Page 75 of The Naughty List

Alex: Happy New Year Sadie. I hope you’re having an amazing and fun night with your friends. Just wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you and sending you love and happiness going into the new year. PS…if I were with you, I’d be kissing you right now.

“Look at her smiling, you know that dick is goooood,” Caleb says, making Ariel and Karlie laugh.

I roll my eyes and turn around to tap out my reply to Alex.

Me: I was just about to text you! Happy New Year to you too. I’ve been thinking about you too. I miss you. I wish you were here to kiss me.

Before I can overthink it, I hit send.

“Just go over to his place already,” Caleb yells.

“What? No, we agreed to take space. I thought you guys agreed it was a good idea?”

“I’m just saying go get some, I’m not saying go propose to the man.”

I look over at Ariel and Karlie. “Should I?” Before they can answer, I’ve already talked myself out of it. “No.” I shake my head and slide my phone back into my pocket. “I said I’d take time and I’m going to take time.”

* * *

The next morning, I leave Karlie’s house early, stopping for a cup of coffee on the way home. When I exit the shower, I see a text from Alex, and my heart skips a beat.

Alex: I promise I’m respecting your boundaries, just wanted to make sure you made it home safely?

Me: I did, thank you. What did you end up doing?

Alex: I don’t want to tell you, you’ll be mad.

My stomach drops at his response.

Alex: I stayed home and worked.

Relief washes over me. The thought of him going out with another woman entered my mind for a brief second, which he is free to do. We never made any commitments to each other, and I’m the one who told him I needed space.

Me: What are you doing today? Want to grab coffee?

Alex: I’d love to…as your friend.

He sends a smiley emoji, and it makes me laugh.

Me: Yes…friends. Meet here. See you soon.

I place my phone down and go back to my morning routine, applying a touch of makeup and running the blow-dryer through my hair. I’ve just barely started drying it when I think I hear a knock at my door. I check my phone. No text from Alex, and it seems too soon after our text. I turn off the blow-dryer and listen. Sure enough, someone is knocking.

As I walk toward the front door, I look down at my robe and touch my still-wet hair.

“Dammit, why is my hair always wet when he comes over!” I shove my nerves away and put on a huge smile, flinging my door open and finding not Alex, but Tim standing on the other side.

“Oh my god, what are you doing here?”

“Hi beautiful.” He smiles, his hands outstretched toward me. I step forward and he puts his arms around me. I don’t hug him back, keeping one hand on the door, the other down at my side.

“What are you doing here, Tim?”

“I want to come home.”

“Home? As in here?” I’m so confused.

“Can I come inside?”

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