6. Sadie
CHAPTER SIX
Sadie
The second the scent of warm maple and cinnamon hit me, I felt sixteen again. Back when opening up didn’t scare me so much…
Sweet Maple Bakery was just a few doors down from Page Turners, and stepping inside was like walking straight into the past. The tiny shop hadn’t changed one bit… the same glass display cases brimming with golden croissants, flaky turnovers, and thick, icing-dripped cinnamon rolls.
Pale blue walls were lined with shelves of homemade jams, honey, and little bags of spiced pecans from Mrs. Miller’s farm. A tiny chalkboard sign still hung by the counter, announcing the daily specials in loopy cursive.
And the same damn maple donuts.
Kai’s hand brushed against mine as he reached for the door, holding it open like it was second nature.
The warmth of his skin made my stomach flip.
I stepped inside, and a wave of nostalgia hit so hard it nearly knocked me over.
Harriet Cooper stood behind the counter, her apron dusted with flour and her silver hair pulled into a bun.
The second she saw us, her face lit up.
“Well, look who it is,” she said, beaming. “Sadie Collins. I haven’t seen you in ages.”
I smiled, feeling a little guilty. “It’s been a while.”
“Too long,” she chided, wiping her hands on her apron before leaning over the counter to pull me into a warm hug. She smelled like sugar and butter and home. “It’s good to have you back, sweetheart.”
Kai cleared his throat. “I’m here too, y’know.”
Harriet rolled her eyes. “You’re here every other week, Kai. You’re not special.”
I snorted, and he shot me a look before turning back to her. “You got any maple donuts left?”
She scoffed.
“Of course we do. You think I’d run out of your favorite?” She grabbed a small paper bag and winked at me. “And I’ll throw in an extra for old times’ sake.”
We sat in our spot by the window, warm donuts in hand.
The golden glaze was sticky between my fingers, the smell bringing back memories so fast my head spun.
Kai took a bite and groaned. “Still the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”
I hummed in agreement, chewing slowly. “Remember when we used to sneak out of school just to come here?”
Kai smirked. “Sneak? You say that like we didn’t bribe your math teacher with a chocolate croissant every Friday.”
I laughed. “Mr. Langley loved us.”
“He loved free pastries.”
“True!”
The smile on my face stretched wider than it had done for a very long time.
“Remember that one summer we spent every damn day here?” Kai asked, his voice softer now.
I nodded, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “You mean the summer we spent trying to convince the Coopers to name a donut after us?”
Kai grinned. “The ‘Sadie & Kai Special.’”
I shook my head, laughing. “It was just a maple donut with extra icing.”
“And rainbow sprinkles,” he added. “Can’t forget the sprinkles.”
I took another bite, the warmth spreading through me.
That summer had been one of the best of my life. Lazy mornings at Sweet Maple, sticky fingers, and sugar-coated grins. Afternoons riding on the back of Kai’s motorcycle, wind in my hair, laughter in my lungs. Nights lying under the stars, dreaming of a future I wasn’t sure I believed in.
“I miss it,” I admitted quietly, staring down at my half-eaten donut.
Kai’s gaze was heavy on me.
“Yeah.” His voice was low, rough. “Me too.”
I met his eyes, and for a second, it was like nothing had changed.
Like we were still those kids, full of hope and sugar and big, reckless dreams.
But we weren’t.
And no matter how good this felt, the past wasn’t something we could ever get back.
Kai must’ve sensed where my mind had gone because he leaned back, stretching his arms over his head. “I still think we should’ve gotten that donut on the menu.”
I snorted. “You just wanted your name in the bakery.”
He smirked. “And? Don’t pretend you wouldn’t have loved seeing ‘The Sadie & Kai Special’ in big letters up on that board.”
I rolled my eyes, popping the last bite of my donut into my mouth. “Maybe just a little.”
Kai grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners in that way that always made my stomach flip.
“C’mon, let’s walk.”
The air was crisp when we stepped outside, the warmth of the bakery lingering on my skin.
It felt familiar.
Safe.
We fell into step easily, like no time had passed at all.
Our shoulders brushed as we walked, and every touch sent little sparks dancing over my skin.
“So, what now?” Kai asked, shoving his hands into his pockets. “You really sticking around for good? Or just passing through?”
I hesitated.
This wasn’t a job interview. I needed to be honest with him this time.
