Who is there?
Sadie’s pov
What would have happened to me yesterday if Justin hadn't been at home? The question played on a loop in my head, drowning out all other thoughts as I stood under the hot stream of the shower. The warm water poured over me, lathering up my skin and washing away the traces of the previous day, but my mind kept drifting back to Eric and everything that had transpired.
I wasn’t someone who liked to dwell on what-ifs, but the events of yesterday made me feel so vulnerable, so exposed. I tried to push the thoughts away, but they kept resurfacing. What would have happened if Justin hadn’t been there to stop Eric when he... when he started getting too close?
Was it because he couldn’t control himself? Has he never seen a woman like that before? I couldn’t help but wonder. My mind replayed the moment when Eric had gotten too handsy, too forward, and I had barely been able to push him away. If Justin hadn’t come to the rescue—if he hadn’t walked in at just the right moment—who knows where that situation could have gone. Maybe I would have let it happen. Maybe I wouldn’t have been strong enough to fight him off.
But Justin had been there, and he had protected me. Without Justin, I felt a pang of fear shoot through me. The thought of what might have happened made my stomach churn. I was so grateful that Justin was there. I couldn't help but think of how lucky I was to have someone who cared enough to look out for me in moments like that. I couldn’t imagine what would have happened otherwise.
I stepped out of the shower, feeling the cool air on my damp skin, and reached for my towel. I walked to the mirror, catching a glimpse of myself as I dried off. My skin glistened, and I couldn't help but feel a little more aware of my body than usual. I wasn't even trying to be seductive, but I couldn’t deny how good it felt to stand there and admire myself for a second.
What would have happened if Justin hadn’t been there? I couldn't help but replay it all in my mind. But now that it was over, I knew it would never happen again. Eric wouldn’t try anything like that again. And even if he did, I wouldn’t let him. I felt strong, in control. I was no longer the naïve girl I had been before, the one who let things slide because she didn’t know any better.
I didn’t need to get anyone else involved. I didn’t need to tell Daisy what happened. It was over now. Eric wouldn’t be able to manipulate me again. He wouldn’t be able to twist things to make me feel guilty or ashamed. And with Justin in my life, I didn’t have to worry about being alone or unprotected anymore.
I knew Justin had my back. And I could trust him with anything. I wasn’t sure what would have happened if he hadn't been there to step in. The thought made my heart race a little, but I quickly shoved it aside.
"Why didn’t I tell Daisy?" The thought struck me unexpectedly, and I stopped mid-step, looking at my reflection in the mirror again. I was about to grab my towel when I froze, staring at myself as if the answer would appear on my own face.
Maybe it wasn’t the right time to tell her. After all, what could she do? She didn’t need to know. What would she have said, anyway? Would she have blamed me? Or maybe she would’ve been angry that I didn’t call her sooner.
But it was all over. I didn’t need to worry about it anymore. The situation had been handled, and I had made it through. I glanced at the towel hanging on the hook and then glanced over at my phone, which had been sitting on the counter charging. I debated calling Daisy, but then decided against it. There was no reason to. Not yet.
I reached for the towel and wrapped it around my body, drying off as quickly as I could. Once my body was dry, I stepped into my dressing robe. I wasn’t sure how to feel about what had happened, but I knew that I didn’t want to keep dwelling on it. I had to focus on what was next. Justin and I had plans, and I couldn't let yesterday's events ruin the excitement of today.
The knock at the door startled me out of my thoughts.
"Who's there?" I called out, a teasing smile creeping onto my lips. I already knew who it was. Justin had been in and out of my room since we’d started staying at the house, and he never knocked unless he was trying to be cute. I made my way toward the door, my robe slipping open a little as I walked. I had a feeling Justin would like that.
"If you're afraid to see a woman's private parts, don’t come in," I said with a little laugh, already knowing that Justin wouldn't take my teasing seriously.
Just as I finished speaking, the door opened, and there he was, standing in the doorway, looking absolutely irresistible. Justin was dressed casually, in a t-shirt and jeans, his sunglasses perched on the edge of his nose. He looked so good that I couldn't help but smile, my heart doing a little flip in my chest.
"Hmm, why tempt me like this?" he said, stepping into the room. His voice was low and smooth, and I could hear the amusement in it. "I had planned to keep my clothes on until we got to the hotel, but here you are tempting me."
I couldn't help but let out a laugh at his words, and before I knew it, I was walking toward him with more confidence than I’d ever felt. "Well, if you want to be tempted, I might as well give you what you want."
I stood before him in my robe, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. He was always so confident, so comfortable in his own skin. And here I was, standing in front of him, completely exposed—physically and emotionally.
"Why are you so beautiful? You know that’s unfair, right?" he said, his voice taking on a softer, more affectionate tone. "I swear, sometimes I feel like I’m going to lose my mind just looking at you."
I couldn’t help but blush at his words, feeling my heart swell. "Justin, what do you mean?" I asked, suddenly unsure of myself.
He grinned and took a step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. "What I mean is," he started, his voice dropping to a whisper, "I love you. And if you keep making me feel like this, I might just lose my mind and propose to you at the party tonight."
I stared at him, stunned into silence. "What?" I gasped, my eyes wide. "Justin, please don’t do that. Daisy would never forgive me."
Justin chuckled softly and reached out to pull me into his arms, holding me close. "Why not? What’s the harm? I love you, Sadie. Don’t tell me you don’t feel the same way."
I felt a lump in my throat at the sincerity in his words. "I do, Justin. I do feel the same way. But I just don’t think it’s the right time," I said softly.
He pulled back, his expression serious now. "I get it. I’m not rushing you. I just... I want you to know how much you mean to me."
I nodded, feeling my heart swell with affection for him. But then, the thought of what had happened with Eric yesterday resurfaced, and my stomach twisted.
"Justin," I said, my voice trembling just slightly, "I need to talk to you about what happened yesterday. If you hadn’t been there..."
Justin stepped back and took my hands in his, looking at me with concern. "Hey, I’m here now," he said softly. "You’re safe. That’s all that matters."
I nodded, trying to push the fear away. "I know. I just... I want to make sure that nothing like that ever happens again."
He smiled, his thumb brushing over my hand reassuringly. "Nothing’s going to happen to you. Not as long as I’m around."
We stood there for a moment, just holding each other, the weight of the previous day lifting off my shoulders with every passing second. I felt safe, loved, and... ready for whatever came next.
"Okay, enough about all of that," I said, pulling away and grabbing my towel. "Let’s get ready to go to the hotel. We’ve got a night ahead of us."
Justin’s grin returned, and he stepped back toward the door. "You know, if we don’t hurry, we might miss the party," he teased. "And I’m really looking forward to seeing you in that dress."
I winked at him as I grabbed my phone, ready to get dressed. "Then we better not waste any more time."
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