Page 95 of Stuck with my Boss Daddies

But instead, she swallowed and dropped her gaze. “I’m okay now.”

The lie hung in the air like smoke—thin, choking, impossible to ignore.

Her hand drifted briefly to her stomach, like she was trying to remind herself that everything was still fine. That her body wasn’t betraying her again.

No one believed her. Especially not herself.

Adam let out a slow breath and dropped the last orange slice onto her plate.

“Eat that too,” he said, all teasing gone from his voice. “Gotta keep your strength up.”

Sadie gave him a dry look. “You gonna peel my grapes next?”

“If you ask real nice,” he shot back, grinning.

She huffed but didn’t argue, popping the orange into her mouth.

I watched the way her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for the spoon again, and before I could stop myself, I reached across the table and covered her hand with mine.

Sadie froze, her eyes flicking up to mine.

“You scared us,” I told her, my voice coming out rough. “Me.”

Her lips parted, a flurry of emotions flickering across her face. Then, slowly, she turned her palm upward beneath mine, curling her fingers around my hand.

Just for a moment. Just long enough for my heart to trip over itself.

Then she pulled away, cleared her throat, and picked up the spoon.

Samuel exhaled like he’d been holding his breath. Adam tossed a glance between all of us, lips pressing together.

No one said anything else. But I knew we’d all felt it.

Something shifting.

Something settling into place.

Later, as the night stretched on and The Foundry quieted, Sadie curled up on the worn leather couch in the back, her head resting against the armrest, eyes fluttering shut.

Samuel had draped another blanket over her before he left, mumbling something about finishing up inventory, and Adam had disappeared outside to lock up, leaving just me.

I should have gone too. Given her space.

But I couldn’t.

Instead, I sat on the floor beside her, leaning against the couch, watching the way her breathing evened out, the slight furrow in her brow smoothing as sleep pulled her under.

Even exhausted, she still looked like she was fighting something.

Without thinking, I reached out and brushed her hair back, my fingers skimming over her temple as I tucked a loose strand behind her ear. The intimacy of it settled me in a way I wasn’t expecting.

I exhaled, my fingers lingering just a second longer.

“You know,” I murmured, barely above a whisper, “the first time I saw you, I couldn’t stop staring.”

Sadie didn’t stir, but I kept my voice low anyway, like some part of me worried waking her would break whatever spell had settled over us.

“You were fourteen,” I said, “and pissed off at the world. I think you’d just threatened some sophomore for knocking your books out of your hands in the hallway. And I just… I remember thinking, ‘She’s gonna be trouble.’”

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