Page 8 of Jake's Angel

I find myself wondering what it would be like to be that carefree. To have the ‘I don’t give a shit’ mentality Sadie has always had. Even in high school, she said what she wanted. She did whatever crazy idea popped into her head and gave zero fucks about what other people said or thought about her.

I want to be like her. So badly.

“Aves!” Sadie grabs the menu, slapping it down on the table. “You good?”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. I’m trying to decide what I want to have for breakfast. There aren’t many healthy options here.” Skyler looks between us, leaning back with her arms across her chest, saying nothing. I feel her eyes boring into mine, but don’t acknowledge the awkward tension at the table. “I’m starving.”

Sadie’s hand reaches across, grabs my forearm and squeezes. My eyes meet hers. She smiles.

“You can have whatever you want, Aves.” I tilt my head, watching her in confusion. “You can eatanythingyou want. You don’t have to worry about carbs or your weight or fitting into some dumbass pageant gown.” She rubs my arm, then turns to the page on the menu with a long list of waffles and pancakes.

Skyler is still watching us, but something Sadie has said seems to have sparked her interest and dropped her guard a bit.

“Try the waffles. Trust me,” she says.

“The waffles, huh?”

My stomach growls at the sight. My mouth waters. Proud of herself, Skyler points at the Belgium waffle and says, “Those are to die for. And … if you ask nicely, Patsy will make Frank load it with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for you. In fact, I think I’ll have the same. And sausage. Maybe some bacon.”

Sadie looks at Skyler curiously, then laughs when Skyler’s response is to tell her, “Ethan is a beast in bed. A girl must eat to keep up with the man and his appetite.” She emphasizes her words with a wiggle of her brows, and we all start laughing.

I feel my eyes get wider and my cheeks hurt from smiling so widely. “Oh. My. God.” Sadie claps her hands, laughing at me.

“You’ll have to excuse my virgin friend here. She’s not sure what to make of everything you just said.”

“Hey, you’re a virgin too.” I accuse, but her cheeks blush, and Sadie quickly turns her attention back to the menu. “Sadie?”

“So, Waffles and sausage. Sounds like a plan. Maybe we should get you a milkshake too? What do you say, Aves?”

About the same time she makes her decision, the waitress approaches the table. We all give our orders and wait for her to leave before we all start laughing again.

Skyler’s eyes are wide. She nudges Sadie and says, “You know I won’t judge you for your choices, but …do not,under any circumstances, let any of the men know you’ve been deflowered.”

“Ew. I was not deflowered. You make it sound like I’m a child,” Sadie grumps.

“You’re barely eighteen,” Skyler rebuts.

“So? I fucked a guy for the first time when I was sixteen. He was hardlythe one. I’ve had other partners since.”

“What?” I shout, glaring at her. The surrounding people are staring again, but I don’t care. Sadie having sex not once, but multiple times with multiple people is news to me. “I’m your best friend and you’re just now telling me this information?”

“I didn’t want to tell you since … it wasn’t ever a good time. You were always busy with work, and pageants, and charity events. I guess I didn’t think to mention it before.”

“Hmm.” It’s all I can say in the present company.

I know why she didn’t tell me. She felt guilty.

We turned sixteen the same year, a few months apart. She had a wonderful birthday with her family and some friends and apparently a gentleman friend. I had a fancy dinner party and was physically attacked a few days later by the asshole I shot down for a date at the party. Sadie was the one who found me and took me to the hospital.

I never told her who did it. I never told anyone. We never spoke of it again.

“Just don’t tell the guys. Please. They will go on a head hunt so fast you won’t see anything but the smoke and blur of colorsas they ride out of here. Mack, Jake, and Hawk would … Oh God. Hawk would lose his fucking mind.”

“Pshh. He couldn't care less about what I do, or who, for that matter. He has his own harem of women to worry about.” Sadie spits the words like venom. I want to ask who this Hawk person is but think better of it.

Our plates are served quickly, and the table becomes covered with a mountain of various foods. Waffles, pancakes, syrup, sausage, bacon, and three milkshakes. One chocolate, one strawberry, and one vanilla.

“You have to try some of everything,” Sadie urges. “It’s about time you started enjoying the finer things in life!”

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