Page 21 of Heartsmashed
Peter pursed his lips and glanced at our joined hands again. “Yeah. They do.”
The awkward silence fell again, longer this time, and I shifted closer to Sawyer to let my shoulder brush against his.Just in case he needed it.
Then I decided to take control of the situation.
“Long drive,” I said. “We’re gonna get settled.”
Peter’s attention snapped back to me, that same flicker of something unreadable crossing his face before it disappeared.
“Of course,” he said. “We’ll catch up later.”
No doubt about that.
I gave a small nod, then guided Sawyer away, stopping at check-in only long enough to get our cabin key before heading out a different exit to the one his moms were currently posted outside of.
We walked in silence down the gravel path, illuminated on either side with soft light. I didn’t let go of his hand in case anyone was still watching…and also because he was still clinging to mine like he might fall over without it.
Up ahead, the small cabin was lit up, waiting for our arrival. As soon as Sawyer saw it, he exhaled slowly and let go of my hand.
“Okay, that was…something,” he said.
“You did great.”
He snorted. “You don’t have to lie.”
“I’m not. You held your own.” I fished the key out of my pocket as we walked up the stairs to the cabin.
“God.” Sawyer stopped, leaned against the wood railing, and dragged his hand through his hair. “I’m so glad you’re here. Is that weird to say? I know we don’t know each other, but Ican’t do that again without some serious emotional support, and you…you were great back there.”
“That’s why I’m here.” I unlocked the door, but when I realized Sawyer wasn’t behind me, I turned to where he was still letting the railing hold him up.
“I didn’t even have to say the code word and you knew…” He gave me a soft smile, a grateful one. “You knew to get us out of there.”
“I figured we should get out before your brother decided Peter’s face would make a good punching bag.”
“Who, Hudson?”
“Mmhmm. Not a fan of Peter, is he?”
“Um. Maybe not anymore.” He pushed off the rail and climbed the rest of the stairs to join me. “But he’s a lover, not a fighter.”
“I think you underestimate him.”
“Nah, his version of fighting is with a pen, although I’d love to see him put that damn tie to better use.”
“You want him to tie Peter up?”
“More like strangle.” Sawyer’s grin came a little quicker now that we were alone and the threat had passed. “Buuut that would probably overshadow the anniversary, don’t you think?”
“Maybe so.”
The wind whipped up, leaves swirling around us on the porch. One landed on the shoulder of Sawyer’s polo, and without thinking, I reached up and brushed it off.
“The worst part is over,” I said. “You faced him and got it over with.”
“Yeah…yeah, I did, huh? So maybe it’ll be smooth sailing from here on out. Yes. Good. No worries. He didn’t even look that good in that stupid jacket anyway.”
I bit back a smirk. “Not at all.”
