Page 16 of Searching for Sadie (Mystic Falls #5)

SADIE

T he timer on Sadie's phone went off and she stood and went into her kitchen.

She needed to pull her peach cobbler out of the oven.

And if she was being honest with herself, that conversation was getting a little too real.

But it was good practice because after tomorrow when the promo for the show started, her face would be everywhere, and next week the first four episodes would drop.

Then she would find out with the rest of the world just how her story was going to play out.

When she slid open the patio door the smell of the peach cobbler filled the air. The sweet smell was enough to send her right back to her childhood and her stomach gave an approving rumble. She pulled it out of the oven and set it on the stove top to cool before heading back over to Lucas's.

Lucas. Just thinking about him made her smile, and that was hard to do these days.

As she made her way over to Lucas's house, she spied him coming out of his house carrying two plates each with a cheeseburger and a generous helping of pasta salad.

"Is everything okay?"

"What? oh yeah, this looks delicious!" she said as she sat down at the table that already had another open beer sitting for her. "Did you make this too?" She gestured to the pasta salad.

"No, my mom makes it. I bought it at the market today. It's my favorite."

They ate as the sun set, and Sadie found herself relaxing into the moment. She wasn't used to feeling this easy around new people... or any people for that matter. There was just something about Lucas that made her feel safe.

Only then did she realize he was looking at her with his head cocked to the side.

"What is it?" he asked.

Giving her head a little shake, "It's nothing."

Pull yourself together, Sadie , she thought.

"Do you like peach cobbler?" she asked, desperate for a subject change.

"Ummm, yeah I do. Who doesn't love peach cobbler?"

"I made some, that's why I had to go get it when my timer went off."

"I was wondering where you got too. Do you need any help?"

Why did a tiny offer for help melt her? Was she really that desperate for kindness? She was beginning to think after everything, she just might be.

"Why don't we move this to my patio for dessert?"

As they walked down the stairs, his hand grazed the small of her back and it sent a zip of desire right up her spine.

The more she was around Lucas, the more she found herself questioning why she was shutting herself off.

Well, she knew why, but maybe she was doing a disservice to both of them.

All she knew was she was mourning the loss of the brief moments of contact with him.

She couldn't stop thinking about their almost kiss on her porch after the carnival.

"That cow destroyed your hydrangeas," said Lucas as they made their way up her stairs.

"What?" she asked. Her thoughts had been too loud in her own head to fully comprehend what he was talking about.

"I was just saying Angus really did a job on your flowers."

"Oh yeah, that was so weird. Does that happen often?"

"No," Lucas said with a shake of his head. "That's only the second time."

She pulled open the sliding door and the smell of her baking filled the air.

"Mmmm, that smells so good."

Still lost in her own thoughts, Sadie went and got down two bowls and the ice cream from the freezer.

Lucas stood by her as she dished it up, but for some reason she couldn't bring herself to look at him.

Until she finally met his eyes and handed him a bowl full of warm peach cobbler with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream.

"Shall we," he said as he headed out to her patio.

There was no table on her patio like there was on Lucas's. On her aunt's patio there was only a swinging bench. They would have to sit next to each other as the stars blinked to life enjoying the dessert her aunt had made for her a thousand times.

She sat down and he looked down at her with a cocked eyebrow before sitting next to her. The seat dipped as the warmth of his thigh pressed against her, and again desire zipped through her. She's never been this turned on by someone while so at ease around them.

Then, while she was still lost in her thoughts, a low moan came from the man next to her. When she turned to look at him, his eyes were closed, and he had a look on his face... well it was a look she would love to see him make in other ways.

"Good?" she asked before she took a bite herself. And, it was good, if she said so herself.

"Is this your aunt's recipe?" he asked.

"Of course."

"It's so good. I remember her bringing this to things, I would always try to get some, but it went fast."

"Well, now you have someone to make it just for you."

His brow furrowed as she said that, and he bit his lip before taking another bite. She took another bite as he began to slowly rock their seat.

She was going to cry. Why was she going to cry?

She took another bite of cobbler biting back the tears, but it seemed like they were here whether she wanted them to be or not.

Discreetly she tried to brush away the tears while more filled her eyes.

