Page 43 of Only a Kiss

“I asked you a question last night and you alluded to an answer, but you were also drunk, so I’m going to ask you again.Are you in love with Sadie?”

I looked back down at my plate of food, but my appetite was gone.“It doesn’t really matter, does it?It’s over.We never should’ve gotten involved as it was.It wasn’t fair to you.”

“What the hell do I have to do with your relationships?”

I stared at her, dumbfounded.“That’s a joke, right?She’s your best friend!She’s way too young for me.There are a million reasons we shouldn’t be together.”

“Age gap romances aren’t that taboo anymore, Dad.There are a ton of romance novels written with that trope every year, so that’s not a good reason not to be together.And the other reason—”

“The part where she’s your best friend—”

“Yeah, that one.Is that what’s holding you back?If I gave you my blessing, would you be honest with me about what you want with Sadie?”

“Is that what you really want?Honesty?”

“I thought I’d made that pretty clear,” she said.

My jaw clenched, but I no longer hesitated.“Then here’s the truth.I’ve never met another woman who made me feel anything close to what Sadie made me feel for her.Do I love her?Yes.Yes, okay?I’m in love with her.I can’t stop thinking about her and I hate—hate—knowing that I broke her heart because I’d rather rip my own to shreds than ever hurt hers.I’d rather suffer than ever cause her suffering.She’s fucking perfect.Completely, utterly, fucking perfect and I’m so in love with her it hurts to breathe without her.Is that really what you wanted to hear?”

My heart was pounding and my whole body ached from the confession I’d been holding back for so long, but then she reacted in a way I never would’ve expected.

She smiled, her eyes holding more knowledge than I’d ever given her credit for.“Yeah, that’s exactly what I wanted to know.”

I felt like I’d been socked in the stomach and I was waiting to get my air back.This had to be a horrible trap of some kind.

“Dad, I’m not gonna lie.It’s a little weird—okay, really weird—because I’ve always viewed Sadie as a sister, and it’s strange to think of you twotogether, but just because it’s strange doesn’t mean I can’t get used to it.You’re the two most important people in my life, and my favorite people in the world.If you make each other happy, who am I to stand in the way of love?It’s probably going to feel weird for a while, and I’d appreciate if you kept the PDA to a minimum in front of me until I adjust, but I want you two to be happy.You’re both clearly miserable apart, and I don’t want either of you to come to resent me because you felt like I got in the way of your happiness.”

I grabbed her hand.“I could never resent you, Jenna.You’re the most important thing in the world to me.”

“I know, Dad.And I appreciate that you’ve always put me first, but I think it’s time you did something for yourself.And I think you need to be honest about what you want.”

I knew what I wanted.I’d known since the moment I ended things and nothing in my life felt right anymore.

“I want Sadie back.”

Jenna smiled wide.“Good.Then let’s figure out how you’re going to win her back.”She pulled out her phone.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m texting her to see if she’s home,” she said, never looking up from her phone.“She probably is since she’s…” Her mouth parted and she sucked in a breath.

“What?Is she okay?”

She looked up at me and there was an apology in her suddenly hesitant gaze.

“She’s on a date.”

My entire body stiffened.“No, the fuck she is not.”

Sadie was mine.I just needed to convince her to give me a second chance.“Find out where she is.I’m not waiting any longer than I already have to tell her how I feel.”

Jenna’s worry morphed to thrill, her smile wide and her eyes taking on that hint of mischief she always got when she was hatching a plan.“I was hoping you’d say that.”

You gotta leave with the man you came with

SADIE

I stared down at Jenna’s text again, but she hadn’t responded again since I’d told her the Cliff Notes version of my date so far.I tucked my phone back in the pocket of my dress and grabbed my wine as Josh came back from the bathroom.Ever since she texted me asking where I was, I’d wondered if I should be hanging out with her instead of on this date.This horrible, horrible date.

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