10. Sadie
CHAPTER TEN
Sadie
The energy in the bowling alley was electric.
Laughter, cheers, and the occasional groan of defeat echoed through the space as Medford’s most competitive men faced off.
Watching them in action, I could see why this town had such a strong backbone. Each group functioned like a well-oiled machine, years of camaraderie and shared experience woven into every glance, every bit of banter, every subtle shift in body language.
I had forgotten how fun Medford could be.
Adam, always in his element when it came to socializing, had taken it upon himself to introduce me to everyone I hadn’t met yet.
He was good at it too, seamlessly weaving me into conversations, making sure I never felt like an outsider. I was grateful for it, even if I knew part of his motivation was to keep me close.
“Sadie, this is Lila Harper,” Adam said, motioning to the striking brunette beside him. “Graphic designer, all around badass, and my favorite shit-talker.”
“High praise coming from you, Reid." Lila's gaze softened as she looked me over. "It’s good to meet you officially at long last, without my dog causing issues.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
“Well, aren’t you a little cutie?” I crouched down, reaching out to pet Biscuit now that he wasn’t tangled up in my legs.
Biscuit immediately rolled onto his back, his belly up in the air, clearly inviting me to rub it.
I chuckled, stroking the soft fur on his stomach. “Alright, alright. You win.”
Lila watched us, amused. “See? He’s got everyone wrapped around his little paw.”
“Now, Aurora,” Adam continued, shifting to the blonde standing beside Lila, “she owns Page Turners. If you need a book, she’s your girl.”
Aurora smiled warmly. “It’s nice to meet you, Sadie. If you ever want to stop by the shop, I’d be happy to help you find something.”
“I’d love that,” I admitted. “It’s been way too long since I had a good book to escape into.”
“Then we’ll make sure you leave with a stack,” Aurora promised.
Next, Adam led me to Samantha, the friendly barista from The Brewed Bean Café, and Morgan, a ranger who seemed to be as comfortable in the wilderness as she was in a room full of people. They were both easy to talk to, making me feel like I’d known them for years instead of mere minutes.
“This town is something else,” I murmured as Adam led me back toward our group.
Adam grinned, clearly pleased. “Yeah, Medford has a real way of making people feel at home.”
I could see it.
Feel it.
The deep-rooted connections, the way people looked out for each other, the kind of town where everyone had a place.
Maybe even me.
I’d left thinking I didn’t belong anywhere, and now…
Well, now I wasn’t so sure.
As we made our way back toward the bar, Morgan slid into step beside me, her gaze assessing but not unkind. “So, what do you think so far?”
I let out a breath. “Honestly? I forgot how much I missed this.”
“It’s easy to forget when you’re away,” she agreed. “But it gets under your skin. This town… it really is special.”
The way she said it sent a little shiver down my spine.
I liked the women I’d met tonight. They were effortlessly confident and settled.
Like they weren’t just existing here—they belonged.
I hadn’t seen that look in someone in a very long time.
My life before had been so different from this.
“Whoa, wait…” I narrowed my eyes as I saw something that shocked me. “I thought Lila was with Jaxon… but now she’s kissing Colt.”
“They’re all together,” Morgan replied with a one-shouldered shrug. “In a harem. Lila, Colt, Jaxon, and Ryan.”
“Aurora, too,” Adam joined in. “With the Grady brothers.”
I blinked, my brain scrambling to catch up. “Wait. A harem? As in... they’re all together?”
Morgan smirked, clearly amused by my reaction. “Yeah, that’s exactly what it means.”
I glanced toward where Lila, Jaxon, Colt, and Ryan stood, engaged in easy conversation, their body language exuding a familiarity that I hadn’t paid attention to before.
And Aurora… now that I looked closer, I noticed the way the Grady brothers hovered near her, the effortless affection exchanged between them.
Harems. Plural.
“You’re telling me that’s normal here?” I asked, glancing between Morgan and Adam.
Morgan chuckled. “Depends on what you mean by normal. No one’s passing out pamphlets at the town hall or anything, but yeah. It happens.”
“It works for them,” Adam added with a shrug. “Everyone’s happy.”
Happy .
I tried to process it, but my mind kept snagging on the idea.
I wasn’t na?ve—I’d heard of polyamorous relationships before—but seeing it in practice, right here in small-town Medford, was something else entirely.
