Three Years Ago

For a change, Alicia took care of the girls during the afternoon. Only because they were spending the evening with her parents. They wanted to celebrate Hannah’s birthday a few days early. I debated between dropping by the flower shop or going to the studio to play. In the end, I decided to spend my evening composing a new song—for Sadie—at home. But my muse dropped by my house, changing all my plans.

From the moment I set my eyes on her, I couldn’t let her out of my sight. She wore a little black dress, high heels, makeup, and her hair was pinned up in a bun hiding her colorful highlights.

The little bunny dressed as a fox tonight. Blood rushed to my groin, my hands itched to grab her, and my mouth wanted to claim hers. I closed my eyes for a second trying to come up with mundane thoughts unrelated to sex.

“Hey,” her silky voice greeted me.

My mouth salivated. After several deep breaths, I finally controlled my lust.

“How many boundaries would I cross if I said you look fucking hot, and I want to pin you against the door and fuck you thoroughly?”

“Hello to you too, Mr. Hades.” She reached inside of her handbag, pulling out a white envelope.

“You left this at the shop. I texted you earlier about the invoices, but you never answered. I need the money to pay for the ponies and the cake.”

“Fuck!”

That cooled me down. If we didn’t pay those two in full, we wouldn’t have a party this coming Saturday.

“I totally forgot. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. You seemed a bit distracted today.”

“You are my only distraction,” I responded.

My mind only had two settings. Worry about my mundane life, and thinking about Sadie. I salivated all day long. And wanted to kiss her every single second. I needed a little taste of those luscious lips. Like today, I just couldn’t get my mind off her and planned on bringing up our situation. However, I’d been too busy to even take a break.

Hummingbird Flower Designs was growing rapidly. There was a rumor that the flower shop had a driver who looked just like Kaden Hades. After three weeks of working with her, it was bound to happen. We didn’t have much time to hang out or chat like we usually did. At noon I left with ten arrangements, and never went back to the store.

“Why don’t you come in? I can cook you something. We can talk about how gorgeous you look or—”

“Enough flirting, Hades. I have to go.” She rolled her eyes, wiggling her fingers.

“Dinner plans?”

She nodded twice and checked her watch. I noticed the pearl necklace, the matching earrings, and the makeup she wore. There was something about her that didn’t feel natural. She seemed off tonight.

“You okay?”

“For now. Not looking forward to my date.”

“Cancel. Stay with me,” I suggested, opening the door wider.

The fuck she was going out with someone else.

“I have dinner plans,” she repeated.

“Why don’t I take you to dinner?”

“That selective hearing, Kade.”

“If I recall, you owe me a dinner, Little Minx.”

“I could invite you to come along, Hotshot,” she proposed.

There was a catch behind the invitation. My gut told me to stay at home and wave goodbye, but my heart wanted to be with her.

“Tell me more. I’m interested.” I tapped my chin, narrowing my gaze.

“There’s not much to say. I’m going to dinner. You’re welcome to join me, and it’s at a fancy restaurant not far away from here.”

“We’re having a formal dinner,” I smirked, eyeing her again. “You and me.”

I leaned forward, my lips scheming along the sweep of her cheek.

“I’d call that progress, Miss Bell.”

“Keep your lips to yourself, Hades.” She pushed me lightly.

“There’s no progress. This is an invitation to join my father, his new bimbo, and me for dinner.”

“You want me to meet your father, Honey Buns?” My body tensed, and I took a step backward.

Alicia’s parents hated me; even though I was the father of their granddaughters. There was no way Sadie’s father would like me.

“No, Melon Belly. I don’t want you to meet my father.”

I pulled my shirt up slightly and patted my stomach. “There’s no fat in here, Sugar Tush. But tell me, do I get to meet your dad or not?”

“Yes, but not the way you think.”

“You know what I’m thinking?” I crossed my arms and arch an eyebrow. “I doubt it because if you knew you’d be complaining about my terrible friendship etiquette.”

“You’re so irritating sometimes.”

“Am I?”

A crooked smile touched her lips, her cheeks darkened slightly.

“Me thinks you’re flustered because you want the same thing I do.”

“You’re a nightmare.” She rolled her eyes.

“I’m not. To prove it, I’ll go with you and be on my best behavior. I’ll be perfect for Princess Aurora.”

“Look Prince Charming, if you’re going to call me a princess, I’d choose anyone but Sleeping Beauty. And if you’re joining me, you have to hurry up and change.”

“Change?”

“It’s one of those no jacket, no service kinds of restaurants.”

“You want me to dress for the occasion?”

“Unless you can’t, then I’ll be on my way.”

