Games of Love: Enemies-to-Lovers Romance

“Thanks for doing that,” I said quietly once we were on the road, driving down the dark highway and back into the city’s lights.

Sadie shrugged, staring out of the window. “You looked like you needed a break. Also,” she whispered, looking over at me. “It was too much like home. It made me miss my dad.”

“We can go see him,” I offered, needing to bring the happiness back into her face. She lit up at that, her eyes glittering.

“That would be amazing, Connor,” Sadie nodded. She leaned into my shoulder, closing her eyes for the rest of the way home.

With Sadie pressed against me, warm and soft in her green dress, it was hard to remember that it was all for show. It wasn’t real and I needed to force myself to accept that. I listened to the radio playing softly and closed my eyes, letting the happiness of the short night fall over me like a veil. Suddenly, Nora was saying something and the lights outside of the window were city-bright.

I shook Sadie gently and she let out a soft breath, blinking up at me. She sat up, yawning.

“I need food,” she slurred, her voice still heavy from sleep. “Our quick getaway made me even more hungry.”

I laughed, nodding. I turned to Nora, touching her shoulder. “You want anything? Coffee? Food?”

Nora shook her head, cracking a yawn. “Sleep. I doubt they sell it inside Maureen’s diner.”

I chuckled, nodding my acceptance. “Alright, well, you can take off. We’ll catch a cab home, or just walk. It’s not that far. Thanks, Nora.”

Sadie nodded in agreement as we stepped out of the car, and Nora looked unsure. “I don’t know…”

“It’s okay, Nora,” Sadie told her softly, leaning in through the open window. “You need a break too.”

“Well, you let me know if you two need anything. My apartment isn’t too far,” Nora said, putting the car in drive. We nodded, saying our goodbyes, and she pulled away from the sidewalk next to the diner, her tail lights disappearing slowly.

My hand touched the warmth of Sadie’s lower back and we went inside the little brick building, sliding into one of the leather booths. Most of the tables were empty save for a few people drinking coffee or typing away on their keyboards. There was no waitress this time, but Maureen bustled over, grinning merrily at us.

“Well, well, I’m sure glad to see you both again. What’s with the outfits? Did you go to a ball?”

Sadie laughed. “A wedding, Maureen. And we left—escaped it actually.” She winked at me and I smiled at the private little joke between us. It felt intimate and ours.

“Ah, I understand completely,” Maureen laughed, bringing up her notepad. “Well, what can I get you, my darlings? We’re short on wait staff tonight but not short on food.”

“I’ll take a coffee and an order of double-stack chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream, please,” I told her, and Sadie grinned at me. I hadn’t ordered something so meaningless and fun since I was a kid. My father had always been strict about what I ate, and I was never brave enough to challenge him.

“You know what?” Sadie proclaimed, looking over the menu in front of her. “I’ll have the same—also, they’re naming the baby Sam, after my mom.”

Maureen pressed a hand to her heart, her eyes glittering. “Oh, that’s a beautiful thing for them to do. I’m sure your mama would be glad to hear it if she was around.” She turned and shouted our orders at the cook in the back, who nodded. “Coming right up.”

I watched Sadie’s pretty face fall for the tiniest moment and then her smile was back, dimmer than before, but still there.

Maureen headed back to the kitchen and Sadie stared out of the window, lost in her own thoughts, it seemed. I brushed my shoe over hers and she shook herself, looking up at me in question.

“You okay over there?” I asked, eyebrows pulling together in concern. She must’ve been thinking of her mother, though for some reason I knew she wouldn’t admit it.

“Just…” she started, hesitant. “I was just wondering whether leaving Alex there will affect our score in the show.” She said, and I knew she was avoiding the real truth of her thoughts. They were similar to those in my mind about my own mother. I knew how hard they were to voice.

“We’ll be fine,” I told her, reaching across to grab her hand.

She pulled it away and my chest gave a painful lurch as I leaned back in my seat, taken aback.

“You wouldn’t care because you don’t want to win anyway, right? It doesn’t matter to you. Nothing does.”

“Stop deflecting,” I snapped back at her without much heat. “If you want to talk about your mother, just do it. I get it. Sadie, I’m right here.” I said softly. My words seemed to have the opposite effect than what I intended.