Series: Peach State Stepbros Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79283 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79283 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Mom, stop,” Sadie says. “I want to meet people my age. Those are all kids in there. Or this guy who works here.”
“Volunteering,” I say, “but fair enough.”
Again, I consider why I approached. It’s her life, but something keeps me in place.
“Well, there are older people here too,” I say. “I could be your friend.”
She’s glaring at the iPad before she directs it at me. “You’re a volunteer, so you have to say that.”
“Actually, because I’m a volunteer, I can just walk away or go home, or do anything else other than this, so I’m standing here because I want to.”
Her expression relaxes.
“I mean, me and my friends are older than a lot of the people in there,” I say, “but we’re all having a good time.”
“Yeah, I don’t just want to meet people. I want to date.”
“Well, some hot guy could be coming later—”
“Because you just assume I’m straight?”
“Oh, I—”
“I’m queer as hell. I’m a lesbian.”
“I’m sorry she’s being like this,” her mom says.
“It’s fine. I’m queer too. And, Sadie, I think you could have fun if you go in. I’m actually more of an introvert myself, and it’s not as easy for me to meet new people. But my best friend ever is outgoing and can chat up anybody, and he’s basically shown me that you can meet pretty cool people anywhere if you’re open to it.”
She looks at her iPad, frowns, and shows her mom the screen. Her mom smiles before signing to her, and they both burst into a laugh. I’m guessing the app made some error transcribing what I said.
Sadie studies my face for a few moments, then says, “You seem like a cool guy, but I’d rather spend the day at home.”
Yeah, maybe I shouldn’t have approached. I’m about to head back into the gym, when an idea springs to mind. “How about I make you a deal: you come in and have the best time you can with my friends and the guests, and if a girl around your age comes in, I’ll introduce you. You could at least make a new friend that way.”
She reads the text, her eyes narrowing. I’m sure she’s gonna refuse, but she says, “I’ll give it a try. But you gotta dance with me and Mom so we don’t look like losers on our own. And I’ll blame you if it sucks.”
She starts toward the gym, and I tell her mom, “Well, she’s definitely gonna be a handful for any girl she does date,” just as Sadie opens the door and turns to us.
“I saw that!” Sadie says. “And I told you I can lip-read too.”
“I know. I waited until you were looking to say it.”
She and her mom get a kick out of that as I lead them inside, noticing Brenner at the door, his eyes wide. Clearly, he heard at least part of our conversation.
Sadie leads her mom to the dance floor as Brenner walks alongside me. “I was coming to see if I could get a quick make-out session. Wasn’t expecting to see that side of Taylor.”
“Is this your boyfriend?” Sadie asks him.
Jesus Christ, what’s with the B-word today?
I’m waiting for Brenner to correct her, and when he doesn’t, I figure I should, but by then, Sadie’s already dancing with her mom.
22
Brenner
“How’d that happen?” I ask Taylor.
“Sadie?”
“Is there more than one random girl you were talking with tonight?”
“Look who brought jokes,” he teases, and for some reason, I can’t stop myself from pulling him close. Taylor comes easily, my arms around his shoulders while he faces me. “I heard them talk. She didn’t want to come in, and…” He shrugs. “I guess I understood her because I was the type who was standing on the sidelines when I was her age too—though probably not as sassily,” he jokes, and I laugh.
“So Taylor to the rescue?”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
I grin. “I would.”
“Are you flirting with me?”
“Are you just noticing?” I reply playfully, and Taylor smiles, then leans in and kisses me. “It was cute, seeing you with her. That was a nice thing you did.”
“Kinda like how you befriended me when I was quiet and kept to myself?”
I roll my eyes. “You’re giving me too much credit. I just thought you were a cute boy I could play video games with. I didn’t anticipate that meant signing up to losing to you for the rest of my life.”
“You win once in a while.” He smirks.
My heart is beating stupid-fast for some annoying reason. Hearing how Taylor was with Sadie has me all shmoopy, which is totally not my jam. But then, everything with Taylor seems to have me feeling that way lately.
“If you’d said you let me win every once in a while, we would be having our first fight as…whatever we are.” And by the way, Taylor, if you could tell me what this is, that would be fucking awesome. Sadie asking if he was my boyfriend made my stomach feel like a butterfly habitat throwing a party in there.