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Sadie edged closer to me and I could see that in the flickering light of the candles, her eyes were tear-filled, glistening tawny, hazel brown, and bright, forest-green. Her plump bottom lip trembled as she tried not to cry and I reached out, tucking her dark hair behind her ear, and thumbing away the tear that slid down her round cheek.
“I’m sorry too,” Sadie bowed her head, letting out a breath and a hiccupping sob all at once. “I just can’t think of losing you, not now. I don’t understand it, but I know that I was so angry at you for risking your life for mine. You’re too important—”
“You’re important, Sadie.” I took the food from her hands and put it on the table, pulling her into my lap. “I’m sorry, but you have to understand that to me, you will always come before me, no matter what.”
Sadie tilted her head so that our foreheads touched, and her nose brushed mine before she sat up. “And I’ll always put you first, so I guess that puts us at a standstill, huh, Connor Lennox?”
“Uh, no…” I started, ready to plunge into a tangent of retorts.
Sadie’s smile was warm, and her hand slid up my neck and pressed over my lips. “You’ve made your point. You love me and I love you.”
I wanted to keep protesting my point which was that I would always protect her over anyone else, but Sadie was cozy in my lap and I could feel my lips brush against the warm weight of her palm. I could hear her breathing, slow and steady against my chest, and feel the pulse in her hand, with her thumb over my cheekbone. I stopped talking and let my mouth rest before I pressed a kiss to her palm, looking at her as she blinked at me. Her eyes glittered bright hazel, pretty like a picture in the back of my mind.
“Are we going to eat now?” Sadie moved her hand away, cupping my face. “I’m starving.”
“I can think of other things I’d like to do on this couch,” I waggled my eyebrows and then pulled a face when she punched me lightly in the arm.
“Let me eat first or you’ll have to face the wrath of my hanger,” Sadie told me and slid off of my lap, curling up with her cheeseburger beside me on the couch.
I shook my head, throwing my hands up in mock despair. “I’ve been rejected for a cheeseburger and a handful of wedges. Will the humiliation never end?”
“I think you’ll live.” Sadie grinned back at me, tucking into her food without restraint.
I smiled back at her and grabbed my own burger and sat back, watching Sadie’s corny vampire show, but mostly just watching Sadie herself. She was so damn beautiful. There had been so many women in my life, in and out like a revolving door. None of them had ever compared to Sadie, though, and I had a sneaking suspicion that none ever would. Maybe there didn’t have to be an after, though.
Sadie finished her sandwich and fell back against the couch cushions, rubbing her belly in a satisfied sort of way.
“That good, huh?” I asked, smiling sideways at her.
She nodded and moved around, tucking herself into my lap sideways. “Maureen’s seems to have a knack for that.”
“Thank you for everything, Connor really,” she said softly, clutching her hand over my thigh and breathing softly into the fabric of my sweatpants as she lay in my lap.
I felt chills over my skin at the warmth of her breath.
“So, you’re not mad about anything anymore, I guess? Are we good here?” I asked, leaning over a little to put my food on the table and wipe my hands. I ran my fingers through her soft hair absentmindedly and she sighed in contentment at my touch.
Sadie reached up, touching her fingers to my cheek from where her head was in my lap. “After Oli yelled at me for being mad at you, I realized I was only upset because I was scared. I didn't want to think about what might have happened.”
“Oliver yelled at you for me? Did he really?” For some reason, the thought of Oliver defending me made me insanely happy. Apparently, I had her family’s approval.
“Oh, for sure, he went off on me when I called him to let him know everything,” Sadie rolled her eyes fondly at her brother’s antics. “He said you obviously cared about me and that the only reason I was mad was because I loved you.”
At that, I had to smile down at her. “Well, yeah, he’s right.”
“We have to go back to the studio tomorrow, you know,” Sadie muttered, looking away. I could feel her tense up on my lap and I moved a calming hand down her neck, brushing over the soft, pale skin there. She closed her eyes and then looked up at me. There was worry in her gaze.
