"𝙱𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙸 𝚜𝚊𝚢, 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚞𝚜."
~~~
𝐙𝐚𝐜𝐡'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕
"Aaaaand finish." Sage slaps the last ounce of the cold green mask on my chin as I scrunch my nose.
"Finally," I grunt and lean off of the sink and stretch out my arms in this very tiny bathroom.
My body has been in this same exact position for over twenty minutes because Sage insisted I don't move or it would get in my eyes or mouth.
"You can look now." She giggles and the noise brings joys to my ears, hearing her so carefree and happy.
"What did you do, Sage."
"What's best for your large pores." She answers back. Her back is turned to me as she cleans up and I blink my eyes open and look at myself in the mirror.
"What the-
I look like a scary handsome version of the grinch because every spot on my face is covered in a green tart mixture.
"It has to stay on for thirty minutes for it to work."
"No-" I begin, already hating the idea of this.
"Sage, someone's here to see you!" A loud voice echoes through the walls and my chest immediately falls with a sigh.
Fuck, more people.
"Niko!" She screamed excitedly. "C'mon Iets go."
"Sage, baby, hold on. I can't go with this on my face." I exaggerate the motion of my hands towards my face with wide eyes.
"Well you can't take it off."
"But-"
"No buts." She interrupts and I shut up. "Now let's go. I can't wait for all my favorite boys to be under the same roof."
As much as I hated going down there looking like this I couldn't help but bite my lip from smiling at her words.
"Well if you-"
Before I can even finish my sentence Sage is out the door and loud footsteps are making their way down the stairs. I take a deep breath remembering this isnt just a family dinner. I want to impress them more than ever. The way Sage talks about them means they're important to her, which means they're important to me.
By the time I get down there Sage and the tiny human are melted in a hug so tight I think it may be restricting her airflow.
"Okay, okay not so tight bud."
"But I missed Sagie dad!" His cheek leaves Sages shoulder with a pouty lip and his gaze falls on me.
My shoulders almost tense at the six year old staring back at me as I shove my hands five inches deep into my pockets.
With a head full of curls and skin rich as their dads he bolts right up, crosses his arm across his chest and tilts his chin up. The resemblance they all share is scary precise. Same round nose, gentle smile and eyes so striking it pains to look away.
"Who. Are. You." He pronounces each word firmly but in reality the forced low pitch voice makes my lips quirk up in amusement.
"I'm Zachariah. Zach for short." I crouch down before answering. His chin falls with my movement and I feel Sage and her fathers stare at the both of us.
"Za-cha-rhiah?" He says, sounding out every syllable. "What's on your face?"
"Well it's a-uh-Sage's face mask. Your sister decided to give me a makeover. Do you like it?" I finish, trying to make small talk.
"No, you look weird." He quips.
"I do look weird, huh?" I agree, holding back a chuckle.
His lips slowly lift into a toothless smile. "I wanna look weird too!"
"How bout we do another mask tonight after dinner." Sage interjects as I bite back a response.
We?
"Okay!" He squeals excitedly before running off into the other room.
"I think that went better than I expected." I sigh once Nicholas follows after his son.
"Way better." She snakes her arm around my waist and my chin rests on her head full of hair. Her wide eyes follow my every movement as I slowly bring my hands to the end of her back. Between my rapid heartbeat and her hair tickling my chin I lose every ounce of focus.
"I think we should get back." I hesitate after my eyes flicker down to her lips briefly.
"Already?" She frowns, settling her head into my shoulder. "I like being here. With you." There's a pause. "In your arms."
The last part comes out in a delicate whisper.
"Me too baby, but the last thing I want is your dad to get the wrong idea so c'mon."
"Fine, but first you got a lil something." She motions towards her face and the lightbulb in my head turns on again. The stupid mask.
"Right." I grumble, looking for the nearest bathroom.
—
I'm not surprised when the small talk I hear from down the hall dies down once I enter the dining room.
Three faces snapping in my direction is all it takes to make me want to bolt out the room but I don't. My expression remains calm and collected as I take a seat opposite of Nicholas and Niko and right beside Sage where she takes my hand underneath the table with a tight squeeze.
"So Zachariah or Zach is it."
At the mention of my full name I tense. "Zach's fine."
"Right, Zach, so any plans after college football? I've been doing my fair share of research on the NCAA and I know the process can be exhausting."
Exhausting, try grueling. You work on your craft for years. Early practices, injuries that break down your body, workouts so intense the next morning feels like a semi slammed right into you, all for what. A chance you may play with the best of the best.
"Well my main focus right now is earning the captain spot on my current team. I know it will draw the attention of recruiters because you rarely get to see wide receivers get such a high position."
"Oh that's right you're wide receiver and what's his name Ezra the Cowboys expected number four pick, is quarterback. I hear a lot about that boy. He's a beast."
