of breath. I turn towards our audience again.
“As I said, Einstein had problems with quantum theory because he believed that even if you couldn’t see something at that exact moment, it could still be happening. It could still exist.” I turn to face Sophie. “Kind of like love. We can’t see it, but we can feel it.” I take Sophie’s hand in mine and place it on my chest. “We can feel it in here and so we know it’s real.” Her deep blue eyes widen, and she takes a step closer to me. “We know that love is in our hearts because we can feel it, just like Einstein felt and knew that the moon was still there even when he couldn’t physically see it.”
I grab her other hand and I take it as a good sign when she doesn’t snatch it back. “Sophie Grace Richards, I don’t pretend to understand physics that well, or to have a clue about the mysteries of quantum theory. I can’t tell you why gravity exists or Plack’s theory, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that I am in love with you.”
“Planck’s theory,” she murmurs, and the class laughs. I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.
“Yes, Planck’s theory.” I move closer to her and brush her hair back with my hand. She leans in to nuzzle my hand. “Just like Einstein knew the moon was there even though he couldn’t see it, I know my love for you is a real and tangible thing. I’m an idiot, Sophie, and I’m sorry that I ever made you feel like you weren’t enough.”
She looks down and I see a tear slip down her face to her chin. I lift her face up and hold her chin in my hand.
“You are more than enough, Sophie. Even before I knew what love was, I felt it for you. You are my moon and my stars. You are my universe.” I gulp over the sudden lump in my throat. “Without you, I don’t make sense. You’re my best friend. Not even your brother knows the things you do about me.” She’s still and silent and even though she’s letting me touch her, I feel anxious. What if she can’t forgive me?
I sigh. “I understand if you’ve decided to move on, if maybe you’ve given up on me after all this time, but I’m hoping that maybe, just maybe, you’ll give me another chance?” She doesn’t answer and I feel my heart shatter. I hear two girls in the front row whisper, “Why the hell isn’t she throwing herself at him? I would.” I ignore them and gaze steadily into Sophie’s eyes.
I start to turn around when she still doesn’t answer. “Fuck, I’m an idiot.” I look down at my shoes. “I’m just so fuckin’ in love with you, Soph.” And I know I’ll stay that way even if she doesn’t give me another chance. Loving Sophie is like breathing. It’s just a part of who I am.
“You are?” Her voice is small and tentative when she finally speaks.
I spin around, my heart in my throat. “Of course, I’m in love with you, silly girl. How could I not be?” I reach out to caress her cheek.
Chapter Thirty-one
Loving him is not a choice. If it was, I would have stopped when I was fifteen and he started dating the head cheerleader. That girl had big boobs and no brains and made fun of me for my braces. Of course, Liam had to go and break up with her when he heard her teasing me, and sigh…of course I still loved him. - Sophie
Sophie
I hear Dr. Edens clear her throat and it breaks me from the trance I’m in. A million thoughts swirl in my mind. Did Liam just say he’s in love with me? Does he mean it?
“Class, I think that was a wonderful presentation about how a scientific theory can relate to real life. I also think we should give Mr. Collier and Ms. Richards some privacy. Class is dismissed.”
Liam and I continue to stare at each other as the students shuffle out. I’ve got a million things to say, but none I want heard by someone else. I can’t help but shift my gaze and giggle when Dr. Edens starts to walk backwards towards the door. I can tell she’s dying to watch how the rest of this unfolds, but she waves awkwardly as we look over at her.
“Liam, that was definitely a presentation that deserves an A.” She grins. “And Sophie, I love you and you could probably teach this class, but if you don’t forgive him, I may have to fail you.”
I can’t help the laugh that spills out of me in response. She shuts the door softly behind her and I turn to glance back at Liam. He’s watching me with a small, worried frown on his face.
“Did I break us, Soph?” His words are hesitant, and I can tell he’s afraid of my answer.
I step closer and answer him the only way I know how. I put my arms around him and lay my head against his chest. He sighs and I can feel the anxiety seep slowly from him.
“You didn’t break us, Liam. I don’t think anything could.” I pull away and stare into those grey eyes I love so much. I see love and adoration shining through.
“I’ve loved you most of my life, Liam. I couldn’t just turn it off no matter how badly you made me want to.”
His smile falls. “I’m so damn sorry, Soph.”
