The thought of attending this party and seeing my family sends me into a tailspin. I’m pretty sure I haven’t even spoken to my parents since Christmas. They only check in on holidays. Last year they even forgot my birthday. But this is my baby sister we’re talking about. Of all my siblings, she’s the one I took care of the most. She still holds a piece of my heart from all those years ago.
My breathing becomes shaky and I hold my hand to my chest, trying to focus on my breathing.
What the heck am I going to do?
I try to give Sadie privacy while she checks the message that just came through, but when I hear her gasp, I turn my attention back to her.
“You okay?”
She’s staring at her phone and her hand is placed over her chest as if she’s trying to catch her breath.
“Sadie.” My tone comes out firm, because with the way her eyes are bulging and her rapid breathing, I’m worried something terrible has happened. I fist my hands at my side, fighting the urge to reach out to her.
She turns her head to look at me but doesn’t say anything. She glances at her phone then back at me again.
“What is it?” My voice is urgent. What the hell did she read on her phone that has her so distraught?
Sadie takes a steadying breath then flips her phone over on the chair next to her. “It was my sister.”
That’s all she gives me. That does nothing to explain why she just got so worked up over a text message. I know it may not be my place, but I also feel like Sadie and I have connected on a deep enough level to ask her to elaborate.
“Is everything okay?”
She takes a moment to consider my question. I don’t know much about Sadie’s family other than her parents worked too much and she had to take care of her siblings at a young age. I’ve also gotten the feeling that her family doesn’t support her. Sophia has asked about them before, and Sadie is always very quick to change the subject. I think she may have mentioned they live on the East Coast, but other than that, that piece of her is still a mystery to me.
Sadie finally speaks and when her words come out, they’re shaky. “Everything’s fine. My sister’s engaged.”
Okay. That is not what I was expecting her to say. From the way her chest was heaving and the expression on her face, I was expecting bad news. Maybe someone was hurt or ill.
My face must show my confusion because Sadie snorts.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m acting like a lunatic.”
I cut her off before she can say more. “I don’t think you’re a lunatic.”
She gives me a look that tells me she doesn’t believe me. “No, no. I am acting strange. Most people would be thrilled to hear their little sister is marrying the love of her life.”
“But you’re not.”
Sadie immediately starts shaking her head. “It’s not that. It’s…complicated.”
I wave my hand in front of me, gesturing around at my house and life in general. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m the king of complicated.”
The joke lands, and Sadie releases a real laugh for the first time today. The sound still affects me in a way I can’t quite describe. I wish I could bottle it up and bring it with me to the rink so I could listen to it when I’m having a bad game or things aren’t going our way.
“Your life may be a bit complicated, Niko. Mine…well, mine is a mess. Something I’m sure you have no interest in hearing about.”
“I want to know everything about you.”
The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. Sadie gulps, and I watch her throat work as she swallows.
It’s too late to take the words back, and honestly, I wouldn’t if I could. I have every intention of making this woman stay in our lives and I want her to know just how important and special she is to us. To me.
“Will you tell me?”
My voice is sincere and coated in desperation. Because I am desperate. I’m desperate to know every piece of the woman sitting in front of me. I know we’ve been fighting the feelings between us and I don’t know when I changed my mind, but I want her to let me in. I want her to stay. I want her to see that this—us—isn’t such a bad idea after all. She brings out the best in me, she makes me see things differently, and I know we could be good together.
Sadie stands and I’m afraid she’s about to run away. She surprises me when she reaches out her hand to me.
