Page 41 of When Ellie Falls in Love

Sighing, Sadie tucked the front hem of her shirt into her jeans. She’d settled on a casual look of a white tee, black unbuttoned blazer, and jeans. Sadie paired the look with low-heeled ankle boots and her hair down in a simple curl. Ellie seemed to like it that way the other day.

Not that Sadie was trying to get Ellie’s attention.

Oh, fuck it. Yes, I am.

“Sadie, are you ready? We need to get going so we’re not late.”

“Yeah.” Grabbing her bag off the bed, Sadie ran down the stairs to find her mom and Charlie waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. They had dressed up for the occasion too, which made Sadie giddy about attending the play. “I’m ready.”

“Well, well, well,” Delaney teased. “Don’t you look gorgeous?”

“No, I don’t.”

“No, you do,” Charlie smirked. “Are you all dressed up forEllie?”

“I’m not dressed up for Ellie.” Sadie rolled her eyes, pushing between them. She opened the door and walked outside with her mom and Charlie following behind her. “Who’s driving?”

“I’ll drive.”

Piling into Delaney’s SUV, Sadie was thankful the drive to the high school was relatively quiet. As they walked into the auditorium, there was only one more remark about how well-dressed Sadie was. She looked around the place for Ellie, unsure why she’d not be backstage but looking for her nonetheless.

They handed their tickets to the faculty advisor at the ticket table before walking down to their seats. Ellie was right; they were literally front and center. The Mackenzies were already there, and Sadie nervously smiled at them.

Do they know Ellie and I almost kissed? Do they know Ellie gave us these tickets? Do they know that I like Ellie? Or, possibly worse, do they know Ellie likes me?

Sadie shook her head slightly as she hugged the Mackenzie moms and older sisters. She fist-bumped Brayden before giving Everleigh a quick side hug. Their seats were beside Mason, of course, and Sadie sat beside her after Charlie and Delaney left that seat open as if on purpose.

It wouldn’t have surprised Sadie in the least if they had discussed it with Mason the fact that Sadie liked Ellie. Nor would it surprise her if Mason knew about everything that had happened between them. Sadie knew she and Ellie were close; it made sense.

And made Sadie wish she had a sister like that.

Mason leaned over slightly toward Sadie. “Did you have fun at the arcade the other night?”

Her question seemed so simple on the surface, but Sadie’s stomach dropped at the implications of its deeper meaning. She turned to her, trying to remain calm and nonchalant.

“Yeah. I did.”

“Ellie did, too.”

“Good.”

“Yeah.” Mason waited a beat before asking, “Do you think you’ll do it again?”

“Go to the arcade?”

“WithEllie.”

Rolling her eyes, Sadie opened the small program they’d been given upon entering the auditorium. She scanned the pages as if she were reading them until the lights dimmed and the music started.

Sadie was glad she had seen the Disneymovie before because there was no way she was about to focus on the plot of the play. Ellie was absolutely captivating on stage. She owned every scene she was in and hit the notes better than anyone else in the cast. If she wanted a professional career in theater, there was no doubt in Sadie’s mind that she’d excel at it.

Just like Ellie had excelled in making eye contact with Sadie every chance she could.

She was sure everyone in the audience noticed it, too. There might as well have been a spotlight shining right down on her head, because that was how it felt to be the focus of Ellie’s attention.

And Sadie didn’t ever want it to end.

Shifting for the hundredth time in her seat, Sadie swallowed and tried to focus on the play. Ellie wasn’t in the current scene, which bummed Sadie out more than she wanted to admit. She shifted again, accidentally bumping her elbow against Mason’s arm.

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