Page 33 of Something Blue

Nancy checked him out in the water, her smile growing. “You sure are handsome. Way to go, Sadie.” She clasped an arm around the both of them and squeezed.

Sadie rolled her eyes at Andy. “I’m going to relax in the sun after you nearly gave me a heart attack. Nancy, keep an eye on him, will ya?”

“Sure will.” Nancy smiled, looked him over, and sat on the cement ledge close to him. His cheek filled with heat after her thorough inspection.

Nancy asked him about work, and he gave her the same minimal details he’d shared with Sadie when she’d asked. Then she told him stories of Sadie’s growing up years, and how much she missed her mom. She seemed to know a lot about everybody.

“Everything okay with Sadie?” Nancy asked, nodding in her direction. “She seems a bit bummed.”

“What do you know about Chase and Piper?” he suddenly asked. “We were just at the beach, and in less than a few minutes, Piper belittled her to a child. They poked fun at her for not going with them parasailing. If I hadn’t gotten out of there, I would’ve said something hurtful to all three of them.”

Nancy frowned. “Piper wasn’t always like that. And neither was Sadie.” She leaned in and lowered her voice to a whisper. “If you ask me, and you did, the week her mom got sick was when everything changed.”

Andy raised a brow, but didn’t want to interrupt the story.

“A day before they came to Florida a few years ago, Loretta was diagnosed with cancer. Most people didn’t know about her illness until they’d gone home, so her friends didn’t understand why Sadie stuck like glue to her mom, instead of hanging out with them.”

Regret stabbed through his conscience like a hot-seared knife. And he had only made her ache grow. Finding he couldn’t look Nancy in the eye anymore, he stared hard at the bottom of the pool. “I can’t believe she didn’t say something.”

“Would you have made a stink about it? You better believe Sadie had a sharp tongue before it all happened, but these things change a person. Her friends would’ve only rubbed her pain in the sand and laughed it off, because they don’t know how to deal with it. It’s not their fault they’re emotionally incapable, but it explains why Sadie can’t or won’t stand up to them. I think she feels guilty she didn’t see the signs earlier.”

Andy glanced at Sadie, who was lounging in her chair and reading a book. A growing urge to protect her filled his whole being. That was it. From that moment on, he would not let her feel embarrassed by people ignorant of her pain. Never again.

Sadie lowered the book and caught him watching. She gave him a forced smile. He waved her over with a big grin. It was time to start Vacation 2.0.

Nancy reached out to him and gave his shoulder a pat. “You two seem fit for each other. See you two lovebirds on the beach.”

Andy hopped up on the side of the pool and slapped the cement next to him.

When she came close enough he could hear, she asked, “Are you still mad? I was trying to give you some space.” She plopped down on the cement next to him, a few scoots away.

Andy shook his head. “No, not even a little bit. But you were looking pretty hot over there by yourself.”

He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into the water with him. Once they surfaced, she screeched, but laughed at his attempt to cheer her up.

Once they’d swum a bit, he reached for her hand and cradled her in his arms. She opened her mouth with surprise, but didn’t pull away. She was airy light and too beautiful to look at for too long. “How about if we go parasailing together?”

“What?” she asked, pushing away. “If I didn’t go with—”

“I know, but I’ve always wanted to go.” He held her closer, needing her to know he was serious. “My parents never took me to the beach. Italy, sure. France, no problem. But taking me to the beach? If there wasn’t a meeting to attend that would benefit my growth in the company, it was a no go. And definitely no places that would distract the next CEO.”

Her eyes brightened. “CEO? I knew it. You’re going to be a big boss for a big corporation one day, aren’t you?”

His mouth twitched. “We’re not talking about me right now.”

“Actually, we are.” She dug her fingers into his side and tickled him. He squirmed away, but she swam after him and got him with both index fingers.

He grabbed both hands and pulled her to him so they were inches apart. Her eyes seemed to grow three times larger as they stared back at him. “So, will you go with me?” Time stopped as he waited for her answer.

“But . . . I can’t. Chase and Piper were right. I was too chicken.”

“Was! Was is the keyword. You’re an adult now. You have an adult friend going with you. I’ll make sure you’re okay. And if they drop us in the water and anything comes near us, I’ll kick it in the head.”

When she laughed, the sound of her voice sent goosebumps down his arms. He bit back a smile and held her gaze. “Please?” he begged.

She sighed. “You promise to protect me and make sure I won’t go flying off the boat?”

He dropped her hands, only to wrap both arms around her tiny waist. “I’ll be the best fiancé ever.”

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