Page 19 of Something New

"Just a second, I'm coming!" I turned to Ethan. "Can you chew that good?" He nodded. "Your dad needs to tell me something. I'll be right back."

Chapter 7

John-Michael Kennedy

It was five-thirty when he took a short break from the interview to talk to Sadie. He saw from down the hall that she was in the kitchen with Ethan, and he quietly backed away and hollered at her from a distance. He waited in a nook that was between his bedroom and office. She couldn't see him when she came down the hallway, and she jumped back a little when he came out unexpectedly.

She had been swimming. Her hair was still damp. She was naturally beautiful. Her face was delicate and exquisite. The doors were closed and the lighting was dim in the hallway. She was only a few feet away from him, and he felt himself being drawn to her, attracted to her.

Sadie's brown eyes mirrored his. Staring into her eyes made him feel vulnerable, and he had to look away.

"Hey, I, uh, wanted to touch base with you," he said. "I know I told you six o'clock, but there's just no way we're going to be done with this. It's taking a really long time. These guys are… I'm trying to be patient. Everything's taking forever. I was thinking I could call one of my sisters to come over and help me get Ethan to bed if you need to go. He usually gets tired by 8 o'clock if he doesn't have a nap. He'll need someone who can do the whole… bath, story, bedtime stuff."

He was reluctant when he said that, but none of it seemed overwhelming to her. "I got that," she said. "I'm caught up on my work this weekend, which is usually what I'd be doing right now."

"So, you don't mind staying? It might be like two to three more hours."

"I'll do it," she said easily.

"Thank you so much. I'll make it worth your while. And I'll come out in a little bit and talk to him and say goodnight. I would have come out there just now, but I didn't want to ask you in front of him and make you feel obligated to stay."

"I don't feel obligated. I'm having fun. Can I have a slice of that pizza? I already took it out of the box."

He grinned. She was adorable. "Yes, I'd love for you to have some pizza. Take all you want. I wish I could eat a slice right now."

"Come eat one."

"If I do, this is all just gonna take longer."

"I'll heat up a slice for twenty seconds. You can come scarf it down. You could tell Ethan I'm going to help tuck him in tonight."

"That's a good idea."

"Do you want me to warm it up now? I have the pizza out."

"Yes, definitely, thank you."

He opened the door and yelled inside to tell the guys he would be back, and then both of them headed toward the kitchen.

"Hey, my baby boy… are you having fun with Sadie?"

"She farted in the pool."

"Oh, my gosh, seriously? Ethan! I can't believe you ratted me out." She looked at John-Michael with a pleading expression. "I faked it to make him laugh."

"She farted, and it was sooo loud," he said, laughing and causing us all to laugh.

"I promise I made the sound with my mouth," she said, shaking her head and blushing as she laughed. She stared wide-eyed at Ethan as she popped a slice of pizza into the microwave. John-Michael loved their dynamic.

"It's okay, ladies have to do it too," John-Michael said, causing them all to laugh again.

"I didn't," she pleaded, hoping he would believe her.

He gave her a reassuring smile and wink and she shook her head at Ethan again. The microwave was set to thirty seconds, and she reached up and opened the door with eight seconds left.

"Twenty-two's perfect," she said.

"Sadie said there's a frog at the bottom of the pool," Ethan said to his dad as she handed John-Michael the plate.

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