Eastern: Actually, I was thinking…maybe we should pause what’s going on between us for a few days.
Us…him and her.
A painful twist in her chest made breathing hard for a moment. She wanted to help him. To helpbothof them and be a part of this fight. But at the same time, this wasn’t about her. Shewasn’t Avery’s mother, so if he thought they should take a break, then she had to agree…didn’t she?
Sadie: Okay. Whatever you think is best.
CHAPTER 17
“Are you avoiding him?”
Sadie wrinkled her nose at Elle’s question. “No. He asked for a pause, so I’m giving him that pause.”
Even if it was the hardest thing she’d ever done. All she wanted to do was navigate the Jamie stuff with Eastern as a team. But he clearly didn’t want that.
They turned the corner and headed down the street. Elle had stopped by the shop to go for a walk and coffee with Sadie while the glaziers replaced the glass for the display cabinets. The fresh air and conversation were definitely needed after what could only be described as a hard week.
Elle frowned at her. “You said Jamie wants her daughter back.”
“That’s what Eastern told me.” Well, not told—texted. They hadn’t talked since that morning. “We’ve texted a little bit over the week, but not much. And the responses I get from him are really short, with not a lot of detail.”
“I’m sorry, Sadie.”
She shook her head. “It’s fine. I don’t want to make this about me. Having Jamie back is big and heavy, and it affects Avery andhim so much, so I want him to be a hundred percent focused on that.”
No matter how much it hurt that she was considered an outsider.
“You must miss Avery.”
“I miss both of them.” So much that some days her heart literally ached. And it had only been a week. “But at the same time, I feel like I shouldn’t miss him as much as I do. We’re not even really dating.”
“Then what are you doing?”
Sex? Companionship? Exploring things between them? Who the hell knew? “I’m not sure.” She shook her head. “You know what I need?”
“For a certain alcoholic, no-good mother to leave Misty Peak?”
“Well, that, and a night of drinks and girl time. I’ve got an unopened bottle of bourbon at home, which would make great apple sours. Are you free this Sunday night?”
“For apple sours? Hell yes, I am. Plus, now that I’ve hired another girl at the café, I have the next day off.”
“Great. I’ll text you my address.” They stopped at Elle’s car. “And because I’ve done nothing but talk about the romance troubles inmylife, you can tell me about yours.”
Elle scoffed. “That will be one short and uneventful conversation.” She pulled open her door. “See you tomorrow night.”
Sadie waited until Elle had pulled away before heading back to the shop. That’s when she finally let the smile drop. This last week had been exhausting. Every second of every day, she’d wanted to pick up her phone and call Eastern. Ask to see him. Ask to see Avery. To go over to their house and just be with them.
But she’d forced herself not to.
She turned back toward Sugar and Spice, only to frown. The glass guys’ van was gone. Had they finished already? They’d told her it would take a couple hours. Had she actually been gone that long?
Reaching the front door, she tried the handle and found it unlocked. But then, of course it was—she hadn’t left a key, and that was the only way to lock it from the outside.
Why on earth would they just leave without her here, or at least without calling her? Particularly when they knew the shop had just been broken into?
She checked her phone in case she’d missed a text or call. Nope. Nothing.
As she stepped inside, her gaze ran over the glass in the display shelves. It was installed, as expected, and it looked great. But jeez, leaving a business unlocked? Were they lazy or just not thinking?