Taking another bite, she looked up at the first star in the sky willing her tears away. What was wrong with her?

"Sadie," said a deep calm voice next to her.

She looked over at him as another traitorous tear streamed down her cheek.

His brows knit together with confusion and concern, and it was too much. Looking away she tried to laugh it off and brushed away another tear.

"Hey," he said in his calm way but then he set one of his big strong hands on her thigh and she was done for, and the tears started to come freely. Setting his bowl down on the table next to him he put his arm around, "What is it?"

"I'm sorry, it's silly." But even as she said that she could stop herself from turning into him and sinking into the comfort he seemed to offer so effortlessly.

"It's not silly," he said as his other arm came up to wrap around her.

Her breath shuddered as she clung to him. Why was she doing this?

"I'm so sorry," she sobbed.

"Shhh, don't be sorry. It's okay," he said as he stroked her hair.

They just sat there, their dessert half eaten and melting as she cried and he held her. This is what her life had come to, and what was even more depressing was she had no clue where it was going. But Lucas smelled so good, and his arms were so strong, there was no way she could end this embrace.

After a few deep breaths, she was finally able to get herself under control.

As she pulled back, his hand that had been stroking her hair, held her jaw as his hazel eyes searched hers for an answer about what had just brought that on.

She wished she had the answer, she would have shared it with him, but the truth was she was just overwhelmed.

There were so many emotions she'd been running from, but it all seemed to be catching up with her today.

She pulled back and took a deep breath before wiping the tears from her face. "Well, that was embarrassing."

"Please. Don't be embarrassed. I'm happy to be here for you."

"How did I luck into such a wonderful neighbor?"

"Just lucky I guess," he said with a twinkle in those eyes.

"I really am," she said as they picked up their bowls and started eating again. "I think today bothered me more than I thought it did."

His thumb grazed her cheek and wiped a tear away. The look on his face had Sadie wanted to pour out her heart to him. Gah! Why was he so perfect?!

"So... I was on the show, right?” she said, as she took a deep breath deciding to be brave.

“I clearly didn’t get married, but the whole process was really hard.

And when I left, I was broken hearted, then I was fired and betrayed, and now I'm here.

And I'm about to have millions of viewers witness the hardest thing I've even gone through for entertainment. "

"Wow. That sucks."

She gave a rough chuckle.

"Well, I think you're handling it well," he said as he slowly rocked them.

Turning, she gave him a doubtful look. "Says the man who just held me while I cried out of nowhere."

"Well, crying is not a sign of weakness, so I'm not even a little worried. But what you're going through sounds really hard. I'm right next door whenever you need anything."

She pushed on his shoulder. "You don't need to do that."

"I know I don't need to do it, but I like you."

Her eyes met his and her heart skipped a beat.

"Not like that... Well, yeah, like that, but no pressure... I'm just saying I think you're a cool person and I like hanging out with you. And if you even need to cry again, I got you. Especially if there's cobbler involved."

And as if her body moved on its own, she turned and reached for him and planted a kiss on his lips.

Why did she do that? She pulled away just as quickly as she kissed him. His mouth gaping open staring at her.

"Sorry," she said quickly

"Stop apologizing," he said before closing the distance and cupping her jaw. "Can I kiss you?" he asked

She nodded. Then he slowly moved closer and slid his arm around her waist. Her body was on fire as her pulse raced. Then he kissed her, and just like that, it was like everything slotted into place.

His lips pressed against hers and her body came alive. She sighed and slid his arms around him. He pulled her close and pressed her into his wide strong chest. She felt so safe. She'd wanted this feeling for a long time but had never been able to find it.

He broke their kiss and leaned his forehead against hers.

"Wow." His voice was filled with a reverence that almost broke her, but not in the way she was already broken, broken in a beautiful way.

A way that said, it's okay, I will put you back together.

And for once she found herself trusting he would do that. He fixed things.

She pulled back and leaned into his side as his arm was draped over her shoulder. She wasn't ready for more than that, but whatever was happening here felt nice. He laid his head on hers and swung them as the crickets chirped and the stars filled the sky.

While she wasn't sure of much right now, she was growing more and more sure that moving to Mystic Falls was the right decision.