A giant moose stared into her bedroom window. Ed was camped outside, curled in a ball that made it seem as though he always slept there. Because her room was in the lower level of the house, Ed’s giant head resting on the ground was near eyelevel with Sadie. If he moved any closer, his nose would fog up the glass.
She blinked hard, certain it was some late-night hallucination, brought on by too little sleep and a super emotional evening. But when she opened them, Ed was still there. Though her pulse raced at the memory of the beast charging powerfully enough to shake the ground like an earthquake, she smiled and mouthedthank you.
Ed closed his eyes.
Sadie waited a moment, pondering what it might mean that Ed was here. In every matchmaking story that involved the moose, he always appeared when one of the two was ready to run. Or so the legend went. It was entirely possible that detail was embellished by the storytellers.
But could his presence be a sign? Or was it simply wishful thinking? He wasn’t exactly blocking her escape like he was reported to do when someone wanted to run away as badly as she did.
Boomer groaned and stretched on her bed.
If only she had her phone.Thiswas an Instagram-worthy moment if ever there was one. The thought only squeezed her heart painfully. She was going to miss them both.
She slipped quietly down the hall, stopping in the doorway of Melly’s room just as Haylee laid her back in her crib. It never amazed her how mature—how much older—her little sister appeared when she was tending to her daughter. She was tired and no doubt a little cranky, but she oozed love for that little girl.
Haylee held a finger to her lips when she spotted Sadie.
In the hallway, Haylee pulled her down to the family room. “Look, I’m stupid tired,” Haylee whispered. “But I need to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’ll be okay.”
“Promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“Promise me you won’t leave.” Haylee threw her arms around Sadie’s neck and suffocated her. It wasn’t until Sadie heard a sniffle that she realized Haylee was crying. “You can’t leave, Sadie. You can’t. No way I’m letting you miss my first Taco Tuesday when I can drink margaritas with you and Laurel. And you promised me I could sleep over in your new apartment. You can’t leave.”
“But Marc’s right. I just make everything worse, sooner or later. It’s better for everyone if I just go. Before I do something to screw up your life too.”
“Marc’snotright. Even he knows that now.”
Sadie refused to acknowledge the bubble of hope that did its best to form in her chest. Marc would always see her as weak from here on out. With pity. He’d never consider her an equal. And after what she’d said about Rebecca last night, it was doubtful he wanted anything to do with her.
“I’ll come visit.”
“What about Conner?”
“It was just a crush.”
Haylee unwrapped her arms from Sadie’s neck and stared at her hard. “You’re such a liar. You’re in love with him. He’s in love with you. New Sadie would talk to him like an adult and work this out. Don’t be one of those romance novel couples that goes their separate ways all because they refuse to have one stupid conversation that could fix everything. You’re better than that, Sadie.”
“Is that why you kidnapped Boomer? So I’d have to talk to Conner again?”
“I didn’t kidnap him. Conner brought him.”
“What?”
Haylee pointed up. “He’s upstairs.”
Sadie’s pulse doubled. No wonder Ed was camped out at her window. The tricky moose was making sure she didn’t run out the back door. “Well played, Ed.”
“What?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head, trying to knock away the grogginess. It was too late—or too early, she really had no concept of time right now—to face Conner. As exhausted as she was, she’d certainly cave. That conversation needed a clear head. “How long has he been here?”
“All night.”
It was impossible to keep every butterfly in her tummy in check when a million and one lived there. A few fluttered awake. Then a few more. “Why?”
