“What?” she asks, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Nothing. Just impressed with how fast you got her buckled in without waking her up.”
She moves past me, and, like the sucker I am, I follow her like a puppy dog to the back of my SUV where she leans and sits on the bumper.
“Oldest of six, remember? It’s basically muscle memory at this point.”
I hum and nod my head, taking a seat next to her. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for what you did tonight. For me. For Sophia.”
Sadie scoffs. “Niko?—”
I cut her off before she can say another word. “No, let me get this out.”
She mimes zipping her lips and throwing away the key, and, fuck me, I’d like to kiss the sass right off those lips. Clearing my throat, I shake all those images from my head.
“If she hadn’t been with you when I got injured, I would’ve been an absolute mess wondering how she was and who was taking care of her. But knowing she was with you…” My voice trails off as I try to decide how honest I want to be. Deciding that honesty is the least I can give her, I confess everything.
“Peace is not something I feel when it comes to leaving Sophia with people. Hell, it took me a year after Claire left to even think about leaving her with anyone other than my mom. But tonight I felt peace, knowing she was in your care. I knew she’d be safe. You’ve given me the greatest gift, and for that I am forever grateful.”
I don’t even realize I’m wringing my hands together until Sadie places hers on top of them. My eyes look down to where her soft hand lays and then back up to her. Molten chocolate eyes stare back at me and then she smiles. Suddenly every bullshit reason I’ve come up with for not pursuing this woman flies out the window as I stare at her mouth.
I’m fighting every single urge inside of me to lean in and kiss those soft lips when she speaks.
“You’re welcome, Niko. But honestly, I love spending time with Sophia. She brings out a joy in me I haven’t felt in a long time.”
She keeps her hand on mine as we consider each other. Sadie tilts her head, looking like she wants to say something, but changes her mind at the last second, averting her eyes to the ground beneath us.
Keeping one hand under hers, I reach the other one up to her face, gripping her chin and turning her head to look at me. “You were about to say something. I want to hear whatever you have to say, Sadie.”
I watch as she nervously swallows, my gaze locked in on the delicate movement of her throat. With my hand still gently grasping her chin, she nods.
“Okay. I was about to ask you who’s going to help with Sophia while you’re injured. You’ve mentioned time and time again how much you hate asking your parents for help.”
I open my mouth to talk, but Sadie holds a finger up to stop me.
“Andthey’re both sick right now. Don’t even try to tell me you’ll be fine alone because we both know it’s bullshit. You said it yourself, you’ll do whatever it takes to get back on the ice. I’m pretty sure chasing after and caring for a four-year-old alone is not in your recovery plan. So who is going to help you, Niko?”
Finally, I drop my hand from her face, and this time I’m the one to look away. I stare at my feet for half a second before her hand is on my own chin, forcing me to look at her.
“Who is going to help you, Niko?” she repeats her question, and this time I don’t cower. I’m embarrassed as hell to admit it, but I give her the answer she’s looking for.
“I don’t know, Sadie.”
She releases my chin but her hand finds mine again, resting gently on top, as if she knows her touch is literally holding me together right now.
“Let me.”
Her words should shock me. I should immediately refuse and adamantly remind her that it’s not in her job description to watch my child. Ishouldtell her no. But that’s not what comes out of my mouth.
“You’d do that?”
I’m not sure why I sound so surprised. Sadie has made it clear that she is willing to help me out time and time again. Not only that, but she alsoenjoysspending time with Sophia.
Every fiber of my being is screaming at me to run.Don’t let this woman in. You can do this alone. She’s going to burn you just like Claire did.
Just as I’m about to tell her we’ll be okay and I don’t need her help, she laughs.
The sound slips through the cracks in my defenses, weaving through the armor around my heart.
