Page 42 of The One I Stood Beside

Sadie holds up her left hand. “Oh, I forgot that we haven’t told many people.”

Alondra smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. I’ve never been sought after like Ben, but I’ve had my fair share of numbers slipped to me at The Hidden Cave.

“So… you two are engaged?” She waves her finger back and forth between us.

“Yep!” Sadie says and eyes Lottie.

“Just the other night. She rushed over to tell me. Now we’re finally going to be best friends and family!” Lottie sells our situation better than either of us. “Come on, guys, you’re holding up the line.”

I look over my shoulder. Sure enough, a line is forming, but most of them seem as though they’re listening to our conversation. Each one probably wants to be the first one to tell their friends and make sure they know that they knew the gossip first.

“Thanks for the save,” I say as Sadie tucks her hand into mine again on the way to the stands.

“So, how was it with the parents?” Lottie whispers as Sadie snags a chip.

“Everyone is on board,” Sadie says before placing the chip in her mouth.

We walk up the bleachers and head in the direction to where my family usually sits.

“Heard a rumor!” Emmett pops up behind us.

Sadie yelps.

“Fucking hell.” I glare at him.

He holds up his hands. “You can’t blame me when Sadie waves her diamond ring to the booster women. You two are the talk of the entry line now.”

“So annoying,” Sadie says and rolls her eyes, leaving me to accompany Lottie to our seats.

Emmett claps me on the shoulder. “So, that’s it, huh?” His eyebrows raise slightly indicating he knows why we’re doing it.

“It’s real, Emmett,” I say.

“Sure, it is. I love Sadie, and I love the fact I get another sister-in-law. Way to man up.”

I roll my eyes. “Right, thanks.”

“Sadie Wilkins!” a woman shouts, interrupting Emmett and me.

I look up to see Gillian and my cousin, Romy, weaving through the crowd to reach Sadie. They gush over her, lifting her hand and hugging her. Everyone else around rushes her, congratulating her too.

Yes, this is definitely the best place for our grand coming out.

“Good thing there isn’t a kiss cam here, huh?” Emmett slaps me on the back and bounds up the stairs, picking up Sadie and swinging her around.

I stuff my hands in my pockets and watch Sadie’s smile grow. A part of me wishes this was real for her because I know how much she wants a big wedding and a big fuss.

A few people who heard the commotion congratulate me as I walk up the stairs, and I nod my thanks to them. By the time I reach my family, everyone is sitting. Gillian gets up so I can sit next to Sadie.

Sadie puts her hand on my thigh, and I rest my arm around her back. We watch Ben coach the varsity high school team. He’s doing a great job, and I’m happy to have him back in Willowbrook after he retired from the pros.

At the half, we’re winning by one touchdown. When the pom squad comes onto the field doing their dance, a few people leave the stands to get food and use the bathroom. I’m counting down the minutes until the game is over, and we can get the hell out of here. I feel like a damn zoo animal with all the eyes on us, watching and assessing.

“Let’s hear it for the Wildcat Pom Squad,” the announcer in the booth says over the speakers, and everyone claps and cheers.

Sadie leans over to me and whispers, “You need to up your game, Mister Stoic.”

I shift our positions so I’m talking directly in her ear. “This is me in a relationship.”

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