Chapter 4

Sophie’s maternal instinct flared up, temporarily subduing the fetish. She put her arms around him, pulling his head into her bosom and holding him close. Adam, who had been trying desperately to hold back this humiliating torrent of emotion, began to cry with abandon, his whole body shaking with sobs as she held him tightly to her, running her fingers through his hair and kissing the top of his head.

Within about ten minutes, Adam’s sobs had ceased. Sophie continued to hold him, rubbing the back of his neck in silence. After one last beast of a sniffle, he pulled away and sat upright.

“I-I’m sorry about that…” He coughed. “You must think I’m-”

“If you say anything other than ‘handsome,’ ‘funny,’ or ‘charming,’ I’m going to punch you in the face.” Sophie smiled at him. He let out a stifled laugh. “That’s better,” she said, running a finger along his jaw. He managed to smile back at her, though it was strained.

"I mean it, you know," she said sternly, looking into his bloodshot eyes. He looked away, suddenly feeling the magnitude of how vulnerable he'd made himself to her, this girl he’d only known for a couple of hours. "I've always adored you," she continued, brushing a tuft of hair from his temple. "From the minute I first saw the show. You were always so charismatic, so confident. And watching you stuff yourself- ” She stopped there, blushing a little, not sure how much about herself she was willing to disclose just yet. “Your confidence has taken a blow,” she said softly. “Am I right?”

He nodded. “I…I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” He sniffed and wiped his eyes. “The last few months….” He sighed. “I’m pathetic.” Sophie tensed and took a breath, about to disagree, but he stopped her. “No, don’t argue. I am pathetic. I work so hard to keep the weight off, but no matter what I do…” He trailed off.

“Your weight doesn’t define who you are-”

“Yes it does!” That was the first time he had raised his voice with her. “You just…you don’t understand-”

“No, I obviously don’t! But it isn’t like you’re tripping-over-your-tongue eager to enlighten me!” She instantly regretted losing her temper, but this was becoming ridiculous. She was trying to be understanding, but her sexual frustration, against her will, was gnawing away at her patience. She breathed deeply, trying to regain the sense and compassion that her desire for him had stolen.

“You know,” he chuckled humorlessly, “if you Google my name, the first suggestion is ‘adam richman weight gain.’ The whole world is just waiting for me to die of a heart attack. You should see some of the letters I get. ‘Man v. Food: Judging by that double chin, I’d say food is winning.’” He spoke softly, staring down at the table. “It just…it really gets to you after a while. You start to believe everything everyone is saying. When the number on the scale just keeps going up….” His eyes were still moist. “I haven’t had a girlfriend in years. What girl wants a guy who regularly downs seven pounds of food in one sitting? And I'm always on the road..." He shook his head; he was divulging too much. On the one hand, he'd just cried like a baby on her shoulder...Hard to make things worse. But on the other, he was desperate to save face, and this pity party was just confirming what a loser he was.

Sophie didn’t know what to say. She yearned to tell him just how sexy she thought he was, how she loved every last delicious ounce of him, but words failed her. She moved closer to him and rubbed his back gently. He looked up at her with a weary smile and sighed. Maybe she really didn't think he was such a loser after all.



“I really messed this up, didn’t I? I mean, first girl who’s interested in me in four years, and I sob all over her.”

Sophie shrugged. “It’s okay. I found your mucous especially sexy.” She gave him an exaggerated wink.

Adam laughed heartily, his smile reaching his eyes for the first time in an incredibly long while.