Chapter 21
Sadie's POV
After I finally calmed down—and changed into actual pajamas—I pulled out my new phone. It took a few minutes to set up, transferring everything from my old one, but soon I was scrolling through my contacts.
I sent Mom a quick text: Made it to the Montgomerys'. The house is beautiful. Diane is so sweet. Love you. Don't worry about me.
Her response came almost immediately: I'm so glad, baby. Sleep well. Love you more than anything.
Then I opened the group chat with Brooklyn, Maya, and Zoe.
Me: You guys will not BELIEVE the day I've had.
Brooklyn: GIRL. I've been waiting for this. Spill. Everything.
Maya: How are you holding up? Really?
I spent the next twenty minutes telling them everything that had happened after we arrived. The massive staircase. The guest room bigger than my old bedroom. Diane immediately offering me clothes and making me feel welcome instead of awkward. The new phone. The closet space. The fact that the Montgomery kitchen looked like something straight out of a designer catalog.
And Jake.
I left out the part about seeing him shirtless. Some things were too embarrassing to share even with my best friends.
Brooklyn: So you're living with Jake Montgomery. The Jake Montgomery. Under the same roof. Sharing a bathroom.
Me: Please don't make this weirder than it already is.
Zoe: Too late. It's already weird.
Brooklyn: No, it's romantic.
Me: It's temporary.
Maya: Still... just be careful, okay? Vivienne already hates this whole situation.
Me: Trust me, I know.
Brooklyn: Forget Vivienne. Focus on the fact that you get to see Jake Montgomery every single morning. Possibly shirtless. Possibly in a towel.
Me: I'm blocking you.
Zoe: Do not block her. We need insider information.
Despite everything, despite the anxiety still curling in my stomach, I smiled at my screen.
Me: Going to bed. Long day tomorrow.
Maya: Text if you need anything.
Zoe: And if the mansion turns out to be haunted.
Brooklyn: And take notes. I want a full report on Jake's morning routine.
I set the phone on the nightstand, staring up at the ceiling.
Outside, I could hear the faint sound of the shower running. Jake, washing away the sweat from his workout.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying not to think about it.
Tomorrow was a new day. A fresh start.
Living in this house. Going to school. Facing Vivienne. Navigating whatever this thing was with Jake.
And Homecoming looming in the distance like a storm on the horizon.
I pulled the floral comforter up to my chin, breathing in the scent of fresh laundry and new beginnings.
Maybe Liam was right. Maybe I did need to stop hiding in the library and actually live a little.
Or maybe I was about to make the biggest mistake of my life.
Either way, I was too tired to figure it out tonight.
I closed my eyes and let sleep pull me under, the unfamiliar room slowly fading into darkness around me.
---
The next morning, the smell of butter and eggs hit me before I even reached the bottom of the stairs.
I hesitated on the last step, gripping the railing. This was my first real morning at the Montgomery estate, and I had no idea what to expect. Would there be staff? Would everyone already be gone? Would I be eating alone in that massive dining room like some kind of awkward houseguest?
But when I rounded the corner into the kitchen, the scene that greeted me was nothing like I'd imagined.
Diane stood at the island in a loose cream-colored sweater, her hair twisted into a casual low bun. She was flipping something in a pan with a silicone spatula, completely at ease. The counter was already set with fresh avocado toast, a bowl of mixed berries and Greek yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, and a small pitcher of orange juice.
It looked like a spread from a lifestyle magazine. Except it wasn't staged. It was real.
"Sadie, good morning!" Diane looked up with a genuine smile. "How'd you sleep? Come sit, everything's ready."
I blinked. "Morning, Mrs. Montgomery. You didn't have to—"
"I do this every morning anyway," she said, waving me off like it was nothing. "And please, call me Diane. Do you like extra lemon on your avocado? I usually squeeze a lot. It's more refreshing that way."
I pulled out a chair and sat down slowly, my chest tightening. This kind of casual, effortless warmth—I hadn't felt it in a long time.
"That sounds perfect," I said quietly.
Liam burst in a second later, his hair still messy but his energy already at full volume. He grabbed a piece of avocado toast and shoved it in his mouth without sitting down.
"Diane, this is literally the best thing you've ever made. How do you do this every time?"
"Flattery won't get you out of driving Sadie to school properly," Diane said, flicking his arm with the spatula. "No speeding. No reckless parking."
"I'm offended you think I would—"
Jake's footsteps on the stairs cut him off.