Both were lovers before now
Justin’s POV
I had barely registered what Sadie said when she laughed softly, adjusting her dress as though trying to hide something. My eyes followed her as she moved back from me, realizing I hadn’t locked the door. She reached for the handle, but when she tried to turn it, it didn’t budge.
She muttered under her breath, feigning confusion. I didn’t hide my grin. The door hadn’t been shut properly. She could’ve just walked in without me even knowing.
“What just happened?” she asked, trying to sound clueless.
I shrugged casually, “The door wasn’t shut. You could’ve just walked in.”
She pretended to take it lightly, but I could see the relief in her eyes. ‘Thank God Daisy didn’t walk in on something she shouldn’t have,’ I thought. I was grateful too. The tension had already been thick enough without her seeing anything that might make things even worse.
As Daisy entered the room, her mood shifted immediately, eyes narrowing as they locked onto me. I stood by the window, trying to avoid the confrontation, but she wasn’t letting it slide.
“What are you doing here after you and Mum tried to embarrass me in front of my friend?” she asked, her voice laced with barely-contained anger.
I didn’t flinch, though I could feel the sting of her words. Her accusations didn’t surprise me, but they were never easy to hear.
“I thought you took Sadie to the other room. As for your mum, you need to talk to her,” I responded with more calmness than I felt.
“No, I need to talk to both of you,” Daisy snapped, crossing her arms tightly over her chest as she sat down on the bed. I gave Sadie a reassuring look before stepping out, letting them have their space.
The door clicked behind me, leaving me alone in the lobby. I leaned against the wall for a moment, feeling the weight of the situation. Daisy wasn’t wrong to be upset, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit of frustration. It wasn’t like any of this was easy for any of us.
When I came back with the wine, I was hoping the mood would lighten, but Daisy didn’t seem in the mood for small talk. Still, I pressed on, trying to get through to her.
“Daisy, I know you’re upset with me, but you need to talk to your mum. She needs to stop signing those documents. Is she trying to take you away from me?” I asked, setting the wine down on the table between us.
She stood, her anger still simmering. “Dad, what documents? I didn’t even look at them properly.”
“You should take a look,” I said, my voice a little more insistent than I meant. “But I’m sure you’re hungry. Why don’t you sit with Sadie, relax for a bit?”
Daisy left in a huff. I guessed she glanced at her phone’s screen, unsure what she saw. I poured two glasses of wine, trying to shake off the tension. I handed one to Sadie, my fingers brushing hers for a second, which caused an unexpected jolt of awareness.
She looked tense, hesitating before accepting the glass, “I thought you were joking about the wine earlier. Is this really for me?”
I met her eyes with a steady gaze, holding her attention. “Of course. It’s just wine, Sadie. Don’t worry about it.” I smiled, trying to keep things light, though something else was swirling between us.
Sadie hesitated, clearly flustered, and I noticed the slight flush in her cheeks. It made me want to smile, but I held back, focusing on her discomfort. “Please, forgive Daisy. She’s just going through a lot.”
She took a sip from the glass, but I could see she was distracted, her thoughts far away. “What were you thinking?” I asked, my voice low, curious.
She bit her lower lip before answering. “Oh, um… I was just thinking about nothing important,” she said quickly, clearly not wanting to admit whatever was going through her mind.
“Your boyfriend?” I asked, half teasing, not expecting her to take me seriously.
“Never! I’ve moved on from him,” she responded quickly, laughing lightly. “Breaking up with Leo was the best thing that happened to me. I’ve learned the difference between loving someone and being in love.”
I nodded thoughtfully, more intrigued than I let on. Her words stuck with me, and I couldn’t help but wonder about the depth of her past relationships.
“Hmm…” I murmured, my mind turning as I poured another glass of wine.
Sadie tried to lighten the mood, her voice tinged with playful curiosity. “I was actually wondering if this wine has alcohol. I know how I get after a few drinks. If I get tipsy… who’ll help me out?”
I chuckled at that, the idea of her getting tipsy sending a strange thrill through me. “If you get tipsy, I’ll be here to help. Don’t worry about it.” My voice held some kind of humor, but there was something else lurking underneath, an unspoken desire.
Before I could say anything more, Daisy reentered, her eyes scanning the room for any signs of trouble. The shift in her attitude was immediate—gone was the anger, replaced by something lighter, but I still wasn’t sure where she stood.
“Looks like you two are having a good time,” Daisy remarked, her tone less accusatory than before, but still with a trace of something I couldn’t quite place.
I smiled, standing up and giving her a teasing look. “Just making sure Sadie feels welcome.”
Daisy sat beside Sadie, and I could see her fidget a little. “Sadie, forgive me for leaving you with my dad. I’ve been so caught up in everything…”
I didn’t mean to cut her off, but I needed to shift the conversation. “I actually felt bad when you told me about your friend’s breakup,” I said, glancing at Sadie.
Daisy waved it off. “That’s in the past. I didn’t invite Sadie here to talk about old relationships. We have plans, and we need to focus on those.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What plans?” I asked, genuinely curious.
Daisy just laughed softly. “Dad, it’s nothing you need to worry about. It’s just girl stuff.” She smiled at me, and for a moment, I was reminded of when she was younger, more carefree.
I gave her a playful smirk. “Alright, alright. I’ll leave you ladies to it.”
“Moreover, my mum sent me to deliver something,” Daisy said.
As I stood, heading for the door, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment since my daughter came back. Sadie had been easy to talk to, and I wasn’t ready to give up the conversation just yet.
“Are you taking Sadie with you as you go out?” I asked, a little more serious than I intended.
“Doesn’t she need some rest?” I added, I felt I should stand for her, just for us to be alone.
Daisy rolled her eyes, but I saw the humor in her expression. “Dad, she’s my friend. We’re going to the kitchen together for now.”
The three of us laughed, and I watched as Sadie hesitantly followed Daisy out, though she paused, giving me one last glance. I smiled back, feeling that strange warmth flood through me once again.
After they left, my thoughts lingered on Sadie, and I found myself replaying her words in my head, her expressions, and that subtle connection we seemed to have. It wasn’t something I could ignore.
The place was quiet when Daisy and Sadie returned after a while, but I still couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get more complicated.