38. Sadie
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Sadie
I wasn’t sure I could do this.
The thought coiled tight in my chest as I stood in front of Hayley’s house, my fingers twisting in the hem of my sweater. Medford was quiet, the evening settling around us in a familiar hush, but inside me, a storm was raging.
I had faced down worse. Had survived worse. But telling Hayley everything—about the baby, about the men, about Owain Bond—felt impossible in a way I couldn’t quite explain.
I felt Kai’s presence before he touched me, the warmth of him solid and steady at my side. His hand settled comfortingly at the small of my back.
“You’re going to be fine,” he murmured. “Hayley loves you. No matter what.”
Samuel stood nearby, arms crossed, watching me with that quiet intensity of his. “We’re here for you. But if you need space, we’ll give it to you.”
Adam, leaning casually against the garden wall but not fooling anyone, tipped his head toward the door. “And if you change your mind, we’ll figure something else out. No pressure, okay?”
My throat tightened.
They had been doing this all day.
Watching me. Supporting me. Making sure I knew I had options.
It should have made me feel better. And in some ways, it did. But it also made me hyperaware of how much I still didn’t know how to accept.
I exhaled slowly, pressing a hand against my stomach.
They were right. I didn’t have to do this by myself.
But I needed to.
“I want to talk to her alone,” I said finally, my voice steadier than I expected. “At least at first.”
Kai hesitated for only a second before nodding. “Okay.”
Samuel pushed off the wall, stepping closer. “We’ll be right here.”
Adam reached for my hand, his fingers tracing gentle circles against my palm. “We’ve got you, Sadie. No matter what.”
I swallowed hard, nodded, then turned toward the front door.
The knob was cool under my palm. The click of the latch felt deafening. And then, before I could second-guess myself, I stepped inside.
Hayley was already waiting.
She sat in her armchair by the window, hands folded in her lap, her dark eyes on mine the second I entered.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then, finally, she tilted her head. “I thought I could hear you, hovering outside. Come sit with me, sweetheart.”
My breath shook as I crossed the room, lowering myself onto the couch across from her.
Hayley didn’t rush me. She never did.
Instead, she just watched me patiently, like she knew… like she’d known this conversation was coming for a while.
I wet my lips, my fingers curling into the fabric of my sweater. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Hayley nodded, eyes warm. “I figured.”
A lump rose in my throat. “It’s… a lot.”
“I can handle a lot,” she said gently. “Go ahead, sweetheart.”
I inhaled sharply. “I’m pregnant.”
The words came out fast, like if I didn’t force them out now, I never would.
Hayley’s eyes widened slightly. Her lips parted. But she didn’t speak right away.
Didn’t judge.
I gripped my hands together in my lap, bracing myself. “And… it’s not just that.” I hesitated, but I had to say it. “It’s not just one person. It’s three.”
Her brows pulled together slightly, and I rushed to explain.
“I’m with Samuel. And Kai. And Adam.” My voice cracked a little. “And I love them.”
Another pause.
Then Hayley exhaled, her eyes searching mine. “Okay,” she said simply.
I blinked. “Okay?”
She let out a small breath, leaning forward slightly.
“Sadie, I’ve known you for a long time. And I’ve always known that love, real love, scared the hell out of you.
So if you’re telling me you’ve found it, and that these men love you, too?
” She gave me a small, knowing smile. “Then I don’t see a problem. ”
My vision blurred.
I had braced for disappointment. Maybe even anger. But this?
This was acceptance.
Hayley reached across the space between us, resting her hand over mine. “But I get the feeling that’s not all that’s weighing on you.”
I swallowed.
No. It wasn’t.
“I still want to tell you why I came back. I think you deserve to know.”
“Whatever it is, I’m just grateful you’re here.”
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Then, I finally whispered, “That guy, my old boss, send me a message.”
Hayley’s hand tightened over mine. “Tell me.”
I stared down at our joined hands, at the way her fingers curled protectively over mine, and I told her about him again—everything this time.
And then silence.
Hayley exhaled, slow and measured. “I’d kill him if I could.”
A startled, broken laugh escaped me. “You and me both.”
Hayley shook her head, her jaw tight. “So what do you want to do about it?”
The question caught me off guard. I blinked at her, my heart pounding. “What?”
She sat back, folding her arms. “You didn’t come all the way home just to hide from him, Sadie. So tell me… what do you want? Do you want revenge? Justice? A fresh start?” She arched a brow. “Because whatever it is, I’ll back you.”
I swallowed hard. “I don’t know.”
She tilted her head, studying me. “Yeah, you do.”
I let out a slow breath, rubbing my hands over my knees. “I don’t want to waste any more time on him,” I admitted. “I don’t want to let him take up space in my head. I just… I want to move forward. Build a life that has nothing to do with him.”
A slow smile spread across Hayley’s face. “Now, that I can help with.”
I let out a breath, some of the weight on my chest easing.
“Good,” she said. “Because I want to meet these men of yours.”
