Page 41 of Something New

"I'm good at answering questions," I said, feeling confident and in a hurry for him to start having feelings for me.

He smiled. "There is one last thing," he said.

"I knew it."

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I knew there was stuff stopping you," I said. "I could feel things stop between us that night."

He sighed, stalling, looking for the right words to say. "I like you so much that I am barely holding it together, Sadie. I'm shaking. I've been thinking you need space this whole time. I thought that was what the warning was about. I won't lie, the Shy thing freaks me out. And it's not that I'm trying to control you or make you quit something you love, but I've seen you dancing, and I've seen the atmosphere at those things. Dudes are all over you, and I'm sorry, but not everyone's motives are good. I feel like I would want to fight dudes constantly if we started—"

He cut off and I said, "If we started what?"

He sighed. "Once I kiss you, I might not want anyone else to."

Chapter 14

John-Michael Kennedy

Later that night

"Thank you for coming over," he said to his sister, Sara.

"I'll just be gone for a couple of hours."

"I'm so glad you called. I've been wanting to hang out with my neph."

"I'm heading out in just a minute," he said, making his way back to his bedroom to choose his jacket and shoes. It was a cool day, and he went with an athletic windbreaker with jeans and nice tennis shoes.

He had his bedroom door open and he heard it when his sister and Ethan went to the front door.

Sadie was standing in the entryway by the time he made it down the hall. She was holding Ethan on her hip while he stared at her. She had on jeans and a light purple hoodie, and he already ached to touch her.

"Have you met Sadie?" he asked his sister, trying to stay focused.

"Yeah, a couple of weeks ago she was here, watching Ethan."

"Are you watching me tonight?" Ethan asked, looking at Sadie.

"Did you double-book babysitters?" Sara asked, smiling and looking back at her brother.

"No, Sadie's actually, coming with me. To dinner."

"Oh," Sara said, looking wide-eyed like she was just getting it. "Oh, I, of course."

John-Michael could see the surprise on his sister's face, and he stepped toward Sadie, holding his hands out for Ethan. He situated the boy on his side, holding him up next to his chest and looking right at him.

"I'm taking Sadie out to dinner, and you're going to stay here and have dinner and playtime with Aunt Sara."

"Okay, but where are y'all going?"

"Just for a burger," John-Michael said. "We won't be long. You can stay up till we get back."

"I like burgers. I'll come with you," Ethan said, innocently. "And Aunt Sara can too."

"I'm taking just me and Sadie this time, but we'll be back soon."

"Yeah, he'll be right back," Sara assured him. "Maybe we can dig in the cupboards and see if you have the right stuff to make some chocolate chip cookies. We might need… some dirt, some worms," she started listing silly ingredients and Ethan cracked up. "You guys have fun!" Sara yelled as she crossed to the kitchen with Ethan following her.

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