"Yeah, Ezra is insanely dedicated to his craft. It's why he makes a good captain."
"Wow dad. Didn't know you knew so much about college football." Sage chimes in, thinking the same thing I was.
I begin filling my plate with food. The baked macaroni pie looked the most appealing and once I took a bite out of it I knew I was right. I glance around the table and by the looks of Nikos stuffed cheeks and playful eagerness I can assume he agrees.
"I usually keep an eye out for future draft picks. It keeps me on my toes on days I'm not at the hospital. Speaking of football, any word from the big leagues yet Zach." Nicholas asks casually.
"Dad." Sage warns.
Though the topic occasionally comes up, I can't help the anxiety I feel whenever the question is asked. Every college football player's dream is to get called up but realistically a good chunk of us won't get that call and that alone haunts me.
"I still have a year left but no. No calls yet."
"I'm sure it'll happen soon and your parents. They must be so proud of you."
"I'd like to think so." My voice is now severely strained.
"So, Dad, perfume in the bathroom? Anybody new in your life I should know about?" She changes the topic swiftly and I visibly relax.
"Besides the new mailman I don't think so honey." Besides Nicholas' face turning a light shade of pink, the lie is almost believable.
"What about Eleanor?" Niko peeks up.
"Eleanor?" Sage chokes back a cough, not expecting Nikos' announcement. "Who's Eleanor?"
As the three of them converse, I use this time to bring mine and any other empty dishes to the sink. The hot water burns my skin as I wash the grease off the plate while staring into space, wondering if she was proud.
"I'll dry." I hear Nicholas from beside me. He grabs a nearby towel and begins picking up the clean plates. In silence the two of us work in synchronized movements. Me cleaning, rinsing then handing it off to him to dry and put back in the cabinets.
"My family." I clear my throat. "They're sort of a sore subject."
"Sage told me about your mother. I assure you I would not have said anything if I knew."
We fell into a comfortable silence.
"I- I think I've let her memory fade so much it hurts when other people bring her up. My mother, she was my number one fan."
"There's something special about a mothers love." He murmurs and I see his mind wander elsewhere and though I'm dying to ask, I don't.
"I'm guessing she hasn't told you."
Immediately I answer. "No, she hasn't."
Sage rarely mentions her mother. And when I say rarely I actually mean never. There's no pictures lying around, memory rants or conversations that have come up where she was even a topic of discussion. Even when I first walked in there was no sign any mother figure had lived here. Nikos only six so my curiosity was piqued on her whereabouts.
"I think she wants to. So bad Zach. I know it's probably eating her alive not sharing that part of her life with you despite how close you two have gotten. But I think it's just hard for her since..." He trails off.
"Since what?"
I can feel the hesitation radiating off his body and the air get thick with tension. For the first time tonight the old man can barely meet my eye.
"Your sister is a lot like my ex-wife."
Confusion rakes my brain. "What does Sage's mom have anything to do with Kelsey?"
He sets the final plate in the cupboard and closes it. I shut the water off and immediately hear Sage and Niko laughing in the other room. With a heavy sigh Nicholas meets my eye. His expression is sincere and full of a pain only a parent can feel. Probably something I'd never understand.
Kelsey
Her demeaning words, lack of empathy, work comes first attitude.
And Sage's mother.
Nicholas' words repeat themselves in my mind.
"Your sister is a lot like my ex wife."
A lot like
Putting two and two together, my chest tightens.
"She thinks letting you in about her mother will hurt your relationship because you'll finally see how she really feels about Kelsey."
The words practically fly out my mouth. "It wouldn't. I would never let it."
He nods as if he doesn't believe me.
"She won't be a problem anymore." I reveal.
He snaps. "Don't be naive Zach. This won't work. Kelsey will make sure of it and I would rather it be sooner than later before my daughter is broken beyond repair."
For a few seconds all I can do is stand there and stare at him. The past few exchanges register in my brain. Sages own fucking mom curropting her just like my sister has these past couple of years. The modeling agency refusing to let her out of the contract. This legal battle that's going to happen between my sister and girlfriend. It all seems so complicated with my thoughts being pulled into every different direction. Then finally I realized it on my own.
He wants me to run. To give up.
I can practically see him begging me to end it in his mind.
"You don't have to believe this will work. I just need her to."
End of Chapter
Wow, umm it's been a while and I am so glad to be officially back. Life has been pretty hectic. But in between graduating high school and getting covid I have finally gotten over this writers block and so excited to finish Burning for Sage this summer.
For years wattpad has been my safe haven but I feel like writing a story on here has kind of changed that aspect I really enjoyed. The notifications, lingering thoughts in my mind to update has made me feel overwhelmed to the point I could barely open the app. So please bare with me as I release more chapters. I promise you all Burning for Sage will not be discontinued. Once I start something, I have to finish. Only about 15 chapters left till these two get their ending.