Page 45 of Mad Love

I’m determined to not blow this with Sadie. I cannot fuck this up.

The circles under her eyes are almost gone. She looks more rested than she has in days, and she’s smiling down at Caleb. When she looks up at me, her eyes widen when she sees what I’m doing.

“You made pancakes?” She smiles.

“Does that sound good?”

“Always.”

“Well, dig in. They’re still hot.”

When she walks over, Caleb grins his huge, gummy smile at me and I lean down and nuzzle his neck. Sadie freezes and Caleb laughs.

“Sorry.” I take a step back. “I can’t resist his neck.”

She relaxes and grins. “I can’t either. His little chubby neck…and wrists and legs…and cheeks…” She laughs. “I guess I can’t resist anything about him.”

I grin at her and she seems taken aback for a second. Her cheeks are flushed, and she focuses on grabbing a plate.

“Want me to take him while you eat?” I ask.

“Have you eaten yet?”

“I had a protein shake a few minutes ago.”

She stares at me, pausing the syrup midstream. “You made these just for me?”

I lift my shoulder. “Yeah. It didn’t take long. And you seem to like them.”

“I love pancakes,” she says softly. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do that, especially if you’re not eating them.”

She hands Caleb to me and I hug him close.

“It’s no trouble. Maybe I’ll have a couple with peanut butter in a little while.” I laugh. “I had a good workout already.”

She lifts her eyebrows. “You eat them with peanut butter? Doesn’t it stick to the roof of your mouth?”

“Well, my favorite way to have them is with Karo syrup and peanut butter, but I try to avoid that kind of sugar most of the time. Today I might just drizzle honey over the top.”

She nods like she’s considering trying it.

“That does sound good.”

We go to the table and sit down, both of us focused on Caleb for the first few minutes.

“His furniture is supposed to come today,” I finally say.

“Oh good. I was wondering when that was arriving.”

“How would you feel about…what if—”God, why is this so hard? I’m never nervous around women, but I’m nervous around her.

“Spit it out, Shaw.” She laughs.

I swipe my hand down my face. “I don’t know why I’m nervous.”

I look at her from the corner of my eye and her face drains of color. She sets her fork down and folds her hands, waiting for me to come out with it.

“Just say it,” she says.

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