Chapter 11 Sadie
SADIE
The bar is loud enough to drown out all the thoughts from the week. Being here was definitely not planned and when I texted my sister and told her to meet me here, she sent back laughing emojis and a gif of a pregnant woman. But then a follow-up text.
Kylie: Glad to see you deviating from the track.
Sitting here alone wasn't on my list of things to do today, but I needed a breather.
We had another rehearsal for the Christmas gala, but halfway through, I noticed one of the kids and Danny were both missing from the lineup.
I scanned the room, then walked out into the hallway, looking for them.
I spotted Danny crouched down, talking to a figure crumpled against the lockers, his body hiccupping with a few sobs.
I looked at the ground and saw two of the mistletoe balls broken at the boy’s feet.
"Hey, buddy. It’s fine, you're not in trouble," Danny said, his voice low and even-toned for only the two of them to hear. He was kneeling, so they were on the same level, keeping some distance between them. The boy, whom I recognized as being in Danny’s class, slowly let his breath even out as he stopped crying. “It’s okay to feel big feelings. I’m right here with you. ”
I froze mid-step and watched the interaction. The safe space Danny gave the boy was different from his usual fun, loud “I’m everyone's friend” vibe he usually gave off. He stayed with the boy, waiting until he calmed down, picking up the pieces of the broken ornaments.
Something shifted inside me because I've seen this same interaction with me. The calm breathing tactics that I didn't realize he was doing until after I had gotten over the anxiety that crept in. I’ve seen others try this, but they always rushed in too fast. Danny didn’t rush in and fix; he stayed patient, and that was everything.
The bartender refills my drink, and I sit back, glancing around the place, which is decorated for Christmas.
The lights are strung, stockings dangle, and red and green plastic flowers decorate the tables.
I think about how much I love it here in Starlight Bay, especially during Christmas, when the front door opens. I feel him before I even see him.
Danny walks in, and he takes up all the air in the place.
He has such an easy way about him, and people gravitate toward him.
He’s a likable, fun guy. He says hello to a couple, then scans the room, and our eyes meet.
I can’t even pull out my phone fast enough to text my sister.
I’m wondering if she told him I was here alone.
He approaches and grabs the empty seat next to me. “What are you doing here?”
I snort into my drink, then clear my throat, side-eyeing him. “She texted you, didn’t she?”
He shrugs. “I plead the fifth.” He nods to the bartender, who comes over and makes small talk before bringing him a beer and a shot.
“Whoa. Going hard tonight, huh?”
His lips twitch as he takes the shot, then chases it with the beer. “Why do you bait me?”
I roll my eyes but cover my smile with my glass. I’m on my second glass of wine, and because I didn't eat, they’re hitting faster than usual. If I want to keep my wits about me, I need to slow this train down.
He sits back and crosses his arms. “So, is the gala still on track to ruin us emotionally?”
“Define on track.”
He takes a long pull from his beer. “Only if you define emotionally.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Define us.”
That gets a grin out of him. “Look at you, all sharp and witty. Did I show up during your villain era?”
“You put me in my villain era.”
He raises his glass. “Well, then. To your inevitable descent into chaos.”
“To your inevitable involvement in it.” I clink mine against his.
We fall into an easy rhythm of conversation mixed with banter, just like old times, and he’s my best friend again.
There’s lots of talk about the mayor liking the mistletoe placements, the food vendor who insists on calling me “Miss Sadie” like I’m a kindergarten teacher, and the very real possibility that my sister will go into labor during the gala.
“I could be the doctor on call.”
I almost choke on my drink. “Do that and Matt will kick your ass.”
He shrugs. “I could do it if I had to. I’ve taken all those CPR courses for the school.”
I burst into laughter. “Hmm. CPR and delivering a baby are completely different. But I've no doubt you could do it. You’d just slap on that dumb smile and cute dimple, and the baby would just jump into your arms, right?”
“You think my smile’s dumb?” he asks in faux-offense.
I glance at him. “You know how to use it to get everything you want. Don’t act like you don’t know it.”
His expression relaxes. “You remember the last time we were here?” he asks, playing with the coaster his beer came on.
I glance toward the booth in the corner. “Yeah. We danced to that god-awful cover band. You spilled beer on my shirt.”
“You looked hot in a wet-T-shirt-contest kind of way.”
I smirk. “You said it made me look like I survived a bar fight.”
“I stand by that. You pulled it off.”
“You were just distracted by my see-through shirt.”
He leans in slightly, his voice low. “You’ve always looked good in a little chaos.”
And there it is. Those one-liners that make me fall each time. Those one-liners that make me remember the fun, the calm, the silly, all the things that made being with Danny some of the best times I’ve ever had, once I let myself allow it.
He continues, “You still kissed me that night.”
I don't say anything because I remember that night.
Our plan was dinner and drinks. But then this cover band started to play, and it was fun singing along with the old songs.
He pulled me from the booth, and I fought him as he tried to pull me to the dance floor, so he began to twirl me right by our table.
I got lost in the fun of it, the feeling of this man looking at me like I was his everything.
And then he spilled the beer, and I almost lost it.
It felt like everyone was looking at me. And all he did was pull me close, take my hair out of my ponytail, shake out my curls, and then wrap his arms around me, covering the spill and continuing to dance.
“Sadie,” he says, his voice softer now. I look at him and remember all the ways we were good together.
My phone buzzes against the bar, but I ignore it, quickly letting my thoughts come together. “You walked here, right?”
He nods while watching me intensely.
“Come on,” I say, sliding off my stool. “You can walk me home.”
I don’t look back. I know he’s following.