Page 19 of Searching for Sadie (Mystic Falls #5)

LUCAS

A s Lucas walked into the diner to meet his parents for lunch, he was secretly hoping that Sadie would be there.

They'd waved a few times and said hello since she'd shown up on his doorstep that night after book club, but that's been it.

He was dying for another conversation, kiss, whatever she was willing to give him, he'd take right now.

As he rounded the corner he saw his parents, an older woman with salt and pepper hair in a long braid and an older gentleman with beautiful silver hair. They were sitting on the same side of the booth. And he also saw... her.

"Hi, I'm Sadie. I'll be your waitress today," she said, handing them the menu. "Is anyone joining you?"

"Yes, one more," said his father.

"Sadie, are you settling into Mystic Falls?" his mother asked with a warm smile.

"Yes, ma'am," she said as she set another menu across from them.

"Well, I've heard a lot about you," said the woman beaming from ear to ear.

Sadie cocked her head. "Have you?"

That was enough, Lucas cleared his throat. "Mom, dad," he said in greeting.

She turned and their eyes met.

"Sadie," he said in a low voice. Her cheeks flush ever so slightly and it did something to him.

"Hi," she said as she attempted to bite back the smile that wanted to spread across her face.

"I see you've met my parent's, Marley and Michael Fipp"

"Yeah, we met at the market," Sadie said.

"Our Lucas has told us all about you," said Marley, taking her hand.

"Mom," Lucas interrupted.

"What? You have. How's the house, dear?"

"Oh, it's fine. I'm settling right in."

"Are you enjoying Mystic Falls?" Michael asked.

"I am. It's a wonderful little town. Now what can I get you to eat?"

After she took their drink order she hurried off to the kitchen. And Lucas turned on his parents. "Will you two behave?"

"Us?" his mother said with an innocent smile.

"Yes. I am a 32-year-old man, I should not have to beg my parents not to embarrass me."

"My darling boy," she said, reaching out to cup his chin. "You'll never be too old for me to embarrass."

"I suggest you just go with it, son. It makes life easier that way," his father said.

"What are you working on now? Are you still up at the orchard?" his dad asked.

"I finished the kitchen, but there is still some work to go for the event center. There was a hold up with the contractor. I’ll probably finish up there next week.”

"I hope they have the right permits for that. Sometimes I think Sam thinks he can do whatever he wants," Michael Fipp said with a raised eyebrow as he watched the goings on in the square.

"Everything looked good to me."

His father had been on the town council for as long as he could remember, he was as much as a stickler for rules, and his mother was a hound for gossip. That coupled with the fact that they ran the market in town, they tended to know all the comings and goings of everyone in Mystic Falls.

A few minutes later Sadie came out with their drinks, but she wouldn't meet his eye. He didn't care for that one bit. When she left, he got up to use the bathroom. That’s when he spied her in the small hallway checking her phone before sliding it back into her apron pocket.

"Sadie," he said quietly.

She turned to him and looked at him with an expression he wasn't quite sure how to read.

"Umm... I'm sorry about that," he said shoving his hands into his pockets.

"About what?" she said with a shrug.

"My parents being... well, being my parents."

"Please. They're nice. Don't worry about it."

"Are you sure?" There was still something off, he would swear it. Maybe she was just thrown off because she was at work? Whatever it was he didn't care for it.

"Yep, everything’s good."

"Okay, I'll see ya later?"

She nodded and he made his way down the narrow hallway.

As they waited for their food they chatted about his recent jobs and town gossip, but Lucas's eyes kept finding Sadie.

"You really like her, don't you?" asked his mother.

"What?" Lucas asked, as he processed what his mother had just said.

"Sadie, your new neighbor. You like her, right?"

And with a sigh, Lucas nodded. Yes, he may be a grown man, but there was no use trying to keep his parents, his mother specifically, out of his business. "I'm definitely interested in seeing where things go, but I think I need to take it slow with her. I feel like she's really going through it."

"Oh, the poor thing," his mother said with a frown.

