I looked up at him and mouthed,Boyfriend?
He smiled wide enough to make his dimple pop. “That okay?”
I hopped up and gave him a hug. “More than okay.”
Jules looked back and forth between us, her face lighting up. “Y’all are too cute.”
Sawyer spun me around to hug me from behind, and I could hear the smile in his voice. “Agreed. Though I prefer ‘sexy.’”
Ginger joined us, her eyes widening when she clocked Sawyer holding me in a prom pose. She glanced at Jules, then turned back to us. “Breakfast is ready, and it looks like Leo and the kids have just about everything in place. Are y’all hungry?”
I gestured at Sawyer. “This one had me up at the crack of dawn with the promise of breakfast, and I plan on collecting,” I said, marching toward the kitchen.
“Hey, punk god,” Sawyer called. “Dining hall’s that way.” He pointed in the other direction, hiding a smile behind his fist.
“I knew that. I was just testing you,” I retorted, sticking my tongue out at him.
He put his hand on my lower back, and we headed to breakfast. While we were waiting in line, we were joined by Major, Beckett, Holden, Ozzie, Walker, and Joel.
Ozzie’s mouth opened as he took in Sawyer’s arm around my waist. I’d gotten so used to Sawyer touching me when we were alone that it hadn’t occurred to me to ask him to stop. My cousin and I had a silent conversation, consisting mostly of increasingly theatrical eyebrow-related movements.
“We’ve been spotted,” I whispered out of the side of my mouth.
Sawyer pulled me closer. “Want to give them a real show?”
I chuckled. “Obviously.”
He turned to face me and gave me theupgesture. I grabbed his shoulders and jumped, wrapping my legs around his waist. He held me securely, his eyes tracing over every part of my face.
“Kiss me,” I said, already smirking because I knew the reaction we’d get.
He followed through without hesitation, his lips brushing mine. The gesture was sweet and appropriate for the teenagers, but I was not disappointed. Boisterous hoots and wolf whistles echoed through the dining hall.
Still clinging to Sawyer, I turned my head, grinning. “There are kids here. Have a little respect.”
That started off another round of laughter and catcalls, mostly from Ozzie. I slid out of Sawyer’s hold as our friends launched themselves at us. The fierceness of their hugs and the blazing joy in their eyes made my throat catch.
Ozzie up-nodded me. “Didn’t realize how happy people would be for you, did you?”
“No,” I admitted, a hot flush growing on my cheeks. “I’ve never felt like this before.”
He winked at me. “Ain’t love grand?”
I looked back at Sawyer, whose spine Major was realigning. “Yes. Yes, it is.”
CHAPTER 22
sawyer
Breakfast at Lupe was more enjoyable than I could’ve ever expected. While we ate waffles and crispy bacon prepared by the older teenagers, our friends peppered us with questions about how Hendrix and I had gotten together.
After a fair amount of razzing and genuine happiness for us, we moved on to the subject of Hendrix’s recovery. He told them about the contract being held over his head to force him to make up the last seven dates. He didn’t bring up DeWitt, so I didn’t, either.
Our friends were sympathetic and bemoaned the fact that they didn’t have any solutions. They didn’t need to worry, though, because as we were chatting, I received the text I’d been waiting for. The message was only two words:
DB:Got him.
I stifled a smile and put away my phone. This was shaping up to be a very good day.
