SADIE
“Sadie, are you gonna go swimming?”Lexi jumped up and down, clearly excited about the prospect of going in the pool.
“No. I didn’t bring my swim suit.”And there was no way that I’d get into a bathing suit now that there is a very good possibility that your dad is here.I kept that last bit to myself.
“I’m wearing mine.” She lifted her blue tank top and revealed a pink and white ruffled suit beneath it.
“Lexi!” The birthday girl Hannah waved from the pool. “Lexi! Come in!”
“Bye, Sadie!” Lexi gave me one more hug before running off.
As happy as I was to see Lexi her arrival meant that a certain someone was most likely here. I did my best to look casual and nonchalant as I scanned the party for Mr. Smolder. My hope was to clock him and then keep it moving, but as I scanned past him our eyes locked and my plan was foiled. He was staring directly at me.
My cheeks heated at the intensity in his stare, and I suddenly felt even more out of place than I already had. I wanted to leave, but since I’d just told Maddox that I’d hang out not even five minutes ago, I felt like a quick exit now would make it obvious I was leaving because of Alex Vaughn’s arrival.
But that didn’t help the fact that I could not feel more out of my element for so many reasons. For one, this house had to be close to ten million dollars, at least. I rented a studio apartment above my bakery.
Also, everyone here had kids. As much as I loved being a fur-mom to Eeyore and Achoo it was not the same thing as being a mom to humans.
And last but certainly not least, the women here looked like they should be in the cast ofThe Real Housewives of San Franciscoif that existed. They were all beautiful, stylish, tall and thin.
I was a curvy girl wearing jeans and a white Sweet Temptations T-shirt. I’d have dressed differently if I thought I would have been seen by guests. But I’d been under the impression that this was just a pre-party drop-off.
It wasn’t.
The party was already in full swing when I arrived at the time I’d been asked to come.
As generous and kind as it was for Maddox to offer for me to hang out, I was really wishing I would have declined his offer, dropped a stack of cards next to the cupcake tower, and skedaddled.
My teeth were biting the inside of my cheek so hard I was surprised that I wasn’t drawing blood when I felt a buzz in my pants pocket. Grateful for the distraction I pulled out my phone and saw that it was a text from Charli.
Charli:Update? Any Mr. Smolder sightings?
As soon as I filled Charli in on my delivery today, she’d gone into full Alex Vaughn watch mode. This was the third text she’d sent. After I told her that Mr. Smolder was Lexi’s dad, she was like a dog with a bone and wasn’t letting it go.
For once, it wasn’t me romanticizing a relationship. Charli was sure that “fate” was trying to bring us together. Since fate and I weren’t on speaking terms after Sam cleared out my bank account, I doubted that it was the one responsible for this circumstance.
Me:Yes. He’s here.
I’d barely pressed send when bubbles appeared, indicating she was writing back.
Charli:Yes!!! Get you in there, get you some!
Charli really had a way with words. I sighed and pushed my phone into my back pocket as a statuesque blonde approached the tower of cupcakes.
“Oh, these look delicious.”
I smiled proudly. “Thank you.”
“Are these yours?” Her French-tipped nail swirled above the top of the tower.
“Yes. Hi, I’m Sadie.”
“Leanne Winchester.”
She said her name as if it was supposed to mean something to me. It didn’t.
“What flavor are they?”
