Page 15 of Something New

"If you give me your phone number, I'm going to use it."

Gosh. Those words coming out of his mouth. He meant he'd be using it for babysitting, but I wanted him to say that for reasons that weren't babysitting. He smiled when he said it and he was so good looking that I fell under his spell.

"I’m giving it to you, just in case," I said. I took a piece of paper out of my bag and jotted my number on it.

I handed it to John-Michael and he smiled. "Do you want to just plan on helping me out on Sunday?" he asked as he took it.

He was smiling and I could tell he was being funny, but I instinctually answered as if I were serious, "Yeah, sure."

"Really? I was just joking."

"Okay, then, I don't have to," I said with a shrug.

"Were you going to?"

"Yes," I said. "I was going to do it."

(He was that irresistible.)

"Then, let's do it. He would love it. That'd be amazing."

I smiled. "Okay."

"You're coming over Sunday? From maybe like three to six? Would that work?"

"Sure."

"Yessss. Thank you, Sadie. Thank you. I'll text you the address."

"Okay."

He was excited and adorable, and I was breathless.

"Thank you, Sadie."

I smiled and waved at him as he started walking away, leaving me on the sidewalk in front of the bookstore.

"You're welcome," I called.

What had just happened to me? What did I agree to? Where was I, for goodness sake? I didn't even need to go to the bookstore, yet I found myself walking inside feeling dazed.

I went on with my day, and I kept up with my classes as best I could, but I kept thinking about my conversation with John-Michael.

I was frustrated with my brothers for telling him I had been in trouble. But it wasn't the first time I had disappointed them. They downplayed this most recent incident to our parents and they were helping me out a ton, taking care of thousands of dollars in car repairs and letting me use one of their trucks in the meantime. I knew I wouldn't complain to them for talking about me, but it was embarrassing.

Chapter 6

I went with my brothers out to Camp Eden the following day. We arrived at eight in the morning and they put me to work varnishing finished sections of the tunnel. It was a massive undertaking—a long expanse of extended awning, encasing the path and bending through the woods. My brothers were specialty carpenters, and the Kennedys were sparing no expense when they chose to hire them. They expected excellence from me. I was taught how to properly varnish, and I was expected to do a perfect job.

I was happy to see the little boy running toward me that day while I was working. My shoulder was sore from holding the rag and brush all morning, and it was nice to take a break. Ethan was followed by his Nana, and I put down my paintbrush knowing my brothers would be fine with me taking a break to talk to them.

It was a good thing that I put my brush down because little Ethan didn't stop running until he jumped into my arms. I picked him up, situating him on my left hip since my right arm was sore. I locked eyes with him because he was so intent on locking eyes with me. He gave me no choice but to look at him. Those big brown eyes were just like his dad's—just like mine.

I was working in the shade, but I had on sunglasses, and I put them on the top of my head.

"I'm going to kiss and hug your face," he said, with a serious expression.

"Okay," I said reluctantly, since I wasn't sure how you would hug a face.

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