I blinked. “Right now?”
“Of course right now.” Hayley grinned. “Unless you’re hiding them for dramatic effect?”
Despite myself, I laughed. "No, they are waiting outside."
She stood, crossing the room, and opened the door. Kai, Samuel, and Adam straightened immediately, looking at me first before shifting their focus to Hayley.
Her eyes flicked between them, and then she smirked. “Well, well. It’s a pleasure to meet you all. Though I do believe I already know you,” she added, her gaze settling on Kai.
His lips quirked.
Hayley studied the three of them for a long moment, then stepped aside. “Well, don’t just stand there. Come in.”
The guys hesitated, looking at me first. I gave a small nod, and that was all they needed. They stepped inside, moving carefully, like they weren’t sure what to expect.
Hayley shut the door behind them and crossed her arms.
“Alright,” she said, her sharp gaze flicking between them. “So, which one of you wants to start explaining how this whole thing works?”
Samuel, ever the diplomat, spoke first.
“It’s not complicated,” he said evenly. “We love Sadie. She loves us. We take care of each other.”
Hayley arched a brow. “Sounds simple. But life rarely is.”
“No, it’s not,” Samuel agreed. “But we’re committed to making it work.”
She watched him for a moment longer, then nodded.
“You’re the steady one,” she murmured, almost to herself. “The one who keeps everything from falling apart.”
Adam snorted. “He thinks he does, anyway.”
Samuel shot him an unimpressed look.
Hayley smirked. “And you… you’re the troublemaker.”
He grinned, entirely unbothered. “I prefer to think of myself as the fun one.”
She hummed. “You’re the one who makes her laugh, huh?”
Adam’s smile softened as he glanced at me. “Yeah,” he said. “I try.”
Something flickered in Hayley’s expression… approval, maybe. She turned to Kai, tilting her head. “And of course, you were the first boy she ever loved.”
The air shifted slightly. My face went hot.
Kai didn’t look away from Hayley. “I never stopped.”
Her expression warmed. “Yeah,” she said. “I can see that.”
She exhaled, looking at me now, and then at all of them. Then, finally, she nodded.
“Alright,” she said. “I get it.”
I frowned. “Get what?”
She smirked. “Why you glow when you talk about them.”
I groaned. “Not this again.”
Kai chuckled. Samuel shook his head. Adam beamed.
Hayley grinned. “Relax, sweetheart. I like them. And I really like seeing you happy.” She clapped her hands together. “Well then, I suppose I should feed you all.”
Adam perked up immediately. “I wouldn’t say no to that.”
Samuel shot him an amused look, and Kai simply nodded. “We’d appreciate that.”
I blinked. “Are you sure?”
Hayley scoffed. “Of course I’m sure. I need to properly interrogate these men before I give them my full stamp of approval, don’t I?”
Adam grinned. “I knew there was a catch.”
Hayley smirked. “Damn right there is.”
She moved to the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves, and I followed without thinking. The familiarity of it—the way she moved around the space, the way she set out ingredients like she’d been preparing for this all along—made my chest loosen.
I wasn’t a kid anymore, but some things hadn’t changed. Hayley still took care of me in ways I didn’t always know I needed.
The guys settled in naturally, Samuel offering to help chop vegetables, Kai setting the table, Adam sneaking bites of whatever he could get his hands on until Hayley smacked his wrist with a wooden spoon.
And just like that, it felt like home.
Over dinner, the conversation flowed easily. At first, it was surface level—Hayley asked about their jobs, their lives, how they all ended up owning The Foundry together. But then, as the night stretched on and the food dwindled, the conversation shifted.
“I think your parents would be proud of you,” Hayley said suddenly, her voice softer than before.
I stilled.
She was watching me, her sharp edges momentarily softened. “I know they would be.”
The air felt heavy, but not in a bad way. More like something long unspoken settling into place.
“You knew them?” Kai said quietly.
“I didn’t know them personally. But I have read and heard a lot about them.
” She glanced at me. “From what I know, your mother was fierce. In the way that mattered. She never let anyone tell her what she could or couldn’t do.
And your father?” Her lips curved. “He was the kind of man who could make anyone laugh. He had a way of lighting up a room.”
A lump formed in my throat. “Yeah, that’s right. That’s how I always think of them.”
Hayley reached for my hand, squeezing it gently. “They loved you more than anything.”
Silence settled around us, warm and full of understanding.
Then, after a moment, she smirked. “And I bet your mother would’ve adored these three. Your father, though…” She cast a glance at Samuel, Adam, and Kai, amusement twinkling in her eyes. “He might have had some questions.”
Adam laughed. “Fair enough.”
Kai chuckled, shaking his head, and Samuel just smiled.
Hayley leaned back in her chair, watching me carefully. “But he’d have come around. Because he’d have seen what I see.”
I swallowed. “And what’s that?”
She tilted her head, her expression soft. “That you’re happy.”
I let out a slow breath, and finally, I believed it.