"Is she still grieving her aunt?" his father asked.

Lucas nodded. "I think that's part of it, but I don't know, I just get a feeling."

That wasn’t true, he did know, but it wasn’t his story to tell.

The conversation came to an end, much to Lucas's relief as Sadie came to their table to bring them their food.

"Sadie, do you have any plans tonight?" asked his mother.

"Ummm, no I don't," Sadie said as she looked between him and his mother with a scrunched brow.

"Well, what do you say to coming to watch Lucas's game with us?"

"Mom," Lucas groaned. He wished he was surprised with her behavior,but this was pretty much par for the course when her.

"Oh, do you have a hockey game tonight?" she asked him.

"I do, but please you don't have to come."

"I'd love to. What time is it?" she asked.

"Puck drops at 7. We'll save you a seat."

"I'll be there. Enjoy your food," Sadie said before turning to leave.

He watched her leave before he turned to glare at his mother, who was completely unphased by the scowl on his face.

"Well, I'm looking forward to chatting with her during your game," she said, grinning at him.

"Will you please make sure she behaves?" he said to his father, who just smiled at his wife.

"I'll do my best, but you know more than anyone, I have no control over her."

"Please, I'll be sweet as pie and talk up my baby boy."

"That's what I'm worried about," Lucas groaned. "Don't you have other children and grandchildren even to worry about."

"Of course, I do. But there's more than enough of my love to go around."

Later that night Lucas was in the dressing room of the high school locker room.

The rec teams used their ice, he'd done this once a week for most of his life.

But tonight, he found himself feeling just like he had in high school.

With Sadie coming to his game and her sitting with his mother, he was more nervous than he'd been in years.

"Hey," Sam said as he set his big hockey bag down with a thunk. "I think Kate said Wes is going to be in the crowd tonight since their season is over."

Lucas just nodded and continued to put on his gear. He had a lot more on his mind than a professional hockey player in the audience tonight.

"Are you good?" Sam asked as he sat next to him and got his skates on.

"Yeah," Lucas said as he started to re-tape his stick.

There was a long silence, but he could feel Sam's eyes watching him. "What?" he asked gruffly without looking up.

"What's up with you?"

If Lucas could talk to anyone about this it was Sam, well Sam or Kate. Both of them were his best friends, but he wasn't sure what to say.

"So... Do you remember Sadie?"

"Isn't she your new neighbor? I met her a month or so ago at the carnival, right?"

"Yeah, we kind of have a thing going and she's coming tonight."

"Ahh, I get it. Nervous to play in front of her."

"No."

Sam looked at him with confusion written on his face. "What then?"

"She's sitting with my mother."

Sam's mouth fell open and his eyes danced with mischief before he doubled over in laughter.

"Thanks man, real helpful," Lucas said dryly as he got back to taping his stick.

There was a knock at the door. "Everyone decent?" asked a feminine voice.

"Yep," Lucas called back.

Kate McPhee turned the corner already in her goalie gear, her curly red hair pulled back in a neat braid.

"What's going on?" Kate asked, looking between them.

"The girl Lucas likes is here... sitting with his mom."

"Why am I friends with you assholes?" Lucas said as he stood up.

"I'm sure your mom will behave," Kate said, which only caused Sam to laugh louder.

"Who's the woman anyway?" Kate asked.

"His neighbor."

"Sadie?" Kate asked, turning to look at him.

He nodded.

"She seems really awesome. We had a great time at book club."

"She's great," he said plainly, because it was the basic truth. "Now here's hoping my mom doesn't embarrass me too much."

He turned to make it to the ice as Kate followed him.

"So Sadie huh?" she asked as he opened the door to the rink for her.

"Yeah," he wanted to say more, but he wasn't sure what else to say.

"Be careful with her," Kate said as she skated to her net and started warming up.

The crowd was starting to filter in as Lucas took the ice for his own warmups. He scanned the crowd and couldn't find his parents or Sadie. That was probably for the best, since he was already nervous. Now at least he could put on his game face and warm up without knowing where they were.