She sniffled. “I was so stupid. I was too young and stupid to see it until now. Ethan, I get it. I’m done.” The sadness was overwhelming and Sadie knew even without seeing her that Emory was crying. Her heart was breaking for Emory.
“Emory, I didn’t know. You didn’t…you never said…I didn’t know.” He rushed the words out with complete sincerity.
“Would it have mattered? You know now, Ethan, does it change anything between us?” Her sobs grew louder. Poor Emory.
“Em, please stop crying. You’re killing me here.”
Her voice was so low, so vulnerable. “Does it change anything, Ethan?”
There was silence. Not a word was spoken. Come on, Ethan, say something to her.
Seconds passed in silence.
Emory snorted and her tone dripped with disdain. “Yeah, that’s what I thought! Forget it, Ethan, forget we ever had this conversation.”
One set of footsteps ascended down the hall and then stopped. Sadie mashed her ear closer to the door. The silence continued as she placed her hands on the door. Who left? She assumed it was Emory. The footsteps returned, coming back to the bathroom door.
Ethan whispered softly, “Em, I’m so…” and then silence. He stopped mid-sentence.
Sadie couldn’t hear anything. What were they doing? Did they leave? This was so strange. She cracked the door slightly and peeked through. Sadie froze, her eyes widened and she held her breath. Oh my God! She blinked and her lips quirked up.
Ethan and Emory were locked in a passionate kiss. Their hands were all over one another. His hands were in her hair, trailing down her spine, sweeping over her ass and her hands were around his waist pulling him into her, one hand gliding up his chest to his neck, curling her fingers through his hair. Her legs were straining on her toes. His arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her body up to him. All the while, their lips fused together in a frantic desperate kiss. A soft moan, a deep groan, their bodies stroked one another.
Sadie slowly and very quietly closed the door behind her. She leaned into the door again. Wow! Go Emory! That was hot. She was a little aroused watching them. The chemistry between those two was explosive. Sadie heard light footsteps and she pressed her head against the door once more.
Emory’s voice was composed and even, almost void of emotion. All traces of vulnerability were gone. “Now I’m done…try and forget this conversation.”
Pounding steps descended down the hall.
“Fuck,” Ethan muttered. Sadie could her Ethan’s footsteps retreat down the hall.
Seconds later Sadie heard a sinister giggle. Nina, the bitch.
When she made her way back to the dining room table, everyone had taken their seats. There was a single empty seat between Stone and T that she assumed was meant for her. She walked to the end of the table. There were also two more empty seats at the opposite end. She noticed Emory and Roxanne were nowhere to be seen.
She took her seat between Stone and T. Stone was leaning on the table with his elbows, listening to something his cousin Will was saying. When she rested her hand on his thigh, his arm came off the table and his hand wrapped around hers. She didn’t know why she did it, maybe she wanted him to know she was there. Or maybe she was just trying to stake claim. After all, evil cousin Nina was across from Stone and she was currently fixated on him. Sadie looked over to Ethan, who was seated next to Nina. He looked uncomfortable.
Behind her, the front door opened and slammed shut. Sadie’s back was to the hallway so she couldn’t see who came in but everyone across the table looked up.
“Sorry everyone, BFF emergency,” Roxanne said with a fake laugh.
“Is everything okay with Emory?” There was concern in John’s voice.
She rounded the table and passed behind John.
“Yeah, family thing, you know. She sends her apologies.” She shrugged as if it was no big deal and took her seat. Sadie looked at Ethan, who was staring at Roxanne. His face read a combination of concern and guilt. Roxanne never looked at him.
“All right, then let’s join hands for the blessing of the food, shall we…” John put out his hands in either direction.
Stone brought their clasped hands up to the table and to her left was T’s hand being offered to her. She gently put her hand in his. His hands were hard and calloused, and he barely held hers. They all bowed their heads and John began his blessing.
An hour later, after too much food, too many laughs and a lot of teasing, dinner was officially done. Sadie had always been a light eater but she definitely gorged on this amazing meal. Everything was so good. Everyone sat around still talking and some even picking at their plates. Sadie couldn’t eat another bite.
Dinner had been great with a few uncomfortable moments.
“So, Sadie how long are you visiting for?” Stone’s other aunt asked.
“I’m not sure,” Sadie answered, feeling extremely awkward. Stone had asked her to stay but they hadn’t talked further about it.
“Well, we hope you can stay long enough for us to get to know you better.” She smiled.
Then his cousin Ryan asked what Sadie did for a living.
“I’m a waitress.” Sadie took a deep breath. She was not used to being the center of attention.
His Aunt Judy chimed in. “Well then, you must be a hard worker, Sadie, because that’s no easy job.” She nodded. Sadie smiled back at her in a silent thank you.
The tension between Roxanne and Ethan was pretty thick. He tried to engage and include her in conversation but she remained quiet, at times she
