Page 8 of Built to Last

ME: What truth?

JILLY-BEAN: That you used to have a huge crush on her?

DECLAN: You want her to be your wife. You’ve been obsessed your whole life.

Their texts come in simultaneously, and I wince. Jilly obviously thinks my feelings for Sadie were fleeting. Well, I’m sure not going to correct her now.

JILLY-BEAN: You’re really in no position to tease anyone, Dec.

ME: Seriously. Dr. Seuss, you are not!

ME: Also, I’m not talking to y’all right now. I’m on a date.

I pocket my phone again, now that I know my siblings are just being bossy and nosy and that there’s no emergency. I squeeze Sadie into my side and press a kiss to her temple.

Everything about being with Sadie feels natural. Like the first time I picked up a hammer and it felt like an extension of my hand. I knew then that I was meant to build and create, work with my hands.

“So how did this happen?” Tina asks. She motions to my arm around Sadie.

“I finally convinced her to be mine,” I say. “Only took me like twelve years. Right, Velma?” I squeeze her hip.

Sadie giggles and shakes her head as if she’s too embarrassed to respond. To others it probably looks like she’s a blushing girlfriend. I just hope that inside she’s not wishing I’d move away from her.

“Velma?” Tina asks. “I thought your name was Sally.”

I fight the urge to roll my eyes at the unobservant receptionist. “Her name is Sadie. Though I suspect you’re supposed to call her Dr. McCall.”

Tina has the good sense to appear well chastised.

“But I’ve called her Velma since we were kids.” I don’t see any reason to tell Tina why. Instead, I wait, giving Sadie a chance to add to the conversation.

She smiles up at me. “You always said it was the color of my sweater that first time we met. Reminded you of Velma on Scooby-Doo. Probably because I had giant glasses back then too.”

“And because you’re smart,” I add.

Sadie rolls her eyes. “Your sister is like a certified genius. I’m just regular smart.”

“I gotta get a stronger drink to handle this freak show,” Tina says, leaving the table.

So far Sadie hasn’t said anything else about Chet, despite the fact that he came by the table to greet everyone before making his way to the dance floor. He’s out there now grinding against some woman.

“Y’all gonna dance?” another woman from our table asks.

I shake my head. “Maybe later.”

The rest of the group from the lab are either standing at the bar ordering new drinks or out on the dance floor. Leaving Sadie and I alone in the booth.

“I’m going to put you on my lap,” I tell her.

I lift her and pull her across me so she’ll straddle my legs. I could easily shroud us in complete darkness if I pulled the curtains that frame our booth.

“Why?” she asks, her voice breathy against my ear.

I palm her ass and press her close to my body. “If this is going to work, we have to make it look real.”

I’m a goddamn liar. I know, it’s a shitty thing to do. But the truth is I’m not doing this to make anyone jealous. I’m staking my claim.

Sadie doesn’t have feelings for that other guy. She just needs help seeing how good we can be together.

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