Page 17 of Save a Wish

“Because I know how I’d feel if I was the last one to find love,” she said.

I braced myself, but the teasing I expected next never came.

“You’re not going to bust my stones about this?” I asked.

“Of course not.” She nudged my shoulder with hers. “I’ll leave that to our brothers.”

“They do relish such an opportunity.” I scrubbed a hand down my face then got to my feet so I could pace. “I mean, I never was worried about finding someone, but now it feels as if I should find someone to like . . . I don’t know . . .”

“Keep up with the rest of us?” Vanessa offered.

“I guess so, but isn’t that a crappy reason to start a relationship with someone?”

Vanessa shrugged. “It doesn’t have to be, but my advice is to be open to possibilities. You’ll make yourself nuts if you try too hard to make it happen.”

I sat back beside her. “That’s good advice.” I dug out my phone and handed it to her. “Delete my Cyber Mates account, will you? It’s the definition of trying too hard and not yielding any positive results anyway.”

“Are you sure?” Vanessa asked, her thumbs hovering over the screen.

“Yes.”

With a few taps, my sister wiped me from Cyber Mates and handed my phone back to me.

“I have one more outfit to try, then let’s get to that dinner I promised you if you came clothes shopping with me.” She stood and approached the dressing room.

“I’m hungry so be prepared to drop some coin on this dinner.”

Vanessa laughed as she closed herself into the dressing room and I slouched a bit on the bench.

Be open to the possibilities. I could do that.

As I waited for my sister’s next ensemble viewing, movement at the end of the dressing room area caught my attention. Another woman had entered the space and stood beside a dressing room as the employee unlocked it. The employee was in my line of view so I couldn’t see the shopper all that well.

“Let me know if you need different sizes or an opinion,” the employee said as the shopper entered.

A muffled thank you sounded and the dressing room door closed.

A few moments later, that door opened again and Sadie Rodgers strode out, that red hair cascading around her shoulders like wild flames. She had on workout leggings in a mossy green color and a blousy top that gave off a gypsy vibe. Her delicate feet were bare and added to her overall waif-like appearance.

Stunning.

The word wasn’t enough, but with my brain short-circuiting at the sight of Sadie checking herself out in the three-paneled mirror near her dressing room, I couldn’t come up with a better adjective.

She hadn’t noticed me yet so I enjoyed precious moments admiring her from the bench where I sat.

Until Vanessa busted out of her dressing room.

“I don’t know about this one, Beckett,” she said.

At the sound of my name, Sadie’s head whipped in my direction. Our gazes connected and a heartbeat of stillness, of absolute silence, tethered us to one another.

“These pants make me look as if I have no butt at all,” Vanessa continued, oblivious to the enchanted staring contest happening between Sadie and me. “I mean, I don’t want my butt to look big in my outfits, but I should have some butt, don’t you think?”

Sadie blinked, peeked at Vanessa, then grinned over my sister’s commentary about her butt.

“Some butt is good. Definitely,” I said, but my gaze was still on Sadie. “You wouldn’t want your aura to be negatively impacted by not having any butt, Vanessa, now would you?”

Sadie turned to face me, her hands going to her hips as she regarded me.