“Get in here, you little shit ass,” Gigi said. “Take care of my baby, you hear me?”
Jake nodded with a solemn smile and leaned down to kiss Gigi’s hand.
“Now go on. This old broad needs to get some rest. Seth is the only one who won’t hover over me like a mother hen. You two get out of here, you hear me? And don’t forget about Bambi and Abby. There’s grilled chicken and rice for them in the fridge.”
“Of course there is,” Seth said, amused.
Sadie sighed and kissed her grandmother on the forehead before leaving.
Jake was silent on the way to the car, his demeanor calm. Sadie, meanwhile, had collected herself, had her emotions back under control. Only Seth could get her riled up in that way. And though she wanted to punch through the metal door of Jake’s truck, outwardly, judging by the serenity on her face, she could have just left a yoga class.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked as he started the engine.
“No.”
“Where has Seth been?”
“Hell if I know,” she answered.
“And you have no idea why he left?”
“Jake, I said I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Right, right, sorry. It’s just weird seeing you two like that. But, you know, Gigi will be okay.”
The moment he spoke the words, a lump formed in Sadie’s throat. She nodded.
“Of course, she will,” she said tightly.
They were silent the rest of the way, Sadie’s shoulder blades aching as she tried to keep hold of her emotions. She couldn’t break down. Not in front of Jake.
When he pulled into her driveway, her chest lightened when she saw Raquel’s car was still there. She opened the door before the truck was fully in park.
“Thank you, really,” she said. “I’ll be fine. Talk to you later.”
“Sadie, wait,” Jake called, rolling the passenger-side window down.
She turned to look at him, not sure how much longer she could hold it all in. He looked on the verge of saying something comforting or life altering or heartbreaking, Sadie wasn’t sure which. But then his eyes cleared as he seemed to change his mind.
“Can I have my dog back now?”
A wild laugh burbled out of her.
“No,” she said, and left him there, but not before she caught sight of the smile that took over his face. It was soft, but sharply dangerous in the way it threatened to pierce through her armor, and she tried to kick the memory of it away before it reached her heart.
Raquel was waiting with open arms, and Sadie sighed as she sank into her best friend and told her everything the doctor had said.
“I knew she was going to be okay,” Raquel said, relief coloring her voice.
“My stupid brother,” Sadie groaned miserably into Raquel’s shoulder.
“I know,” she murmured, guiding Sadie in and closing the door while simultaneously using her foot to maneuver Abby away from where she was searching for Gigi.
“When did you know?” she demanded sharply.
“When he showed up here thirty seconds before Gigi fell. Like he knew the exact time it was going to happen.”
“Asshole.”
“Can’t disagree.” Raquel smiled, and there was something behind it. “But you’ve kind of got to admire his style.”
“Of course, he has to be the hero.”
“Sadie …” Raquel’s voice was gentle but held reproving. “I don’t think it was like that.”
“Who knows what it’s like. It doesn’t matter. I’m sure he’ll be leaving again as soon as she’s home.”
“I don’t think so,” Raquel said. “I saw suitcases when I helped him get Gigi in the car.”
“Maybe I don’t want him here.”
“He’s your family, Sade. He’s supposed to be here. Give him a chance.”
“I’ll give him a chance. A fat chance. In hell.”
They both laughed, and then Sadie fell quiet, wrapping her palms around the warm mug of tea Raquel had just handed her.
Her best friend gave her almost a full minute before she couldn’t take it anymore.
“So?” she asked, drawing out the vowel with raised eyebrows. “Are you freaking out on the inside right now? Because you know I can never tell since you’re like a weird statue whenever you’re experiencing emotion.”
“I’m …” Sadie took a deep breath. “I don’t know. How should I be? I mean, Gigi’s in the hospital. Gigi. The woman who once pulled a massive tree stump out of the ground using a shovel and her bare hands. The woman who climbs the tallest-ass ladder there is and cleans out the gutters because she won’t ask anyone else to help her. How am I supposed to feel?”