Page 12 of Double Take

I refused three times when Sage called, asking me to come over for dinner, but she finally wore me down. The thought of being a burden on someone gives me anxiety, and no matter how many times she told me it wasn’t an imposition, and she was the one who invited me over, I fought it.

But in the end, I gave in. She has two kids, and it’s an opportunity for Sunny to run and play in the backyard. The light coating of snow gives the girls the chance to make snowballs and toss them at each other. The snowballs aren’t perfectly formed, and neither is their aim. But from the comfort of the chairs around the firepit, I smile at their antics.

“Here you go.” Sage hands me a glass of Bailey’s hot chocolate and sits in the seat beside mine while adjusting her son, Donovan, on her lap until he’s laying with his head on her chest. He’s an adorable little boy but not yet old enough to walk.

“Thank you.” I wrap my hands around the mug and blow. The whipped cream spreads apart, leaving a hole for my breath to cool the contents. “I can only afford one. I’m not much of a drinker, and I’ll have to leave soon to get Sunny home.”

“I understand.” She places her mug on the wide wooden arm of the chair and folds her black sweater around them to ward off the evening chill.

“It’s beautiful here.” I take a sip and sigh. Delicious. The yard is surrounded by trees as their place is about a mile from the city limits. With the moon shining down and glistening off the snow, it’s a perfect evening. But unlike Sage, I don’t have anyone to share it with. Her husband greeted me warmly, teased Sunny to lighten the mood, and retreated to his office so we could chat.

Even with Mario, I didn’t have anyone to share a homey, comfortable evening, and it’s more depressing than I want to admit.

“Thank you. Jace had it built when we got married. He wanted us to have a quiet place away from everyone to raise a family.” She smiles. “And back then, we enjoyed the perks of making out whenever we wanted with no concerns about anyone seeing us.”

Heat covers my cheeks. Yeah, that also wasn’t a thing.

“Axel told me about your ex.”

“Soon to be ex.”

“He’s your ex.” Her jaw flexes the same way that Axel’s does when he’s angry. “You may not be divorced yet, but you sure aren’t together and won’t be getting back together.”

The corners of my mouth tip upward. It feels good to think of him as my ex. “You’re right.”

I take another sip of the drink and snuggle into the chair. These people are amazing. I’ve known Axel and Oliver for only a few weeks and Sage for less than a day, but I couldn’t ask for bigger cheerleaders. “I’ll never go back to him. I’m so grateful to Axel and Oliver for giving me a job. And today….” I shake my head. “They could have fired me, but instead, Oliver entertained Sunny this morning so I could get some work done. And Axel, I could tell he was nervous around her, but he did wonderful coloring with her.”

She glances at me out of the corner of her eye. “My brothers are amazing guys. And when they decide to do something, they don’t understand the word no.” She laughs and rolls her eyes. “That came out wrong. They aren’t rapists or anything. If a girl told them no, they’d stop.”

I lay my hand on her forearm. “Stop. You don’t have to convince me that they’re wonderful men. I know the difference between the good guys and the bad ones.” I frown. “Now.”

“Honey, you were 16. We were all stupid at 16.” Sage winks and turns her attention to the kids who are clamoring up the steps.

“Cold.” Sunny’s lips are wet and slightly blue around the edges.

“Let’s go inside and warm up.” Sage jumps up and marches to the door, waiting for all of us to trail inside. “Take off your gear and head to the playroom.” They drop a trail of boots, gloves, coats, and scarves where they yank them off and run to the adjoining room filled with a kitchenette, dollhouse, trucks, and other assorted toys.

“That will keep them busy for a while.” She motions to the sofa.

For several minutes, we sip our drinks and watch the kids play. Sunny takes a doll that Adalyn handed to her and lays her in a miniature cradle. She’s already grown so much in the few weeks we’ve been away from Mario and his parents. Regret washes over me.

“Rylee?”

“Yes.” I glance over at Sage.

“Don’t beat yourself up. You got away from him, and you’re taking care of your daughter. That’s all anyone can ask for. You’ll give her the most amazing life now. I know it.”

“Thank you.” I gnaw on my bottom lip as the waterworks threaten to take over. I straighten my shoulders. “Enough about me. Tell me how you and Jace got together.” I’d rather talk about anything rather than spend another second focusing on my past.

Sage laughs. “I’m not sure you’re ready for this conversation.”

My eyebrows jump upward. “Why?”

“Well….” She crosses her legs, turns toward me, and glances at the playroom to ensure the kids are occupied. By this point, Donovan is sound asleep with his little mouth making the cutest bow shape. “It’s not safe for work, which is funny because we worked together. Jace was my boss, and I’d been lusting after him for a year, but I thought he couldn’t stand me. And he thought I was with Axel and Oliver.”

“Axel and Oliver?”

“You know, as in shared by them.” She drops that bombshell like sharing women is no big deal. “He was jealous and wrong about the situation.”

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