Chapter 22
Sadie
“You hoo!”
My eyes spring open. Shit!
“Zane! Your sister!” I whisper-shout, sitting up, trying to scramble out of the sleeping bag, but Zane’s huge body is half wrapped around me, and I’m literally trapped.
Crap. Crap. CRAP!
I try to push him off. “Zane!”
He doesn’t stir; in fact, he tightens his hold around me. Fuuuuuck!
“Z? I know you’re in here, your truck is out the front.”
Oh no, the farm truck I drove is out there, too.
“Zane, will you move!” I shove as hard as I can against his massive chest, and he grunts again, his eyes popping over. “Get up, your sister is her—”
“Oh, will the stars and moon align as one! Holy cow!”
I turn and Izzy is standing in the barn, her eyes wide as she takes in the scene.
“It isn’t what you think,” I start quickly, thanking the freaking stars and moon that we’re both fully dressed. Still shoving at Zane, who’s now scrambling out of the sleeping bag, unsuccessfully. “I came down to check on Zeus, and we thought it would be best to stay and keep an eye on him, and—”
She holds up a hand. “Save it, you two. You’re not fooling anyone. I predicted this. I also saw it in the cards.”
Zane finally frees himself from the sleeping bag, but I’m still wrapped around it and several blankets. “You and your damn cards,” he mutters.
“What cards?” I hope my question will throw her off, but from the look she’s giving the two of us, I sincerely doubt it.
“No matter what I did, the two of cups just kept popping up,” she chimes. “Not that I was thinking it would be the two of you initially, but then I saw how you were both looking at one another that night after we decorated the town tree and—”
“Iz, beat it,” Zane quips, taking my hand as I’m finally freed of the twisty pretzel I got myself in. “Like Sadie said, this isn’t how it looks.”
“Right, because you cuddle up to your staff in the same sleeping bag just for kicks.” She smiles broadly.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, I approve. We love Sadie, I just can’t imagine a world where somebody would want to crawl into the same sleeping bag as you, bro.
” She screws up her nose. “Like, gross.”
“What? Your brother’s a hottie,” I say before I can stop myself. That only makes Izzy’s smile widen.
“Aha! The two of you totally did it, which is like, ew, but George owes me twenty bucks.”
I frown. “You were betting on us getting together?”
“Not exactly. George knew you were attracted to one another, but he was adamant Z-boy wouldn’t have the chops to see it through.” She whispers behind her hand. “He’s a bit of a princess.”
“Iz, I love you to bits, but fuck off.”
I slap Zane on the chest. “That’s not nice.”
“Hmm, so Sadie gets Care Bear, and we get Mr. Grizzly with a sore head. I see how this is going down.”
“Actually, he’s less of a grizzly and more like a gummy bear in the sack,” I blurt.
“Oh my god, I just puked in my mouth.” Izzy makes gagging sounds.
“Gummy bear?” Zane winces. “If anythin’ I’m one of those sour bears that lasts all night.”
“I’m going to be sick twice,” Izzy groans.
I turn to Zane, running a hand through his beard, which is surprisingly soft. “You certainly do.”
“Okay, well, that’s me done.” She pats Zeus, who’s made his way to standing, which is a good sign. “You two are disgusting, by the way. Doing it in a barn with Zeus right there.”
“Actually, we went in the other—” Zane places a hand over my mouth before I can finish.
“Iz, keep this to yourself,” Zane warns. “If Mom and Dad find out, they’ll be ridin’ my tail from now until New Year’s.”
Izzy taps her chin while she kisses Zeus on the nose. “I can, for a price.”
“Oh, god,” Zane mutters. “Name it.”
“I’ve seen this cosmetics beauty fridge that you keep your creams in, it plugs into the wall and—”
Zane pinches the bridge of his nose. “Done, what else?”
“A new Kindle.”
“Iz.”
“And one of those mini karaoke speaker machines, they look fun.”
“Jesus Christ.”
I don’t even hide my amusement. “You two are the reason I wish I’d had a sibling growing up.”
“You can take mine,” Zane replies. “She’s goin’ real cheap.”
Izzy flips him the bird. “Just think how boring life would be without me.”
“Don’t you have to be at work?” Zane asks, pulling his beanie back down. It is cold in here now we’re not wrapped around one another, and we still have to get to work in a few hours.
“Now, now, I knew you’d still be here, so I brought coffee.” She waves a thermos at us. “You can thank me later.”
I excuse myself not long after because I left Mindy all night, not that she’d mind, but the fire will be out by now and she needs to be fed.
I have a quick shower, then set about making breakfast. I figured Zane would be hungry by the time he gets back.
It isn’t long after I start cooking some scrambled eggs that he arrives back home. I pop a pod into the machine to make his coffee.
I try not to think about the email I got from Duncan overnight.
It went a little something like: I know you don’t want to hear from me, but I’ve changed, Sadie.
I’ve seen the light. I realize now I’m in love with you.
Can’t you give me one more chance? I promise I’ll never do that ever again.
