Chapter 33
“You left the island.”
Four pairs of eyes stared at her expectantly. Dani, Mia, Natalie, and Shelly waited.
Sadie felt her cheeks flush under her friends' intense gazes. She took a sip of her fruity cocktail, buying time before responding.
"I did," she finally admitted. "It was... unexpected."
"Unexpected?" Dani leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Girl, you haven't set foot off this island in the entire time you’ve worked here, and suddenly, you vanish for days without so much as a word. Spill!"
Sadie glanced around the resort's outdoor café, ensuring no guests were within earshot. "It's complicated," she said softly.
Sadie's mind raced, unsure how much to reveal. Her time with Saul had been intense, passionate, and deeply personal. But it was also tangled up in danger and secrets she couldn't fully explain, so what was she supposed to say?
Tell them the truth, the therapist inside her head advised.
Yes. Sadie took a deep breath. These women were her friends. It was time to let them in.
“It’s not something I’ve ever talked about, although I know you’ve all been curious, and I appreciate the fact that none of you ever pushed. But the reason I asked Dallas to get me a job here - the reason I never left - was because I was scared. Terrified, in fact.”
She went on to tell them about her childhood. How her stepfather had abused her, and how her mother hadn’t believed her. How she’d been arrested for attempted murder when she finally fought back, and how she’d struggled to turn her life around when her mother threw her out.
Sadie was grateful they didn’t interrupt. Didn’t spout useless platitudes or make her feel like they pitied her.
“Hey, don’t cry, I’m fine,” Sadie murmured, taking Shelly’s hand and giving it a squeeze when she saw the tears streaming down her friend’s face after she finished her story.
“Sorry.” Shelly hiccupped. “It’s probably not the right time to mention it, but you’re all staring at me like I’ve lost it,” she said with a watery sob. “It’s just, my hormones are all over the place right now…”
“Oh my goodness!” Natalie squealed, something close to envy on her young face. “You’re pregnant?”
Shelly nodded, and a chorus of hugs and congratulations had the other customers looking their way.
Shelly waved them off. “But my timing sucks. This is Sadie’s show.”
Sadie shrugged. “There’s not much more to tell. Something happened that gave me the push I needed to face my past, so I left Elysium to confront Ned.”
“Is that where you got the bruise on your cheek?” Mia questioned, raising her eyebrow. “How can you even see that?” Sadie demanded. It had been days. The bruise had faded, and she thought she’d done a pretty good job of concealing it.
“I’m a lawyer,” Mia reminded her. “I’ve seen my share of women hiding behind a mask of makeup. Makeup you very rarely wear!”
Sadie should have known her friend would pick up on that.
“It was a calculated risk,” Sadie admitted. “Ned was out on parole, and I knew if he attacked me, he’d be back inside.”
Mia stared at her in shock. “You set a honey trap?”
Sadie laughed, and it felt good. “Good lord, Mia, no. Nothing that elaborate. All I wanted was to prove to myself he didn’t have that power over me anymore.
That I could stand up to him instead of cowering and running…
which wasn’t hard when I turned up to find my mother injured, and that bastard flaunting some young, rich girlfriend right in front of her nose. ”
“I hope you fucking kicked him in the nuts,” Shelly growled, and the others nodded their agreement.
“Sadly, no, but I did take him to the ground and hold him there while my mother called the police.”
There was a round of cheers from her friends, and they all lifted their glasses to toast her.
“So, what was it that caused this capitulation?” Dani demanded, the other three also prodding to find out the same thing.
“Ah… well, I kind of met someone.”
There was silence as her friends stared at her, and Sadie knew she’d have some explaining to do. These were the questions she didn't have ready answers for.
She was saved from the inevitable inquisition by the murmur of hushed comments that rippled throughout the cafe, though.
All of them followed the direction of the disturbance.
“Damn, that man is fine,” Mia commented, as Saul sauntered leisurely between the tables, and Shelly slapped her lightly on the arm.
“You’re married!” she chastised, even though her own eyes followed Saul just as eagerly.
“Yes, married, not dead,” Mia scoffed, taking a sip of her drink.
“Well, I’m not married, engaged, or otherwise,” Dani remarked. “And I second Mia’s observation.”
Sadie might have been jealous, but she knew she had no reason to be. Saul’s eyes were on her and they didn’t waver, not even when a buxom redhead tried to get his attention.
“Umm… is he coming over here?” Natalie asked, turning towards Dani. “I know he’s one of the investors. Is he here for a meeting or something?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” Dani responded with a frown.
Saul stopped right next to their table and grinned. “Ladies,” he greeted with a slight bow. “I’ve come to steal away my girlfriend, if that’s okay.”
“Girlfriend?”
Mia, Shelly, Natalie, and Dani stared at him in unrestrained surprise. It was common knowledge that Saul Stephens was never with one woman long enough to call her a girlfriend. That was a misconception Sadie was going to have to deal with frequently, no doubt.
Saul took Sadie’s hand, drew her up to her feet, and took her lips in a PDA that left nothing to the imagination.
“Girlfriend?” Her friends repeated in unison.
Saul lifted his head and gave her a wink, before turning to them. “At least until I persuade her to become my fiancée, and then my wife,” he told them to a chorus of gasps.
Saul pulled her away and started towards the door. Sadie, grinning widely, gave a little wave over her shoulder.
“This conversation is not over!” Dani called behind her.