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Sadie’s smile turned up higher on the corner as her gaze met mine, and the thought settled on me that maybe she’d reconsidered.
“We’ve shared a lot of amazing times, Zack, but I feel like I’m just a ball of drama, and you deal with enough of that in your day job.”
“That’s not how I feel, though, Sadie.” We kept walking down a gravel path leading into the woods on my property.
She shrugged and sucked in a deep breath. “I know. But it’s just not the right time.”
I shook my head but stayed quiet as we walked deeper into the woods.
“Of course, Elena told my parents about Tim.” She glanced over at me. “So, they’re completely panicked, and my dad is kicking himself for never reporting him to the authorities.”
I shook my head. “No one could have predicted that he’d just lie in waiting.”
“Yeah. I almost forgot about him, to be honest.”
I laughed. “Don’t let him hear that. That will only make the little man more onery.”
She slowed and pushed her hands into her puffy pink coat pockets. “Do you think it’s crazy that I want to surround myself with people who are dealing with trauma?” Sadie scanned the leaf-littered forest floor and brought her eyes to mine.
“No. I don’t think it’s unbelievable at all. I think it will probably bring comfort.”
“There are days like today when I feel like I’m just a sucker. Like I don’t see things coming, and then I fall for life’s tricks.”
She kicked some muddy leaves with her boot and shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m just a hot mess, Zack. And I know you know it. You deal with high-profile celebrities and politicians who have their act together, and then there’s me.”
I tipped her chin up with my thumb until she brought her gaze to mine.
“Sadie, you’ve dealt with more than any of these people have dealt with. Most of my days are filled with perceived threats. You’ve been kidnapped. You’ve faced death straight on. I’ve never for a minute thought you were a hot mess. But just for the record, if you were the definition of a hot mess, you certainly make it look sexy.”
She chuckled. “That’s what is so amazing about you, Mr. Parker. You always make me feel worthy. Like what I have to say matters.”
Shock spread through me.
“Of course, it matters. Who ever said it didn’t?”
“Well, come to think of it… Tim. He’d always belittle what I said or how I felt. He’d made me feel so small, and at that age, you know, a girl listens to what a boyfriend says. I remember one time I’d gotten a 3.9 on a paper instead of a 4.0, but I was so relieved because I’d spent the night before the paper was due out with him and thought I’d bomb.” She swayed back and forth at the memory. “And all he said was that he thought I was smarter than that.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah. He’d constantly tell me I was too fat or didn’t have enough muscle or definition in my abs or whatever. I mean, now if I guy told me that—”
“They’d leave in a neck brace.” I chuckled.
“Exactly. But he just knew how to push my buttons. If I were out with my friends or Elena, he’d message me nonstop, belittle what I was doing, tell me I’d never make anything of myself.” She let out a sigh. “But now, I feel like maybe he’s right. I don’t even know what I want to do any longer. I mean, owning a therapy ranch is a dream, not a reality.”
“It can be a reality, Sadie. I can help you make it happen.”
She nodded and took a deep breath as she looked away.
Rage flooded my veins. That man would pay.
One way or another.
My way or Jaxson’s.
Tim Venson would never have a chance to destroy Sadie’s spirit again.
Chapter Thirteen