I heard you left your job and the apartment. Where are you? I miss you…
He can’t even say the words ‘cheated on you multiple times.’ I just want him to leave me alone. I’m glad he has no clue where I am, and I want to keep it that way.
It also feels weird not telling Zane. I don’t want our ‘situationship’ to start off on the wrong foot. I don’t like lies, but I also don’t want him to think that I have any feelings for Duncan whatsoever, because I don’t.
“Somethin’ smells good,” Zane says, sticking his head in the kitchen.
I look up from the pan. A regular freaking Martha Stewart overnight. “I hope you like not-bacon.” I beam.
His brow furrows. “What the heck is not bacon?”
“Don’t worry, it’s better for your arteries.” I pop the toast down, and he comes up behind me.
“How are you this mornin’?”
“If you’re asking if I still feel you between my legs, the answer is yes.”
That seems to please him because his hands fall onto my hips, and I feel his beard tickle my neck. “I wasn’t, but that’s good to know.”
“Did you get any more heat from your sister?” I cringe, but really, what does it even matter? The woman reads tarot cards, and from what I’ve gathered, she’s pretty darned accurate.
“My sister will be the death of me, I swear it.”
“Do you think she’ll say anything?”
“Not if she knows what’s good for her, or if she wants any of the shit she bribed me for,” he mutters. There’s a brief pause, then he says, “Would it be so bad if people knew?”
I stir the eggs, watching them intently as his words ring in my ears, my heart thumping in my chest. “About our ‘situationship?’”
“That’s what the cool kids are callin’ it these days.”
“No, that’s six-seven,” I say.
“What?”
“Ugh, never mind, even I don’t get it.”
He bumps me with his hips. “I liked you stayin’ over.”
He’s just so darned cute. “In the barn?”
“I kept you warm at least.”
“Don’t think I’m always gonna be this easy,” I tease. “Usually, I like to date a man first before he gets into my pants.”
“I’m doin’ this all wrong.”
“Maybe our way is more unconventional, but you did have all those rules that I’m yet to hear about.”
“Rules went out the fuckin’ window the second you gave me lip.”
“Oh, you like that, do you?” I snicker.
“Only in the bedroom, sweetheart.”
My heart does little flips, then Zane groans. I quickly turn my head. “What?”
“Does this mean I have to start eatin’ tofu burgers now?”
I can’t help but laugh. Oh, this man. “I’d like to see that.”
He grunts. “Don’t count on it.”
Viola
OMG did you reply back to him???
Jane
You better not have, block and delete!
Bailey
I agree with them. We don’t need this kind of negativity in our lives
Yes, the group chat has expanded. I told the girls about Duncan emailing me.
Me
Blocking and deleting only does so much. I have to change my email address again
Viola
URGH, he’s such a snake
Bailey
Speaking of snakes… or should I say, trouser snakes
Jane
Oh. My. God. You didn’t, that rugged mountain man?
Of course, Bailey prized it out of me, and while I’ve mentioned Zane to my friends, and that I may have had a little crush on my grumpy boss, they read between the lines.
Me
That very one
Viola
I’m very pleased
Bailey
So is she - our girl has been beaming all freaking week
Me
I have not!
Bailey
Have too!
Jane
This is excellent. It’s just what you need. I mean, the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else right?
Bailey
Freaking right!
Me
I was over Duncan a long time ago
Jane
That’s true, but what I really wanna know is does Zane have any brothers or hot cousins???
Viola
Snap! Road trip???
Me
Unfortunately for you ladies, his cousins live in Iowa, and his only sibling is his sister Izzy, she’s adorable
Bailey
Awww love is in the air
Jane
Wait… Sadie Marie Summers, are you not coming back?
Viola
Woah, woah, this went from 0 to 100 fast. Sadie — we need to meet him first before you make any rash life decisions
Bailey
I can vouch for Z-dog. He’s a grump, but all of a sudden the man is walking around whistling
Jane
Oh, this is good
Me
He is not!
Bailey
Riiiiiiight, keep telling yourself that
Okay, so I feel better about my friends kind-of knowing I’m having second thoughts about coming back to the city. I mean, it would make sense to see how things go with Zane. How would a long distance relationship really go when we’re just starting out?
Honestly? I don’t know. Is it even a relationship? So many questions, and it’s not like I want to hammer him over the head with all of this, but if there’s one thing I’ve understood over the short while I’ve been here it’s; Zane isn’t a love ‘em and leave ‘em type of guy.
And he’s only had eyes, and hands, for me.
I know it’s early days, but this feels nice.
We’re professional at work, but behind closed doors, we’re like a couple of teenagers.
Zane is a sweet guy deep down. He shows he cares in other ways: leaving Post-it notes, buying me tofu and vegan patties, constantly checking the truck to make sure the brakes haven’t seized up, and he loves Mindy like she’s his own.
Frankly, I’m running out of reasons why I’d ever go back to New York, my two besties excluded. Maybe it is time for a permanent change.
For the first time in my life, contentment washes over me. And you know what? I freaking like it.