Page 44 of Searching for Sadie (Mystic Falls #5)

SADIE

S adie sat in the make-up chair as one of the stylists worked their magic.

She was a mess of nerves. After this she was done with all of it.

She could go back to Mystic Falls and put all of this behind her.

Her interview yesterday had been painless, dinner with her parents had been a mess, but good in the end.

This was all that stood between her and her happy ending with her wonderful man in Mystic Falls.

"What's got you smiling?" Zara asked as stepping into the view of the mirror wearing a headset and in blacks.

"Can I have someone come back to my dressing room?" she asked.

"Of course, What's their name? I'll have Carl let them in."

"Lucas Fipp."

As Zara radioed for him to be let in the stylist finished up as Sadie stood and took herself in.

They had a beautiful green sequin dress for her that was fitted and had a high slit.

Her brown hair fell in soft curls around her face and her make-up was a work of art she could never dream of creating.

Zara gasped. "Sadie, you look incredible."

A broad smile fell across her face. "I do, don't I?"

"Ya know, sometimes these shows have 'glow ups' and I'm just glad that yours didn't involve changing any part of you. Just your true self shining through."

Sadie turned to Zara, her mouth agape. "Thank you."

"Oh, don't be so surprised. I was always cheering for you. You're one of my favorites."

Sadie didn't know what to say, Sadie had just lumped her in with the soulless machine of this show. But maybe even Zara was more than she seemed.

"Okay, I need to go. I think they sent him to the greenroom."

Sadie turned and made it to her room. Zara had managed to get her a private dressing room because she would not be sharing with Ryan, and this way Lucas could come and hang out with her. And seeing his face right now would be really helpful.

As she turned the corner she almost bumped into a large suited back, but when the suit turned, she saw who it was.

"Lucas," she gasped.

His jaw dropped as he stuttered sound attempting to come out of his mouth, but not actual words made it.

"What do you think?" she said as she turned, knowing exactly what he thought.

He was still speechless, and she just grinned.

"Come with me," she said as she took him by the hand and pulled him into her room. "I have a private dressing room. I guess enduring nationwide humiliation is good for something."

She pushed him into the room and closed the door behind them. He turned his eyes still wide.

"Sadie, you look incredible."

"What? This old thing?" she asked as she ran her hands over all her luscious curves that were on display before sticking her leg out of the slit.

"It has a slit," he said barely above a whisper. She wasn't even positive he'd meant to say that out loud.

"It does," she said with a laugh.

That seemed to snap him out of whatever trance this magical dress had put him in. He looked at her as he ran his hands all over her. "I want to do all kinds of incredibly dirty things to you."

"No sir, not until the show is over. I look too good to get all mussed up."

"Oh, I'll be patient, but damn Songbird, you look incredible."

"But I thought you liked me best when I was in sleep shorts and that tank."

He pulled her close, "Honestly, I think I still prefer you that way, but can't I have this too? Don't make me choose," he said as he sat on the couch and laid his head on her cleavage that was hiked up almost to her chin.

She laughed and held him close. How was he always just what she needed?

"I love you," she said as she gently ran her hands through his hair.

Shhh, he said as he continued to nuzzle her chest.

After a few moments he sat up, "There. I'm done." but he seemed to rethink it and pressed a kiss to her cleavage. "Okay, now I'm really done. How are you doing?" he asked as his hands slid down her side.

Her shoulders heaved with a sigh, "I'm good. I'm just so ready for this to be over and to go home."

Lucas just nodded, never taking his hands from her body. "How can I help?"

"You already are. And I mean, Ryan hasn't said a word to me today, so that's good."

Lucas's brow furrowed.

"It's good, right?" she asked.

"Probably, I still don't trust the guy."

A knock sounded at the door. "Show starts in ten."

"I should probably go find my seat," Lucas said. "I'll be right out there cheering you on and as soon as this ends, we fly home to Mystic Falls."

She nodded as his hands squeezed her hips and pulled her in for a kiss. As they pulled away Sadie reached up to wipe off the lipstick on his mouth.

"Okay, I'll see you when this is all over."

She watched as Lucas walked out the door and shut it behind him.

There was a large part of her that wanted to take off this dress and just leave with him.

Closing her eyes she pulled in a deep breath.

She could do this. She could face this and answer questions for the world to see one last time.

It was much easier to face knowing Lucas was there and the home she was creating was waiting for her.

After a few minutes there was another knock at the door. "Their ready for you Ms. Dade."

Sadie checked her reflection in the mirror, smoothing her hands down over her hips and doing a last hair and lipstick check before opening the door. There was another woman in blacks with a headset on guiding her to the sound stage.

The nerves wound tight around her stomach as she sat the brightly lit set with multiple couches and the studio audience. The urge to run was strong, but what was waiting at the finish line of this nightmare was worth it.

As she walked onto the stage, she took her seat on the couch on the right with the other women who did not get married at the end of the 'experiment' as they called it.

She was next to the couple that made it, and they supported each other in this nerve-wracking moment.

Sadie's gaze turned to the audience searching for her own support.

She squinted as she tried to make out Lucas's form, but she couldn’t find him in the blinding stage lights.

Luckily after a little recap and some clips from their interviews yesterday they started to talk to some of the other couples, so Sadie could just sit back and listen. But her heart raced whenever they were wrapping up waiting to see if it was her turn next, but she hadn't been called yet.

They'd been doing this for over an hour when they called for a break, but not before announcing that when they reconvened they would be talking with her and Ryan. Her heart pounded in her chest at just the mention of it being their turn.

At least she had this break to prepare. As she stood from the couch Ryan made eye contact and started moving towards her.

Nope, she quickly turned and bee-lined for her dressing room.

She had fifteen minutes to compose herself before dealing with him on the stage and screen for millions to see.

But then it would be over. She could do it.