Chapter 19
Sadie's POV
The guest room was at the end of the hallway. Down a long corridor with cream-colored walls and family photos in silver frames. Past what looked like a library, a home office, and Jake's room—his door was half-open, and I caught a glimpse of navy blue sheets and a desk covered in playbooks.
Between his room and mine was a single bathroom.
One bathroom.
Shared.
My stomach did a weird flip.
“The upstairs bedrooms are connected by a Jack-and-Jill bathroom,” Diane explained as she pushed open the door to my room. “You’ll each have your own entrance and sink, but the shower area is shared.”
She gave me an apologetic smile. “Normally I would’ve put you in the downstairs guest suite, but it’s being renovated right now.”
Her gaze flicked briefly toward Jake. “If it makes you uncomfortable, Jake can always move downstairs for a while.”
Jake leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. His eyes met mine for a second before sliding away. "If you want, I can move downstairs. There's a guest suite near the gym."
"No!" The word came out too fast, too loud. I cleared my throat. "I mean, you don't have to do that. I'm fine. Really."
Diane's face lit up. "Are you sure, sweetheart? I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."
"I'm sure." I forced a smile, trying to ignore the way Jake's jaw tightened slightly. "It's your house. I'm the guest."
"You're family now," Diane corrected gently, reaching out to squeeze my hand. "And honestly, I'm so happy you're here. I always wanted a daughter. Don't get me wrong—I love Jake and Liam—but there's something special about having another girl in the house."
Liam snorted from behind us. "Wow, Diane. Way to make us feel inadequate."
"You know what I mean." She swatted at him playfully before turning back to me, her eyes suddenly misty. "Your mom and I were best friends in college. Roommates, actually. We were inseparable. Late-night study sessions, road trips, terrible boyfriends—we went through it all together."
I nodded. "Mom's mentioned you before."
"We lost touch after graduation. Life just... got in the way, you know? Different cities, different lives. And then I heard through mutual friends about everything she went through. The divorce, the struggles, raising you on her own in that neighborhood." Diane's voice softened. "I had no idea. And then when Richard told me he was seeing someone, and it turned out to be Emma..." She shook her head, smiling. "It felt like fate. Like the universe giving us a second chance."
There was something achingly sincere in her voice. Something that made my chest tight.
"I'm glad she found you again," I said quietly. "And Richard. She deserves to be happy."
"So do you, sweetheart." Diane squeezed my hand once more before stepping into the room. "Now, let me show you what we put together."
The room was beautiful. Pale blue walls the color of hydrangeas, white furniture with delicate gold handles, gauzy curtains that let in soft afternoon light. The bed was covered in a floral comforter—tiny daisies scattered across cream fabric—and there were throw pillows in various shades of blue and white.
It looked like something out of a Pinterest board. The kind of room I used to scroll past late at night, knowing I'd never have anything like it.
"We weren't sure what you'd like," Diane said, a hint of nervousness creeping into her voice. "But Emma mentioned you loved flowers, so I thought—"
"It's perfect," I interrupted, my voice catching slightly. "Seriously. It's the most beautiful room I've ever seen."
She beamed. "Oh good. I was so worried. And look—" She crossed to the closet, sliding open the doors. "I picked up a few things. Just basics. Sweaters, jeans, a few dresses. I know you have your own style, but I thought maybe—"
I stared at the closet. It was full. Rows of hangers with soft knits, fitted jeans, casual dresses in neutral tones. Everything looked expensive. Subtle. The kind of quiet luxury I'd seen other girls at school wear effortlessly.
"Mrs. Montgomery—Diane—I can't—"
"Of course you can." She waved off my protest. "Consider it a welcome gift. Oh, and one more thing." She picked up a sleek white box from the dresser, handing it to me with an almost shy smile. "I hope this is okay."
I opened it carefully.
Inside was a phone. The latest iPhone. Soft pink. Still wrapped in plastic.
My hands started shaking.
"I know your old one was a few generations behind," Diane said quickly, misreading my silence. "And I thought, with everything going on, you might want something more reliable. Plus, I got you a case—it's that brand all the girls are obsessed with right now. The one with the interchangeable backs? I wasn't sure which design you'd like, so I got a few options."
I couldn't speak. Couldn't move.
"Diane," I finally managed, my voice thick. "This is too much."
"Nonsense." She touched my shoulder gently. "You're Emma's daughter. That makes you important to me. And besides—" Her smile turned playful. "I need someone to text with. Jake's useless at responding, and Liam only sends me memes."
"Hey!" Liam protested. "Memes are a valid form of communication."
"They really aren't," Jake muttered.
I looked down at the phone, then at the room, then at Diane's warm, hopeful face.
"Thank you," I whispered. "Really. I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything." She pulled me into another hug, and this time I let myself sink into it. She smelled like home. Like the kind of mom I used to imagine when I was little, before I learned that not all families looked like the ones on TV.
When she pulled back, her eyes were a little red. "I'm just so happy to have you here. Jake's always so busy with football and training. He's wonderful, but he's a teenage boy. They're not exactly chatty." She glanced at him with affection. "Now I finally have some female company."
Liam cleared his throat dramatically. "Diane, I can be your female company. I'm very in touch with my feminine side. I even use conditioner."
Jake rolled his eyes. "That's not the flex you think it is."
"It is in this family. You use three-in-one body wash."
"It's efficient."
"It's tragic."
Diane laughed, the sound light and musical. "Okay, boys. Let's let Sadie settle in. I'm sure she's exhausted." She headed toward the door, pausing to look back at me. "Oh, and tomorrow morning—either Liam or Jake can drive you to school. Whichever works better."
"I can do it," Liam said immediately.
Jake's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes. "Yeah. Sure."
"Perfect. Goodnight, sweetheart. If you need anything—anything at all—my room's at the end of the hall downstairs. Don't hesitate."
"Thank you, Diane."
She smiled once more before disappearing down the hallway, Liam trailing after her while loudly debating the merits of various hair products.
Which left me alone with Jake.
He stood in the doorway, one hand braced against the frame, his eyes scanning the room like he was cataloging everything. When his gaze finally landed on me, I felt it like a physical touch.
"You good?" he asked, his voice low.
"Yeah. I'm good."
He pushed off the doorframe, turning to leave, then hesitated. "Sadie?"
My heart stuttered. "Yeah?"
"Welcome home."
The words hung in the air between us, heavy with something I couldn't name.
Then he was gone, his footsteps fading down the hallway.
I stood there for a long moment, staring at the empty doorway, my heart doing stupid, dangerous things in my chest.
This was going to be impossible.