She doesn’t even wait for my response before heading into the kitchen. I grab my own plate and our wineglasses, balancing them between my fingers. After she sets the dishes into the sink she rushes over to me to take the long-stemmed glasses before I drop them.
“You couldn’t leave anything on the table, could you?” Her voice is teasing, and I’m reminded of how much I love it when she gives me a hard time. Pun definitely intended. I turn toward the cupboards and adjust myself quickly before she catches sight of the effect she has on me.
“I had it handled.”
Sadie smirks at me and starts washing the dishes by hand instead of using the dishwasher. I step in to help and my body is acutely aware of hers, as always. The brush of her arm against mine as she hands me each dish sends a shock through me that’s impossible to ignore. I even notice the small movements, like her dipping her fingers into the water to grab another utensil.
It’s a simple shared task, something that would feel ordinary with anyone else. But with Sadie it feels intimate. It feels comforting but also deliciously frustrating. I want to lean in, brush her hair from her face, but I know I shouldn’t. God, I want to.
We finish up the dishes and then head out onto the patio. The air is warmer than usual, but not warm enough to sit anywhere but near the fire.
Sadie sits on the couch in front of the fireplace and stares into the flames. I wonder if she’s thinking about the last time we were here. The way she climbed into my lap and crashed her mouth into mine. The way my hands gripped her ass asshe ground herself over my hard length. Lord knows I’m thinking about it. My dick grows harder in my jeans, and in an attempt to keep myself under control, I try to focus on less exciting things.
Dirty hockey skates. Newton’s Law. The way Jefferson looks when lifting weights.
That last one seems to do the trick. I take a seat next to Sadie and lift the bottle toward her glass. “Want me to top you off?”
“You trying to get me drunk, Cap?” The gleam in her eyes tells me she’s not against it, but that’s not my intention at all.
I pull the bottle back, pretending I’m not going to pour more in her glass. “Actually, no. I’d prefer it if you kept your wits about you this evening.”
Sadie raises her brow at me. I’m sure she’s trying to figure out why I just said what I did.
The energy between us is buzzing at an all-time high and I may have my hopes up. But if something does happen tonight between us, I’d rather her not blame it on the alcohol tomorrow.
“I was just teasing you. I’m not even buzzed yet. You can top me off.”
Her words register as “you can take my top off,” and I have to pause for a moment before I realize that is definitely not what she just said. Maybe I shouldn’t have another glass.
I pour a little more wine into each of our glasses and set the bottle on the table next to us. Sadie rests her elbow on the couch cushion and leans her head into her hand, a soft smile playing on her lips. There’s something about seeing her like this, unabashedly at ease, that makes her more beautiful than ever.
As much as I don’t want to ruin this moment, the text she got earlier has been gnawing at me all evening. Instead of an abrupt interrogation, I choose curiosity.
“Tell me about your sister.”
Sadie’s smile drops, her lips pressing into a thin line. I immediately regret bringing it up but not enough to backtrack my question. She has helped me and Sophia process our trauma in more ways than one. Whatever baggage or demons Sadie has with her family, I want to be the one to help her through them.
Her eyes drop to her lap and her finger slowly moves around the rim of her wineglass. After she takes a deep breath, she looks back up at me and begins to explain.
“Willow is my youngest sibling. Growing up, I took care of all my siblings but she’s the one I spent most of my time with. She needed me the most.” Sadie shrugs one shoulder, a half-smile tugging at her lips, but her finger still fidgets with the top of her wineglass. “I wouldn’t say we’re close, but she’s the only one of my siblings I still keep in touch with.”
A million questions run through my mind at her brief explanation. Sadie is the oldest of six children and she onlysometimesspeaks to one of them? What does she mean she had to let go of the rest? Why would anyone want to separate themselves from such a remarkable woman?
My voice is gentle when I speak. “You mentioned her getting engaged was complicated. Is that because you aren’t in touch with the rest of your siblings?”
Sadie takes a sip of her wine and I do the same, not wanting to make her feel pressured at all to answer before she’s ready.
“That’s definitely part of it. Willow invited me to the engagement party but the thought of seeing everyone…I’m not sure it would be worth it.” She pauses, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. I wait patiently until she begins speaking again. “I don’t really speak to my parents anymore either. They call on holidays but they always take those opportunities to remind me how much of a disappointment I am to the family.”
Anger blurs my vision. How the fuck can a parent say thatto their child? It’s one thing to be absent, Sophia has to deal with the effects of that daily, but to be absentandspew that bullshit? I’d love to meet her parents and tell them to fuck right off.
“You’re not a disappointment, Sadie. Not to me. Not to anyone who actually matters.” My words come out soft and urgent, protectiveness rushing through me.
Sadie’s eyes soften at my comment. Her hand lifts off the couch but she seems to think better of whatever she was about to do and takes another sip of her wine.
“I know that. Most of the time I know that.” Her words trail off and a look of uncertainty crosses her face. I’m not sure what to do or say. Her parents sound terrible, but I’m curious what happened with her siblings.
“And the rest of your family? You said you don’t talk to them much either?”
