Page 99 of When Morning Comes Around

Terry slipped her arm through Sadie’s. “Come and sit down, and we can catch up a bit before it gets too loud.”

Sadie shot Dom an apologetic smile as Terry swept her away. He pushed his way to the bar, knowing that Damon would follow him, and he’d be able to get their drinks, too.

“Hey, sugar!”

He had to laugh when Kenzie came over. She rested her elbows on the bar, and her chin on her hands. “It’s been a while.”

“It has, how’ve you been?”

She laughed her raucous laugh. “I’m good, I’m always good. How haveyoubeen? That’s the question. I hear good things about Sadie.”

“Things are good.”

“Glad to hear it. What are you drinking? I’ll have to interrogate you next time. We’re slammed right now. And here comes Damon, I love seeing the two of you together.”

Damon grinned at him as he joined him. “You good?”

“Yeah, you?”

“Yep.”

Kenzie laughed out loud. “Men of few words. I love it. Do you and Jo want the usual, Damon?”

“Please, Kenz.”

“And you? The usual for you, and what’s Sadie drinking?”

She hadn’t answered when he asked what she wanted, but he smiled and told Kenzie, “Bailey’s.”

~ ~ ~

When Dom arrived at the table with their drinks, Sadie patted the seat beside her even as she kept listening to Terry who was telling them about her daughter, Elle, and her granddaughter, Skye.

He set her drink on the table and leaned in close. “You okay?”

She nodded happily. “This is great. Are you good?” Her smile faded. “Are you going to sit there or how does it work?”

“I’ll sit with you, if you’re good with that?”

“Please.”

He gave her a puzzled look as he sat down. “What’s up? You were all happy but then …”

She glanced around and leaned in closer so that no one else would hear her. “I was all excited for you to come sit with me, but then I wondered if maybe all the guys sat together.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “And you wouldn’t like that?”

She sucked in a deep breath. “I’m supposed to be honest about what I want, right?”

He held her gaze as he nodded.

“Then I’ll say it. The thought of you sitting with the guys while I chat with the girls made me sad. I mean, I know that’s the way it works sometimes, but I came out tonight to be withyou.”

He took her hand under the table. “And until you tell me that you want some space, I’ll be right here with you. I don’t want to crowd you.” He glanced at the other women. “I don’t want to intrude on your girl talk …”

Sadie ducked her head when Terry called. “You’ve got no worries there, Dominic. We want you in on the girl talk. You might as well listen so that you can set us straight since we’re going to be talking about you.”

Sadie gave him an apologetic look, but he laughed.

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