Page 124 of Courtside

SAGE

The morning after graduating, after sleeping in, working out, and somehow fitting both of their tall bodies into Sage’s shower, Sage and David walked hand-in-hand into the lobby of The Magnolia, the boutique hotel where Brinley, Rohan, and her mom were staying.

Passing through the brightly lit lobby that was painted a variety of greens with a few pink accents, they walked into the back patio restaurant. Wrought-iron tables with white tablecloths were arranged under a wooden pergola that was covered in blooming jasmine.

Brinley waved them over, looking put together as always in a floral dress and perfectly curled hair. Beside her, Rohan looked relaxed and at home in some sort of linen shirt that matched the orange in the flowers on her sister’s dress.

It was disgustingly cute.

Her mom was also in a dress, with her graying blonde hair braided and twirled around her head and her tan skin more lined than Sage remembered. It was a rather harsh reminder that as she grew and moved forward with her life, her mother did too.

Sage exchanged hugs and greetings with her small, imperfect family — including Rohan, who had earned the honorary brother title simply by making her sister so fucking happy — and then sat down, watching with overwhelming fondness as David bent down to give her mom a warm hug.

“Wonderful party last night,” her mom said as they all settled in. Her smile deepened the lines around her mouth. “Your friends are lovely, David.”

David nodded, smiling easily. “I certainly think so, Ms. Fogerty.”

Her mom scoffed. “Please call me Cheryl,” she said, leaning over and patting David’s hand. “My students call me Ms. Fogerty all day, and that’s more than enough for me.”

“I’ll try,” David replied, casting a quick smile over at Sage. She felt the firm grip of his hand on her thigh and she smiled back.

Their waiter arrived, and soon they were bouncing from topic to topic as they ate. Sage stole bacon from David’s plate, and he ordered her another tea every time her mug got low.

It struck her just how much their lives were in rhythm. How months and months of friendship and proximity had built these little connections between them. When all of the small things added up, there was something solid and more real than she ever could have imagined. Something they had created together.

At some point David and Rohan excused themselves, probably to do something silly like argue over who was going to pick up the bill.

“Girls,” her mom said, folding her hands onto the table in front of her and looking between her two daughters. “I just want to say how proud I am of both of you.”

Neither of them responded. For Sage’s part, she honestly didn’t quite know what to say.

“After everything the two of you went through,” her mom continued. “To see you both here, standing strong and steady with plans for your futures,” she paused to wipe at one of her eyes. “It’s all that a mother could ever want for her daughters.”

Sage glanced over at Brinley, who was blinking furiously. She could already see the moisture gathered around her sister’s eyes.

“Stop it, Mom,” Brinley said, but there was no heat behind her words. Her mom reached out and poked Brinley on the nose, just like she’d done when they were little. Her sister’s lower lip trembled, and she reached for a napkin, dabbing at her lower lash line.

“I know I was tough on you after your dad left. I didn’t know how to handle my heartbreak, and I know that I gave both of you too much of my pain. I’m so, so sorry for that.” A soft smile spread across her face. “But look at you two! After all of that, you both found men who care for, respect, and so obviously love you.”

Sage let out a snort. “I’m not so sure about that.”

The other two Fogerty women at the table shot her almost identical incredulous expressions.

“Of course he loves you,” Brinley said, like it was an indisputable truth.

Her mom nodded. “That man is in love with you.”

Sage looked between them and waved her hands, hoping to dismiss the topic entirely.

“What’d we miss?”

The three women looked up as David and Rohan approached the table. Both men were handsome in their own right, and Sage felt a wave of amusement at how well she and Brinley had done.

“We’re all set,” Rohan said, extending a hand to Brinley and helping her to her feet. He looked at her like she was the sun and the moon and maybe even the earth itself. Like she waseverything.

Oh yeah. That mandefinitelyloved her.

Sage stood up, watching as David circled around the table and offered her mom a hand. Her mom accepted his assistance before shooting a meaningful, eyebrow-raised glance at Sage.

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