Page 50 of Stuck with my Boss Daddies

“Tell me something,” he mused, tilting his head. “Whatexactlybrought you back here, Sadie? Because I don’t buy for a second that it was just homesickness.”

I sucked in a breath, the words hitting harder than I wanted them to.

Medford.

The last place I ever thought I’d end up again.

And yet, here I was, standing in Kai’s kitchen, wrapped in his shirt, being interrogated by Samuel Thompson.

God, my life was a mess.

The city had chewed me up and spat me out—that fancy job at the Belle and Rye was my downfall.

Or rather,hehad.

Owain Bond.

The man who’d promised me everything and delivered nothing but heartbreak and humiliation.

A stupid, reckless romance with my boss. One I thought I could handle… until I couldn’t. Until it blew up in my face in the worst possible way, leaving me jobless, practically penniless, and with nowhere else to go.

Nowhere but Medford.

The memory of it twisted in my gut, shame curling like smoke in my lungs.

Samuel studied me, and for all his teasing, there was something else there now.

Curiosity, sure. But maybe a softness, too.

I forced a smirk, trying to push past the ache in my chest. “What, you think I came back just to make your life more dramatic?”

His lips twitched. “I don’t know. Seems youlikea bit of drama…”

I didn’t give Samuel the satisfaction of a response.

Instead, I turned on my heel and headed straight for the door, ignoring his quiet chuckle behind me.

The cool morning air hit my skin as I stepped outside.

I needed coffee.

And space.

And preferably, a reality check.

The Brewed Bean Café was already buzzing with early risers when I pushed through the door.

“Sadie!”

I barely had time to process before Samantha, one of the women I had met at bowling night, waved me over to the counter. I’d forgotten that she worked here.

Despite my inner turmoil, I forced a smile and walked over. “Morning.”

“Morning?” Samantha gave me a knowing look, eyes twinkling with mischief. “You look like someone who could use an extra shot of espresso. Long night?”

My stomach twisted.

She didn’t know anything. She couldn’t.

---