I don’t answer before she continues; “You could say I hit rock bottom until Bailey told me about Alpine Falls. The job came along at the right time. Plus, my ex keeps messaging me.”
My brow furrows hearing that last part. “Well, he better not come around here. I have a sharp ax,” I say, meaning every word.
“Now, now, we don’t need to resort to anything like that,” she sighs. “But yes, he was a cheating douchebag. I didn’t know until I, uh, found his Tinder and Snapchat profiles.” She shudders in response.
“Cheaters are fucking jerks.”
“Such jerks. I don’t get it. If things were so bad, why didn’t he just leave? I’m not saying I’m a perfect person, far from it, but I would never cheat on anyone, no matter how bad things were.”
“I’ll never understand it.” I clear my throat. And I don’t know why, but I blurt out, “I guess you heard about my situation?”
She nods slowly. “Bails told me. I’m sorry. You seem like a nice guy, it sucks when people you trusted betray you. She clearly wasn’t worth it, and your friend? What an asshole.”
“You can say that again.” I grip the steering wheel.
“What an asshole,” she repeats. “Or is itasshat?”
She turns her head, and we both share a small private joke. Man, it feels good. I haven’t allowed myself to feel this good in a long time. I never wanted to get close to a woman ever again because I didn’t want to feel pain like that again in my life. Maybe I can’t admit it out loud, but I feel as if she understands. We’ve both been cheated on, she knows the drill.
It fucking sucks.
“Well, for what it’s worth, the guy is an idiot,” I say. “And your roommate? No fucking excuse for doing that to you with your money. She’ll get what’s comin’ to her.”
“I guess this is what happens when you trust people,” she sighs. “You get burned.”
“Not all people.”
Our eyes meet again. Her eyes soften. “You’re a good man, Zane Lawless, a very good man.”
Her words echo in my mind for longer than they should. It seems to be only now that I’m realizing I haven’t let anyone in since my ex. George has tried to make me aware of it, Rich too, on more than one occasion. But having that conversation with Sadie felt different. She knows exactly where I’m coming from because she has been through the same situation herself. That really struck a chord with me.
And there’s more than a cord being struck later in the week when we arrange for her to have a key to my place. In no time at all, she’s bringing some of her belongings over.
Granted, she doesn’t seem to have too much stuff, a couple of suitcases with clothes and shoes, but it sparks something in me watching her moving her things into the house.
I cleaned out the spare room to make sure I didn’t have any of my shit lying around, not that I have too much stuff, I’m a pretty minimal kind of guy.
“If it’s okay with you, I’ll spend a couple of nights here before I head off to see my folks with Bailey,” she says when I’ve helped her haul the last couple of boxes with Mindy’s stuff from the truck. “Get Mindy used to her new surroundings and all. Are you still okay with looking after her?”
I did offer, after all.
“Sure thing,” I say. When she bites down on her lip, unsure, I raise a brow. “You don’t trust me?”
“Of course I do, Mindy is just… fussy, I guess.” Right as she says it, Mindy brushes up against my legs back and forth. I reachdown to pick her up because I’ve learned fairly quickly she likes a cuddle.
“You were sayin’?”
I’m still getting used to this new arrangement; I also don’t usually have employees staying at my house. With Sadie, however, it feels weirdly natural. I fucking like it.
I clear my throat, feeling awkward by my wayward thoughts, because now I can see the indent of her teeth on that bottom lip. And that isn’t going to help matters.
“I appreciate it. Mindy isn’t great in the car,” she goes on. “Thanks, Zane.”
I nod. “No problem.”
It feels like we’re on mutual ground, and I’m A-okay with that.
CHAPTER 18