“I... don’t know yet.”
He glanced at me. “You’ve got people here who’d like you to stay.”
I swallowed, my chest tightening. “Yeah?”
His gaze softened. “Yeah.”
Silence stretched between us, the air buzzing with feelings I wasn’t sure I was ready to name.
I turned my head slightly, watching him out of the corner of my eye. The years had been good to Kai. His jaw was sharper, his shoulders broader, but his eyes—those warm gray eyes—were still the same.
I looked away before I got caught staring. “You ever think about leaving?”
He shrugged. “I used to, before The Foundry. But Medford’s home.” He nudged my arm playfully. “Used to be yours, too.”
My heart clenched. “Yeah.”
Kai stopped walking, and suddenly, I felt the absence of his warmth. When I turned to face him, the look in his eyes nearly knocked the breath out of me.
“I meant what I said, you know. I missed you.”
Something inside me cracked wide open.
I opened my mouth—whether to argue or agree, I wasn’t sure—but before I could get a word out, Kai was closing the distance between us.
His hand brushed my cheek, his thumb tracing the edge of my jaw.
My pulse roared in my ears, and my breath came short and fast.
And then he kissed me.
It was slow at first, hesitant, like he was waiting for me to pull away.
But I didn’t.
I couldn’t.
The second I kissed him back, everything else fell away.
My fingers curled into his jacket, tugging him closer. His hands slid to my waist, gripping me like he was afraid I’d slip away.
It was familiar and new all at once.
Sweet and aching and full of the years we’d lost.
When we finally broke apart, I was breathless.
Kai rested his forehead against mine, his hands still warm on my waist.
“Still feels the same,” he murmured.
I swallowed hard. “Yeah.”
But that was the problem, wasn’t it?
Because it wasn’t the same.
And we weren’t kids anymore.
The past was gone, and I wasn’t sure if I could let myself believe in the future.
Kai exhaled, his hands slipping away slowly like he was reluctant to let go.
“Guess I should tell you…” he started, rubbing the back of his neck. “You got the job.”
I blinked, thrown off by the sudden shift. “Wait. What?”
He chuckled. “Samuel made the final decision, but yeah. You’re officially hired at The Foundry.”
I let out a slow breath, my emotions a tangled mess. “That’s… complicated.”
Kai’s lips twitched. “No kidding.”
I looked down the street, my mind spinning.
I’d assumed I didn’t stand a chance, but I really did need the work.
What else was I going to do?
“So?” Kai nudged my shoulder. “You in?”
I let out a small, dry laugh. “Guess I don’t have much of a choice.”
He grinned. “Good. Because I wasn’t letting you run off that easily.”
Kai walked me home after that, just like he used to.
The streets were quiet, the only sounds the distant hum of crickets and the soft shuffle of our footsteps on the pavement. For a little while, it had felt like old times… like nothing had changed. Like we were still two kids sneaking out late, stealing moments before reality caught up to us.
But reality was catching up fast.
I stole a glance at Kai, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets, his expression easy.
Did he know?
Had Samuel told him about the night we spent together?
Guilt churned in my stomach.
It wasn’t like I owed Kai an explanation. He wasn’t mine, not anymore.
But still… I hated the idea of hurting him.
Of complicating things even more than they already were.
I hesitated, debating whether to say something.
But what was I supposed to say? Hey, by the way, I slept with Samuel last night. Hope that’s not weird for you.
Yeah, that would go over well.
Kai nudged my arm, pulling me from my thoughts. “You okay? You got real quiet all of a sudden.”
I forced a smile. “Yeah. Just... a lot on my mind.”
He nodded like he understood.
Maybe he did.
Maybe he didn’t.
Either way, he didn’t push.
When we reached my foster mother’s house, I paused at the bottom of the steps. “Thanks for walking me home.”
Kai smirked. “Old habits.”
I hesitated before stepping closer, my heart beating too fast. “Kai...”
Fire flickered in his eyes, but he kept his expression neutral. “Yeah?”
I swallowed, the words right there on the tip of my tongue. But instead of saying them, I just shook my head. “Never mind.”
His gaze searched mine for a long moment before he exhaled, nodding. “Get some rest, S.”
And just like that, he was gone, disappearing into the night.
I stood there for a long time, the weight in my chest growing heavier with each passing second.
This was only going to get more complicated.