Page 62 of Obsessed Mate

“Whatever. Let’s get to gaming.”

Spencer didn’t argue with that. He was probably aiming to regain his title after losing it over that racecar kickball game Leo had gotten remarkably good at playing. Once Leo arrived on the landing, he sprinted toward me and leaped into my arms. It was amazing what a hug from a child could do. Almost five years of hugs from my nephew and they never got old.

Next came Xavier who yanked me into a rough hug. He patted my back firmly. “Tough stuff, right?”

“Spencer already gave me the speech.”

“Then I’ll give you the love, my man.”

I sighed while untangling myself from him. “Galanthia has softened you.”

“Yeah, mates can do that.”

Mates. The word loosened me up. It was something I’d been wanting to hear come out of Sadie’s mouth for the longest time. I wanted her to be my mate. And while Xavier went about setting up the game system on the television, I retreated to the bathroom where I could look at the bite on my neck.

Only mates did things like marking each other. If it had just been a nip or a hickey, it would have faded by now. But it was still there, still as rosy and round as the day it had been planted on my neck. Did Sadie ever look at the one on her neck?

Tumultuous emotions detonated inside me when I touched the mark. That made me wonder how she felt doing the same. That woman had managed to burrow into my heart and make a home there. If she thought leaving would fix whatever was broken between us, then I had to be the one to go after her.

Or perhaps I needed to leave her alone. Whatever I felt or didn’t feel was irrelevant now. She made her choice. I had to make mine. With that in my head, I went back to the living room and settled on the couch with my nephew. Spencer and Xavier were whispering in the kitchen. I knew it was about me.

I ignored it. Nobody could make me talk about Sadie more than I already had. I knew Xavier would have plenty to say about the fake relationship thing, but I also knew he would have the decency to wait until Leo took a nap before bringing it up. That knowledge eased my nerves for a while so I could enjoy some game time with Leo.

Just a few rounds of racing unwound my muscles. I felt like myself again, my competitive nature sprouting to the surface as Spencer got heated over earning third place again. Xavier laughed while Leo danced victoriously around the room. After convincing Spencer to compete in another match, I went to the landing. I descended the stairs. I jogged toward Sadie’s room to see if she wanted to play.

Damn it. Emptiness cratered my chest, and I leaned against the doorframe while staring into the sparsely decorated room. Vanilla and honey barely touched my nostrils. Her scent was fading too fast. Secretly, I wanted to bottle it and keep it under my pillow so I would never forget the way she was with me.

Alive, rebellious, adventurous—Sadie had blossomed under my care. She became so much more than a PA who was skilled at aerobics. I thought about her figurines and how she seemed to long for the ice. And just thinking about that gave me a brilliant idea.

Stomps echoed through the floor above my head. I raced back up the stairs and frantically searched for my phone while Spencer grumbled about losing again. Laughter bubbled around the couch, and then Leo giggled. It reminded me of how Sadie giggled, and I felt strongly that my idea would be a surefire way to earn her trust.

If I hadn’t completely devastated her feelings, then this might work.

Chapter 21 - Sadie

My head pulsated with stripes of white-hot pain as I lifted the lemonade to my lips and took a generous gulp. Mom sat next to me with her hands folded neatly in her lap. Dad would have joined us if he gave a damn, but his damns were in short supply these days. That was fine. I knew Mom would repeat what I said to her to him, eventually.

If not in conversation, then during an argument.

Some relief was achieved by my sip, and I felt grateful for the fact that my mother occasionally acted like a mother. When I showed up looking like my hair had been burned with bleach and a fever had broken me open, she sat me on the porch and fed me her famous hangover remedy.

Chicken and waffles with extra greasy bacon with side of cheesy hashbrowns was the way to go. Along with the glass of lemonade, I was already feeling a lot better. The ibuprofen I took should kick in soon, kicking the rest of my throbbing headache to the curb.

“That boy did a number on you,” she said. “I can’t believe you lied to me.”

It stung to hear that. Sheesh, she was about to lay into me if I didn’t interject. “You were blowing up my phone.”

“Does that make it okay to lie to me?” She scoffed. “You sound like your father.”

I glowered at her. “I am not your husband. I am yourdaughter.”

“You don’t act like it sometimes.”

“Mom, with all due respect, shut the hell up.”

She was shocked into silence. That was good enough for me. I never liked using harsh language with my parents, and I certainly never dared to oppose them in the past. But today, I was going to right every wrong that had been done against me.

Starting with the fact that my mother had been taking advantage of me. “When do you plan on getting a divorce?”

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