Page 83 of When Ellie Falls in Love

But time nonetheless.

Sadie leaned her head against the back of the lounge chair she was in and sighed. A few feet away, her mother did the same. She and Charlie were also sitting on lounge chairs, each reading a book as well. It had been quiet for the last hour, or so Sadie had thought.

“Sadie Alexandra, either say what’s on your mind or stop dramatically sighing.” Delaney laughed as she sat her book down in her lap and turned to Sadie. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Sadie sighed without even realizing it, causing her mom to arch an eyebrow at her and Charlie to snicker.

“You know, I thought the newborn stage was going to be my most trying. But I’m starting to think it’s teenage years.”

The wink let Sadie know her mom was only joking.

“Well, then good thing I’ll only be a teen for two more years.”

“Ugh, somehow that’s worse,” Delaney groaned. “How am I old enough to have a kid your age?”

“Because you were born in the 1980s,” Charlie added without looking up from her book. Delaney snapped her head toward her while Sadie stifled a laugh. Charlie shrugged. “What? We’re the same age. Don’t look at me like that.”

“I’m not talking to you anymore.”

Delaney dramatically swung her legs off her lounge chair and stood. She was wearing a bathing suit top—why, Sadie didn’t know—with a cover-up skirt that flowed to her ankles. Her dark red hair was free-flowing in curls around her face and down her shoulder. Motioning for Sadie to scoot over, Delaney sat on the edge of Sadie’s lounge chair.

“I’m focusing my attention on you.”

“Ten seconds ago you were annoyed with me.”

“Part of being a mother is my ability to feel a thousand different ways about my offspring every second.”

“Oh, really now?” Sadie teased as she crossed her legs, sitting up in the chair.

“Yup.”

Delaney smiled, putting a hand on Sadie’s bare leg. Her shorts were shorter than she thought she could get away with, but so far Delaney hadn’t commented on anything. Which was good considering they weren’t her shorts. They were Ellie’s. Their clothes must have gotten mixed up when Sadie did laundry her last night at the Cape.

“So, talk to me. What’s bothering you? Is it Ellie?”

“No,” Sadie answered way too quickly before rethinking it. “I mean, kinda. But not in a bad way.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning that my brain is going crazy about what in the world is going to happen when I go off to college.”

“Oh, sweetie.” Delaney gently squeezed her leg. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“I dunno,” Sadie shrugged.

“That’s Delaney for yes,” Charlie chimed in as she walked over toward them. She pulled a chair from the table closer as she sat. “You’re too much like your mom; you know that, right?”

“So I’ve been told.”

Sadie didn’t feel pressured to talk to her mom or Charlie. In fact, she was beyond thankful she had both of them in her life and that they cared so much about her. Taking a deep breath, she told her about her fears and anxieties and asked them what she should do. Delaney spoke first.

“Well, you might not like what I’m going to say, but,” Sadie prepared herself for what her mother was about to say, “you’re eighteen. I know this is a huge deal now and I am in no way trying to diminish your feelings. But just enjoy the ride. Enjoy your time with Ellie as girlfriends or friends or whatever happens between you two.”

“Yeah, Ellie’s a good one,” Charlie added. “Amazing girlfriend material, but she’s also just a great friend to have.”

“Exactly.”

“So, you’re saying that I should just go with the flow?”

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