Page 89 of Stuck with my Boss Daddies

The lunch rush had died down, but The Foundry still buzzed with the usual hum of conversation.

I wiped my hands on a towel, taking a moment to breathe before the next wave of customers rolled in.

And then, like clockwork, my focus drifted to her.

Sadie was at the counter, taking an order with a polite smile, but something about her seemed… off.

She was paler than usual, her movements just a little slower, her fingers tightening around the edge of the counter when she thought no one was looking. More than once, I caught her pressing a hand to her stomach like she was trying to steady herself.

I frowned.

That wasn’t like her.

I waited until the customer walked away before stepping behind the counter, close enough that she could hear me over the sound of the espresso machine.

“You good?”

Sadie startled slightly, like she hadn’t noticed me there, then quickly plastered on a small, forced smile. “Yeah. Just tired.”

I studied her, not buying it for a second. “You sure?”

She nodded, too quickly. “Mmhmm.” Then, as if to change the subject, she lifted an eyebrow. “What, are you worried about me?”

I huffed a quiet laugh. “Yeah. I am.”

Surprise flickered across her face. She glanced away, gripping the rag in her hand a little too tightly. “I’m fine, Samuel.”

I recognized a brush-off when I heard one.

And I didn’t push. Not yet…

The kitchen was a mess of movement by mid-afternoon. Kai putting the finishing touches on a batch of pastries, Adam grilling up something that smelled incredible, and me prepping for the festival.

But my focus kept slipping.

Sadie was still dragging.

I’d caught her nearly dropping a glass earlier, her hands trembling slightly before she steadied herself.

She’d tried to play it off, but Isawit.

And I wasn’t the only one.

I glanced at Adam, who was eyeing her through the pass, his usual easygoing expression tight with concern. Kai, who normally buried himself in work, kept stealing glances toward her, his jaw clenched like he was barely keeping himself from saying what he really wanted to.

Finally, I set down my knife and exhaled. “We need to do something.”

Kai stilled. “For what?”

I gave him a flat look. “ForSadie. She’s not okay.”

Adam rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, I caught that too. She’s barely eaten today.”

Kai’s fingers tapped against the counter in thought. “And if we ask her, she’ll just say she’s fine.”

“Exactly.” I crossed my arms. “So we don’t ask. We justdo.”

Adam smirked. “I like it. What’s the plan?”

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