Page 100 of Stuck with my Boss Daddies

Aurora reached out, squeezing my hand. “What if you let them in, and they stay?”

I swallowed hard, nodding, because I didn’t have an answer for that.

Aurora’s gaze was thoughtful as she spoke. “You know, Sadie, there’s something I’ve learned since I’ve been here. Medford isn’t just a place… it’s a community. And you’re not alone in this, even if it feels like you are right now.”

She glanced down at Evie, who was happily chewing on one of her toys, then back at me.

“You’ve got your foster mom here, right? That’s a huge thing.”

“I do,” I whispered, my throat tight with emotion. “It’s just… everything’s so complicated. I don’t know how to accept a family in, I suppose.”

Aurora nodded. “I get it. I didn’t always have that either. But I’ve learned sometimes family isn’t just the people you’re born to. It’s the ones who choose you. And I see you with your foster mom. I see how she’s been there for you, how she’s not going anywhere. You’re already part of a family, Sadie. And that family doesn’t just include Hayley.”

She gave me a pointed look, as though daring me to disagree.

“You’ve got Medford. You’ve got all of us. And, yeah, you’ve got Samuel, Kai, and Adam, too. All of them want to be therefor you, to help you figure this out. But you’ve also got friends who’ve been here for years, who understand what it’s like to struggle, to build your life from the ground up.”

Her words hit me like a wave, and I swallowed hard, not sure if I was ready to accept all the love and support she was offering.

Aurora gave me a moment before smiling, a playful glint in her eyes. “Alright, enough heavy stuff. You’re coming with me and Lila to get ready for the Harvest and Hearth Festival in a couple of days.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“You heard me,” she said, her grin widening. “We’re giving you a makeover. The works.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “I don’t know if that’s necessary…”

“It is. Trust me,” Aurora said, her voice firm with an undercurrent of excitement. “If you’re going to start embracing this new chapter, you need to look the part. And maybe a little pampering will help you clear your head.”

I hesitated, the idea of being the center of attention making me a little nervous. But the warmth in her eyes, the unspoken promise of support, made it impossible to say no.

“Okay,” I said softly, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Okay.”

Aurora squeezed my hand again. “One step at a time, Sadie. You’re not alone in this.”

I felt a flicker of hope.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Sadie

I should’ve known agreeingto a “light makeover” with Lila and Aurora would be anything but light.

The second I stepped into Lila’s home a few days later, I was met with the sweet scent of vanilla candles, the sound of baby Jace babbling from his playpen, and the blur of Biscuit zooming between my legs.

“Oh no, you don’t… Biscuit!” I yelped, stumbling back as the little menace launched himself onto the couch, giving me a victorious look.

“That’s just his way of saying welcome,” Lila said, scooping him up and pressing a kiss to the top of his fluffy head before he could get into more trouble. “You’re officially trapped, Sadie. We have the entire morning to get you festival-ready.”

I gave her a wary look. “Define ‘festival-ready.’ I’ve been thinking about this and I’m nervous as hell.”

Aurora, lounging in the armchair, grinned. “We’re thinking small-town sweetheart meets total knockout. The kind of look that will make a certain trio of men completely lose their minds.”

I groaned. “Why do I feel like this is less about me and more about your entertainment?”

Lila waggled her brows. “Because it is.”

Biscuit wriggled free and shot across the room again, this time heading straight for Jace’s playpen. The baby let out a delighted squeal, tiny hands reaching for the corgi.

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