Page 20 of Searching for Sadie
"One of the cows is about to give birth. Graham didn't want to leave the farm tonight."
"Gotcha," Lucas said as the DJ called Poppy's name and the table erupted into cheers as she took the stage.
"Did you sign up for something?" Lucas asked, leaning down for her to hear.
When she turned to answer him, her face was mere inches from his, and the thought of kissing her was all he could think about. It had been a long time since anyone had made him feel this interested. And in this setting, it was like having a crush in high school.
Her breath caught in her throat and her teeth sunk into her bottom lip. she seemed just as swept up in the moment as he did.
"I did," she said barely loud enough for him to hear.
It was weird to count your blessings about having a new neighbor when you have her because her aunt passed away and left her the house, but he was doing it, nonetheless.
The night went on and Jackson and Josh each sang a song. "Are you going to sing?" she asked Sam.
"Yeah, Sam, are you going to sing?" Jackson asked, grinning at him.
"Absolutely not," Sam said.
"Are you?" Sadie asked, smiling up at Lucas.
Before he could answer, her name was called. And as the DJ called out a new name to people in a close-knit community like this, all eyes zeroed in on her. There was a small moment of hesitation that flitted across her face before the table all started cheering for her just like they all had for each other.
A small look of surprise crossed her face before she smiled at them at stood to take off for the stage.
While she made her way over, Lucas couldn't take his eyes off her.
Sam leaned over and said something to him. "What?" he asked, because he was going to need Sam to repeat himself.
"So Sadie, huh?" Sam asked with a knowing look.
"We'll see," he said with a smile that wouldn't leave his face.
Sadie climbed the stairs taking the stage as the starting music for Jolene by Dolly Parton started playing.
"I love this song," Poppy said, clapping her hands.
Lucas's eyes were glued to her as she started to sing, but as soon as the first note left her, he wasn’t alone.
The entire place's mouth seemed to drop as she sang. She sounded just like Dolly Parton.
"Wow..." Poppy said as she watched her. "She's so good."
She was incredible. Lucas watched her as the world fell away. When the song ended and she smiled and said thank you to the DJ, Lucas knew, somehow, he was going to make his new next-door neighbor his.
The night went on as they all talked and drank and sang. It was everything he had come to expect from town festivals, but with Sadie by his side, it felt new and better somehow.
Before long, they did last call at the beer tent, and people started talking about making their way to Smokey’s for another round of drinks and a game of darts.
"What do ya say?" he asked Sadie. "Do you want to go for another round or head home?"
"Oh umm..." Sadie said as a small crease settled between her brows. "I think I might be ready to head home, but please don't go on my account."
"I think Sadie and I are gonna head home," Lucas said to the table as everyone was finishing up their drinks.
"We're headed home too. I'm beat, and Lily is staying the night with Gran, so my bed is calling my name. But it was so nice to meet you," Poppy said to Sadie. "You should join our book club, it's super chill, you don't even have to read the book."
"Oh, yeah, that sounds fun," Sadie said as Lucas held out a hand and helped her up.