“I can, but you’re going to owe me.”

“If we’re charging for favors, you owe me your first born after what I had to pull this week for Hannah.”

“I’m not sure Tess would be willing to go with you, but we can have a baby together if you want.”

“Thank you, but I’m not in the market to get knocked up, Mr. Hades.”

“One day, you’ll be begging for one,” I smirked at her.

And fuck if I wasn’t whipped. The image of a little girl with her long hair and eyes appeared out of nowhere. Or a boy, our son.

Stop it, you’re done with children and commitments. You suck at those.

I turned around and march toward my room.

Stars lit the sky like snowflakes in the night. Sadie smiled, and the wind blew her hair into a tousled mane. Once we left the restaurant, she undid the tight bun and the weight she carried on her shoulders disappeared. My girl was back and the evening became everything.

“See those.” She pointed at the sky. “The constellations. They’ve witnessed everything that happens, during a night, a year, even a millennia. They watch and record every tiny moment. How many stories do you think they’d tell?”

“You like stories?”

“Yes, all kinds of stories, real stories—biographies. I got that from Dad, I think.”

“I didn’t like him.” I grabbed her delicate hand and kissed her wrist.

When Sadie and I walked toward the entrance of the restaurant, her father arrived. Once he spotted me, he handed me a twenty-dollar bill and his car keys. He asked me to look after his baby, or I’d be jobless the next day.

“However, I’ll be happy to take care of his baby.” I handed over the money her father had given me.

“You think that twenty is enough to care for me?” She laughed.

The sound of her laughter rushed in and around me. I loved everything about it. The sweetness. The soulful clatter that resonated through my heart, making it beat faster.

“Your safekeeping is priceless.” I opened the passenger door of my truck. “I’d give all my money to keep you safe. But then again, I would take care of you myself.”

“Dad meant his car,” she said once I climbed into the driver seat.

Your dad’s a fucking asshole.

“How can you stand the man?”

“Dad’s an acquired taste,” Sadie said kissing my jaw before I pulled out of the parking spot. “You have no idea how much I appreciate you coming with me.”

I kissed her knuckles and stroked her bare arm with my fingers while holding the wheel with my left hand.

“Next time I might bail or give him a piece of my mind.”

“Thank you for controlling yourself.”

“It was fucking hard,” I mumbled between clenched teeth. “He’s an asshole, but I admired the way you put him in his place.”

“He’s used to people doing everything he says and wants. But that’s something I refuse to do for him. No one can make him happy. Why even try?” she said with resignation.

“Thank you for getting us his garden. Now I understand why Raven told me to stop you.”

“Rae likes to exaggerate, I can handle my father,” she commented casually. “It was a pleasure, and I did it for Hannah. With more time, I would’ve gotten something else.”

“I can’t believe that someone so sweet can be related to that asshole.”

“We can’t choose our parents, but at least I know what I don’t want with my own children.”

“Is that something you can choose?”

“I want to believe so,” she shared, leaning closer like she was about to tell me a secret.

The closeness of her body made me want to pull her into my lap, but I kept driving and controlled my urge.

“Wouldn’t it be great to have a family where everyone loves and respects each other?” She questioned, animatedly. “I’m not saying there wouldn’t be arguments, but I want to be a parent and a friend, the person they go to when they need an adult and not the one they hide from because they’re afraid of my reaction.”

“Have my children,” I offered.

“You already have children, and from what I’ve witnessed so far, you’ve done a great job. Hannah is charming and kind.”

“She happened to like you too.” I parked in front of her apartment building. “I’ve never introduced anyone to my daughters.”

I never saw myself with anyone, but every minute I spent with Sadie was unique. We worked perfectly together. The way she treated my kid and how patient she was with everyone, drew me closer to her. Her judgmental father tried to put her down several times. Not once did she let him, and every time she used her sweetness to keep him in check.

“I’m flattered you trusted me with her birthday, and for letting me spend time with you two.” She continued looking toward the entrance to her apartment building. “Thank you, for everything.”

“Sounds like you want to cut tonight short.”

“I have to be up early tomorrow morning.”

“Me too, I have to pick up your tea before work.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“But I love to do it, just like I love to spend time with you. Come home with me, we can watch movies and just hang out.”

“Maybe another day. Tonight I have to be home.”

“Can I invite myself in?”

“You can, but we shouldn’t.”

“We are friends who happen to like spending time together. Why do you keep fighting me?”

“Because I know how it’ll end.”

“You don’t, but I’ll give you time.”

“Why are you so insistent?”

I’m not sure. My soul knows, my heart too. My head is the one that’s figuring it out, but while that happens, I don’t want to let you go.