"It's only eight. She has an hour," Nolan tells him. "She hates waking up early. Just let her sleep."
"I'm up," Saige says, coming out of her room. "Your bad habits have rubbed off on me."
"Morning, baby," Dax says.
"Morning."
"I made you one, too, Saige. It's on the stove."
She side-eyes me before filling a cup of coffee and grabbing the plate. "Is it poisoned?"
"Maybe."
She sighs and pulls out the chair at the end of the table, but Dax stops her before she sits down. "You know the rules, Saige." He pats his leg. "I saved you aseat, princess."
Saige feigns annoyance before pushing her plate next to his and sitting in his lap, but I can tell she likes it. She likes when he babies her.
But I don't. I fucking hate it.
"You look tired," Dax says. "Are you having more nightmares?"
"No, that's because Elias made me go—"
"Saige…" I cut her off, pressing a finger to my lips and shaking my head. "It's a secret."
"Never mind."
"Go where? Secrets don't make friends," Dax says.
"It's just a small secret. I'll tell them when I'm ready, Saige; you don't need to do it for me. I don't think that's a lot to ask, do you?"
Saige shrugs. "I don't think it's that big of a deal."
"Well, it is to me. You keep the secret, and you don't have to do my laundry or my homework anymore. And I'll know if you tell."
"Fine."
"I don't like this," Dax says. "Since when do we keep fucking secrets from each other around here?"
"I have a good reason."
"Saige, let me see your phone, baby," Nolan says, changing the subject.
"I haven't gotten any texts in two days," she tells him. "I checked this morning."
"Well, that's fucking weird," Dax says.
Nolan shrugs. "Maybe…maybe not."
"I'm notcomplaining."
"Well, I'm going to go." Nolan leans over and kisses Saige on the lips. "Bye, baby. I'll see you at the library later, okay?"
"Okay, bye."
"Later," Dax says.
"I've got to go, too." I get up, put my dishes in the dishwasher, and head for the staircase. Dax and Saige start whispering and laughing before I'm even out of earshot. "Don't tell the secret, Saige. I'm so fucking serious."
