Page 102 of Unloved

Melting into the bed, I stay on the side he’s left for me until warm arms wrap around my waist and tug me back to a hard, warm chest.

“Is this okay?”

His whisper dances across the skin beneath my ear and I shiver.

“Yes.” The word is barely a breath.

“I just want to hold you. Just for tonight, please.”

It takes far too long to fall asleep with the light puff of his breaths against my neck, distracting and lovely.

It’s Friday afternoon, and Sadie has given me free rein over her hair and makeup—besides her signature dark lipstick, which I would never change even if she let me.

“You haven’t let me do your hair in a long time.” I smile down at her in the mirror. “Actually, have youever—”

“Shut up,” she laughs, elbowing me gently in the hip. She bites down on her lip, inspecting the updo I’ve created for her. “It looks… incredible.”

Her words are sincere, genuine in the way Sadie always is, no matter if it’s praise or criticism. She’s got a hard exterior, always has, but I can see the softer pieces of her shining through the more she’s around Rhys Koteskiy.

He treats the tough-as-nails girl like she’s made of glass, and I think there is something in Sadie that is slowly, finally relaxing under his care.

“Can I see the dress now?” she asks, the words a little disjointed as she keeps her mouth mostly open to coat her lips in the dark cherry color.

“Yes!”

Excitedly, I rush to the closet door of the spare room in the Hockey House—now furnished with two twin-sized roll-away beds that IknowRhys bought for Sadie’s brothers so they can stay over with her and have somewhere other than their less-than-happy home to go to.

After taking out the black silk dress, simple and elegant in a way Sadie can pull off with ease, I turn and present it a little dramatically to my best friend.

Her pretty gray eyes go wide, skin flushing as she steps closer and runs her hand along the fabric.

“Oh my God,” I blurt out. “Are you going to cry?”

“No!” She nearly shouts, batting at her eyes. “I— No, I didn’t. I mean, I’m not!”

She very clearlyisabout to cry.

“Sadie,” I whine, tears springing to my eyes. She bats me away as I try to hug her, shaking her head rapidly.

“No.” She scoots back and I chase after her, still holding the dress. “You did this to me—I don’t cry over this stuff.”

Putting a hand over my heart, I stop and look at her like she’s the last sweet little kitten up for adoption.

“I don’t think it’s my fault at all,” I say, turning to hang the dress on the doorframe. “I think you’re all soft and gooey cause you’re inloooove.” I say the last word in singsong and wiggle my eyebrows at her before ducking down in case she decides to throw one of her strappy heels at me.

“This is ridiculous,” she grumbles. She pulls my fuzzy robe a little tighter around her shoulders, and it swallows her entire body. But still, she doesn’t deny my claim.

Sheisin love with him.

“You should tell him.”

Her lips turn down, brow furrowing lightly as she looks herself over in the mirror. Does she see the same thing I do when I look at her? The strongest, most self-assured girl I know. Someone to look up to, admirable in so many ways.

“Maybe,” she whispers.

I remove the dress from the hanger and Sadie takes it from my hands, stepping into the bathroom, half closing the door to slip it on.

“Can you zip me?” she calls out seconds later.

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