Morgan arched a brow, studying me. “That freak you out?”
I hesitated, then shook my head. “No. Just… surprises me. I didn’t think Medford was that progressive.”
Adam let out a soft laugh. “Small towns aren’t always what they seem. People like to talk, sure, but the ones who matter? They just want you to be content.”
I absorbed that, my gaze drifting back to where Jaxon had now slung an arm around Lila’s waist, pressing a kiss to her temple, while Colt and Ryan continued their conversation beside them. There was no jealousy, no tension… just ease.
It was so different from everything I’d ever known.
Morgan nudged me lightly. “You look like you have a million questions.”
“I do,” I admitted, exhaling a laugh. “I just don’t know where to start.”
Was it really that simple? That easy to find a connection strong enough to share? To build a life that worked outside the usual mold?
And why did the idea of it make my heart beat just a little bit faster?
As the night wore on, the energy in the bowling alley began to shift.
The games wrapped up, groups settled into easy conversation, and the initial rush of competition gave way to relaxed camaraderie.
I found myself standing near the bar, sipping my drink as I took it all in.
“You’re thinking too hard,” Adam’s voice came from behind me, smooth and teasing.
I turned to find him closer than I expected, his signature smirk firmly in place. “Am I?”
He nodded, leaning against the bar beside me. “I can practically hear the gears turning. You’re intrigued.”
Feigning nonchalance, I tilted my head. “Maybe.”
He chuckled knowingly. “You’re a terrible liar.”
I rolled my eyes, but the smile tugging at my lips betrayed me. “Fine. I’ll admit it’s… different. I didn’t expect it.”
Adam studied me for a long moment, then lifted a hand, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from my face.
The touch was gentle, lingering just a second longer than necessary, and my breath caught in my throat.
“It’s not for everyone,” he murmured, his gaze locked on mine. “But neither is pretending to want something just because it’s expected.”
The way he said it sent a shiver down my spine.
I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. “And what about you? Do you like breaking expectations?”
His smirk deepened. “I like doing what makes me happy.” His fingers trailed the edge of my jaw before dropping away. “Don’t you?”
I exhaled slowly, my heart thudding a little harder than before.
Adam was always charming, always knew exactly how to turn a simple moment into something more intense.
But this… this felt different.
More pointed.
I wet my lips. “I don’t know. I think I’m still figuring that out.”
Adam’s eyes darkened slightly. “Then maybe it’s time you stopped thinking so much and started feeling.”
The air between us was heavy.
My pulse skittered against my ribs, and I knew— knew —that if I didn’t step away now, this was going to turn into something I couldn’t take back.
But I didn’t move.
Adam was too close. His body radiated warmth, and his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent my thoughts scattering.
He reached out again, his fingers ghosting along my forearm, barely there but enough to make my skin prickle in awareness.
“Just feel , sugar,” he murmured, his voice dropping deeper, rougher.
I did.
I felt everything.
The heat between us. The way his touch left a trail of fire in its wake. The way my body tingled as he slowly leaned in, giving me time to stop him.
I didn’t.
His lips brushed mine, the barest tease of a kiss, testing.
I made a sound—I wasn’t sure if it was surprise or surrender—and that was all it took.
Adam’s hand slid to the back of my neck, fingers tangling in my hair as he deepened the kiss.
His lips were insistent, coaxing, and I melted before I even realized what I was doing, gripping him as if that could anchor me in place.
The world faded.
The noise, the people, the bowling alley… it all dissolved into nothing but the way he felt against me, the way he tasted like a darkly sweet whiskey.
His other hand splayed against my lower back, tugging me closer until there was no space left, no distance between us.
It was reckless. It was intoxicating. It was exactly what I shouldn’t be doing, and yet I couldn’t stop.
Until I opened my eyes.
Until I saw him .
Kai.
Standing across the room, his expression carved from stone, his dark eyes locked onto mine.
He looked as if I’d reached into his chest and torn something vital from him.
The betrayal, the devastation… it was all there, stark and undeniable, even as he schooled his features steadier.
I jerked away from Adam, my breath ragged, my heart hammering against my ribs.
My lips still tingled from the kiss, my body hummed from the aftershocks of his touch, but all of it was drowned out by the wave of panic flooding through me.
What had I done?