21. Chapter 21
Sadie
The sun streamed into my eyes, and I told them to open. They didn’t want to. But I never sleep until the sun is up. I pried them open and the first thing I saw was Cole’s white shirt. I blinked. Right. I’d gotten married.
I looked up. Cole was scrolling through his phone, but still had one arm around me. I was still in my wedding dress. I didn’t remember falling asleep. Cole and I had been talking, and then I woke up.
“Hey,” I said, in a scratchy morning voice.
He smiled and looked over. “Morning.”
“How long have you been awake?”
“About an hour.”
“You should have pushed me over.”
“Nah. I like being next to you.”
I sat up. “I bet your arm is numb.”
He scooted up and shook it a few times. “Numb? That happened around midnight. It’s completely dead.”
“Sorry. And your shirt’s all wrinkled.”
“It’s not a problem. I don’t plan on getting married more than once.”
That made something warm settle in my chest, and I hated that it did. “Can I tell you something I didn’t say last night?” Why was my mouth talking? I didn’t tell it to talk.
“Shoot.”
“I need you to help me with the friend thing.”
He tilted his head. “Friend thing?”
“Friends first?”
His brows came together. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t do things that make me want to kiss you.”
He blinked, then laughed. “What makes you want to kiss me?”
I glared at him because I couldn’t glare at myself. “Just… don’t… make… your lips look good. Oh, my heck. I’m taking a shower.”
I heard his low chuckle as I grabbed my clothes and hurried to the bathroom. It was three times bigger than the one at my old apartment. I could almost do a cartwheel in here. At least I could if I knew how.
After ten minutes, I was absolutely no closer to getting my dress off. I couldn’t ask Cole’s mom. She’d wonder why I was still wearing it. After ten more minutes had passed, I could tell it was pointless.
I poked my head out of the bathroom. “Hey, Cole?”
He looked up from his phone. “Yeah?”
“Can you get me some scissors?”
His eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“I can’t get my dress off. I’m going to cut it.”
He just stared at me.
“Please?”
“You can’t cut your dress off. Let me help you.”
“No way. Get me some scissors.”
He laughed. “Let me call Nayvee. She can come help.”
I huffed. “Fine. This is so embarrassing.”
Cole
I walked into the museum with a huge smile on my face. I couldn’t help it. Sadie did want this to be real. She just didn’t know how to process it yet. And I could wait. I could be friends.
Was I going to hide my lips? Not a chance.
Was I going to use the knowledge that she liked my lips to my advantage? Probably.
But it was on her. She had to make the next move.
The fact that she was trapped in her wedding dress was a little hilarious. I’d already showered and gotten dressed. Now I was hunting down Nayvee because she wasn’t answering her phone.
I found Nayvee giving a tour to a group of middle schoolers and Van. She told me before she and Van got together that he’d been bringing kids in here for small tours. That’s why he was the cool vice principal.
Nayvee spotted me and frowned. “Cole?”
“Can someone take over for you?” I asked. “I have a slight emergency.”
She frowned.
“I have it memorized,” Van said. “Go ahead.”
Nayvee waddled over to me, and Van started talking.
“What’s wrong?” Nayvee asked.
I tried not to smile, and failed. “Sadie is stuck in her wedding dress.”
Her brows rose. “Still?”
“Yep. She fell asleep in it.”
“Why are you here?”
“She won’t let me help, and I can’t ask anyone else. You’re the only one who knows about our mess.”
She laughed softly. “Okay, take me to her.”
Sadie
“This is so embarrassing,” I said as Nayvee unbuttoned my dress.
“Don’t even worry about it. I’ve got my own list of embarrassing stories on my road to loving Van.”
“I can’t believe I fell asleep with this on. It’s not comfortable at all.”
“You must have been really tired. It was a long day for you.”
“Thanks for keeping this secret for us. I’d hate people to know it was fake.”
“Sure. It will probably get out, though. It always does.”
“I hope it doesn’t.”
There was a knock on the door.
“Yes?” I said.
“Hey, Sadie?” Cole said. “I just got a call from the high school. They want me to come in and interview. Today. Is that okay?”
“Yes, that’s great.”
“I need to go now. Are you okay without me?”
I wanted to say no. Being left at the Hart home without him was nerve-wracking. But this was his chance.
“I’m fine. Go ahead.”
“Alyssa’s down eating breakfast. You should join her.”
“I will.”
“Make sure you do. You didn’t eat a lot yesterday.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“I do.”
“Well, don’t. Go to your interview, Cole.”
“Call me if you need anything.”
“Cole!”
“I’m going.”
I shook my head.
“There you go,” Nayvee said, getting the last button.
“Thanks. Sorry to pull you away from work.”
She laughed softly. “It’s fine. I’m glad I could help. And I love seeing that Cole is totally falling for you.”
I made a noise between a snort and a laugh. “What makes you think that?”
“He doesn’t want to leave you. He’s worried to take off and have you deal with Mom.”
I sighed. “I think we… like each other just fine.”
She leaned back against the door. “And is it going to turn into something else?”
“Maybe.”
She nodded. “Okay. I hope things work out. I’ll let you go.”
I said goodbye and finally got the dress off. I wasn’t sure what to do with it, so I hung it in Cole’s closet, then went down to eat with Alyssa.
“Morning,” Alyssa said, taking a bite of bacon. “It’s been so long since we had bacon. It’s sooo good.”
I sat next to her, and a woman brought me a plate.
“Thank you,” I told her. “Can you tell me what time people usually eat around here?”
“Seven.”
“Perfect. Thanks.”
I took a bite, surprised that it was warm since I’d been slow to arrive. That must be part of being rich.
“How’s married life?” Alyssa asked.
I laughed. “All thirteen hours of it?”
“I love this place. And Tiffany is the best. She said I can use the hot tub and the pool whenever I want. And she said we can go to the spa with her in a few days.”
I groaned. “I’m not sure I can handle the spa.”
She rolled her eyes. “Sure you can. Taya and Eliza are coming too.”
“Who’s Eliza?”
“She’s married to Cole’s brother, Chance.”
“I’m never going to keep them all straight.”
“It’s not that hard.”
I took a bite of bacon. “It is to me.” The bacon was good. And it had been a long time since we’d had any.
“Where’s Cole?” Alyssa asked.
“Job interview.”