Sawyer
Sawyer bounded up the steps to Draco’s house and pounded on the front door. Draco opened it a moment later, glaring through the black-framed glasses he wore when he was working.
“I was recording,” Draco complained. “Now I have to do it again.”
“You’ll survive. Besides, the crankier you are in the review the better. Why do you pretend otherwise?” Sawyer flicked him on his T-shirt covered chest, an action which annoyed Draco to no end and earned him one of Draco’s world famous scowls.
Draco reviewed technology for a variety of companies and he had hundreds of thousands of followers on various social media platforms. No one was more surprised than Sawyer when the video he’d shared of Draco attempting to open the box of a new phone went viral. He’d bitched and moaned through the entire process, and then when the phone failed to perform in the way he wanted, Draco had thrown it across the room in a huff, picked up his old phone and told Sawyer exactly what they should have done to make it better.
And of course, Sawyer had it all recorded for posterity because Draco in a huff was one of his favorite things in life, as long as it wasn’t directed toward him. And, because he couldn’t keep all of Draco’s awesome crankiness to himself, he’d shared it online. Once he’d posted it, everyone had agreed that it was hysterical, and before they knew it, Draco was an Internet sensation. Grumpy cat had nothing on his scowls and frowns. But better than that, the phone company listened, and then sent him a new test model a month later after the original video had over a million views and most of the comments agreed with Draco’s verdict.
It also didn’t hurt that Draco was one of the most beautiful men who had ever graced the planet. With his black hair and amber eyes, strong jawline and perfect body, it was no wonder half the comments included some sort of offer to provide sexual services for Draco. Needless to say, Draco was less than amused by the crudeness and he had this righteous indignation thing that he did that spoke of his truly epic disappointment. Sawyer had been on the receiving end of that disappointment a couple of times and he never wanted to be there again.
Then there was Draco’s smile. Even though he rarely made that expression and only when Sawyer caught him off guard, it was worth the wait. When one of the products he reviewed pleased him, his smile lit up the screen. Advertisers hoped and prayed they got one of those smiles, but they were few and far between. Sawyer had only witnessed a true smile a few times, and he treasured those moments.
Draco huffed, pulling Sawyer’s attention away from his wandering thoughts. Draco opened the door further, allowing Sawyer and his trusty black lab, Pearl, inside the house. “What do you two troublemakers want?”
“Nothing. Did you see across the street? I mean, seriously, is that place a McMansion or what? It’s ginormous. You still have not explained to me why the heck they are building that monstrosity all the way out here. I mean, I know that land has been empty forever, but my place is going to look like a shack sitting there next to it in all of its rustic Victorian farmhouse turreted glory. I mean, who builds a house with a turret anymore anyway?”
“People who build McMansions. Also, don’t say that. I like your house.”
“I do, too. But that’s not the point. It’s huge, Drake. Like, so huge.”
“Really? Is it huge?”
“Shut up. You know what I mean. Who bought it? Do you know? Did you find out? Who’d you ask? You know Becky at the city planner’s office would tell you. All you’d have to do is wear that tight white—”
“No. You call and flirt with her to get your answers. I don’t care who is moving in.”
“But—”
“And I hate McMansions.”
Sawyer grinned and Pearl bumped up against him in agreement. “I know. It’s likedestinythat one would go in right across the street from you so you’ll have to stare at itevery single timeyou walk out of your house. I think even the universe likes it when you’re cranky. I can’t explain it any other way. Your scowls make the world go round or something.”
Draco sighed and reached down to scratch Pearl behind her ear. “You hungry?”
Sawyer’s stomach chose that very moment to growl obnoxiously and he looked down at it in wonder. “How do you do that?”
Draco smirked and glanced into the kitchen. “It’s easy. You’re always hungry.”
“I’m a growing boy.”
“That argument hasn’t worked for several years now. Ever since your brothers decided you were grown up enough to live by yourself.”
“Puh-lease. My brothers knew you were here to keep me out of trouble. That’s the only reason they dared to leave me alone. I can’t wait to tell Mikey the McMansion is finished! He hates them more than you do.”
Draco opened the fridge and pulled out a tray of chicken. Sawyer could always count on food when he came by, which he did almost every night when he got home from school. He was on his last semester of grad school, only a week away from having a master’s degree in business that paired horribly with the honors degree in history he’d gotten in undergrad. No one understood why he’d made the choice he did, and hell, Sawyer hadn’t been able to explain it himself. It just felt right and when he’d explained to Draco what he wanted, he’d gotten the other man’s nod of approval. It was all he needed.
“I’m going to start the grill. There’s stuff for a salad in the crisper. Start chopping.”
“Sir, yes sir!” Sawyer saluted and grinned at Draco’s frown before he turned and picked up Pearl’s water bowl from the floor by the door. He gave his girl fresh water before getting the vegetables out of the refrigerator and his favorite knife from the stand on the counter.
He’d barely sliced into the tomato when something sent a shiver of fear down his spine. The knife slipped and cut into his finger. Sawyer yelped and hurried over to the sink to get the cut under water so he could see the damage. He’d barely gotten the faucet on when Draco was at his side.
“What happened?”
“Cut myself. Obviously.” Draco frowned and looked around the room, as if seeking some hidden enemy.
