She shakes her head while swallowing down another sip of wine. “Not at all. Growing up with our parents was unbearable. When we were little, I did my best to tell my brothers and sisters that they were just busy with their jobs and doing their best to take care of us whenever they’d miss a baseball game or school play. It got to a point where my siblings were desperate for their attention. I don’t blame them for falling in line and becoming lawyers and doctors, professions acceptable to my parents. They were starving for their love, even if it was conditional.”
“You weren’t as desperate. You weren’t willing to lose who you were to appease them.”
Finally, Sadie smiles again. “No, I wasn’t.”
“That makes you strong, Sadie.”
She finishes her glass of wine and sets it on the table. She pulls her legs up in front of her and wraps her arms around her knees. “I don’t feel strong after that text.”
I hate how defeated she sounds. I resist the urge to pull her into my arms and comfort her. “Why don’t you feel strong?Because it affected you? You’re allowed to feel your feelings. I’ve heard you tell Sophia that a dozen times.” My attempt to lighten the mood seems to work, but only briefly.
Sadie chuckles to herself but shakes her head. “I hate how they still have any type of control over me or my emotions. The thought of seeing them all together, celebrating my sister, who is the furthest thing from a disappointment in their eyes… Well, it kind of brought back a lot of terrible memories for me. I want to be there for Willow, but I’m afraid spending a weekend with my family will erase all the progress I’ve made in the years without them. The party is in Chicago, and they don’t even know I’m in Green Bay now. I could easily drive down there tomorrow, but I’m not sure if it would be worth it.”
I can’t blame her for being scared. Every time Claire texts and says she’s in town with no notice, I feel myself reverting back to my old ways. The thought of Sadie feeling inadequate stirs something inside of me. I want to shield her from her family’s judgment and make her see just how amazing of a person she is.
I finish my wine and set my glass next to Sadie’s on the table. Her chin is resting on top of her knees now, uncertainty pooling in her eyes. She looks smaller than I’ve ever seen her.
“It’s impossible not to think of the past sometimes, Sadie. The past shaped us into who we are today. And you, Sadie, are stronger, braver, and more remarkable than you give yourself credit for.”
She lets my words sink in, and nods once. She turns her head to look at the fire and we sit in silence for a beat. Suddenly, an idea formulates in my head. I’m not sure she’ll think it’s a good idea, but I have to try.
“I’ll go to the engagement party with you.”
Sadie’s eyes snap to mine. “What?”
“I said I’ll go to the party with you.”
Her mouth falls open and she appears dumbstruck by myoffer. I want to show up to that party with Sadie on my arm and show those assholes just how amazing she is.
“Don’t let them control you anymore, Sadie. We should go to this party together andshow themthey don’t hold any power over you anymore.”
Sadie’s hand finds her necklace, a nervous habit she can’t seem to break, and her eyes search mine as she tries to make sense of what I’m proposing.
“But what about the playoffs?”
“You said it yourself, the party’s in Chicago. We have practice tomorrow morning but after that I’m free. We could easily make it to the party and be back before meetings the next day.”
She chews on her bottom lip and I hold my breath, hoping like hell she says yes.
“You’d do that for me?’
Fuck.This woman has no idea the lengths I would go to make her happy. Besides, the thought of telling her family exactly how I feel about them is too good of an opportunity to pass up.
“It would be my honor.”
She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
Sadie opens her eyes and when she looks at me, the uncertainty I saw in them a moment ago is gone. Instead, there’s a quiet burning in there that mirrors the fire burning beside us. Her gaze holds mine, unflinching, and I catch the faintest hitch to her breath.
Every instinct screams at me to close the space between us, to let my fingers trace the line of her jaw. Restraint claws at me, warning me to stop. But the air still hums between us, heavy and electric.
I inch closer, my desire at war with my restraint. The line between control and surrender is trembling under our gazes. I reach out and push Sadie’s hair out of her face like I wantedto do earlier. She leans into my touch and closes her eyes. The pull between us is unbearable.
Sadie stays like that, her head against my hand, shoulder pressing against my arm. We stare at each other, a silent confession passing between us that neither of us can stop this for much longer.
Niko’s hand against my cheek is stirring something inside of me I’ve been trying to bury ever since our kiss. This energy pulsing between us is too strong to deny anymore. Niko’s aura is alight with bright oranges and red, letting me know he feels the desire burning between us too. There’s also a pulsing happening between my legs that has me ready to climb into his lap again.
And Niko wants me to stay. He told me there will always be a place for me here. I’m trying not to read too much into it, but it felt like he meant it in more than just a childcare capacity. God, I hope that’s what he was insinuating.
