Page 18 of Something Blue

His confident smile slid off his face, only confirming what she thought about him.

“That’s okay. This is temporary anyway, right? I’m sure when it’s the right time, you’ll find someone of your own class that’ll offer you more.”

“That’s not true. I–”

Sadie opened the door and slammed it shut before he could get another word in. She hurried to the porch where she saw the suitcase, a heavy reminder of what she’d signed up for. As she unlocked the door, he sped away.

Hmph! Didn’t even have the decency to roll his window down and apologize.

After dragging her suitcase in behind her, she locked her front door and turned off the porch light without looking back.

In the safety of her room, she stared at herself in the floor-length mirror on her closet door. She’d never felt as beautiful as she had after being pampered and dolled up. Even Andy had been impressed, or at least she’d thought so.

Sadie grimaced as she remembered catching the tail end of Andy and his father’s conversation. She hadn’t caught every word, but she’d gotten the gist. It was a business transaction to please his family and nothing more. At least she knew if it seemed like he had feelings for her, they would be fake. All he wanted was his position.

She pushed away feelings of closeness she’d felt with him and his mom. It was a fluke they’d gotten along so well.

After changing into her night shirt, she pulled cool sheets over her head and rested against her pillow. Her heart ached with thoughts of her own mother. She would’ve been excited to see Sadie all dolled up. For sure, her mom would’ve thought Andy was handsome, as he was. She sighed. Signing that contract may be the worst decision she’d made all year.

* * *

Now that she dreaded her visit to the beach even more, the days seemed to fly. She worked every day, sometimes taking extra shifts to make sure she didn’t have much time to think. When she wasn’t at work, she was with Carrie.

“Are you staying here again?” Carrie asked.

They were in the break room, and Sadie was trying to convince herself to sleep at home instead of staying at the hospital. It was only a few hundred steps away, but she couldn’t muster it.

Sadie shrugged in response. “I dunno.”

“When’s the last time you showered?”

“Does the wash off shower during my shift count?”

“Artery burst guy?”

Sadie nodded.

“Then, no. Go home.”

Sadie sighed and grabbed her purse. “Thanks. I need someone to tell me what to do sometimes.”

Carrie saluted her. “Always here for you.”

The air was hot, even though the sun was long gone. Stifling.

After making it home and settling on her couch with a cold bottle of water, she pulled out her phone and stared at Andy’s contact information. Even though she was annoyed with him, she knew what she’d signed up for. All week, she found herself wanting to call him to cancel every time she touched the phone.

It was only three nights before they were to leave. She pressed send and waited with bated breath as the phone rang.

“Hey, Sadie,” he said, picking up after the first ring.

She sat back against the couch, not expecting his voice to be so eager. Her mind blanked as she realized it was her turn. “I wanted to make sure everything’s ready for this next week.”

There was a long pause before he answered. “Was I supposed to do anything else?”

She slapped her forehead. Why hadn’t she bailed when she had the chance? “No, I guess not.”

“Have you packed yet?”

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