Sawyer snapped, his limit finally reached. “Yes, I am. Because I will never force myself on you. I may not know everything. I may remember shit about my past and the stupid ass decisions that I’ve made. But I would never, will never, force my attentions on anyone. I can find another guardian. Hell, I can find you another mate if that’s what it comes down to. Leave, Dakota. We will fix this without you.”
He turned and stormed out of the room, probably reinforcing Dakota’s notion that he was nothing more than a petulant child. He needed to be free, though. To clear his head and his heart. Cecil hovered at the bottom of the stairs, and Sawyer drew up short at the sight of him.
“Is it true?”
If anyone knew what he was capable of, it was Cecil. The person who’d known him longest. The only one who knew the him from before.
“Walk with me,” Cecil said softly.
Sawyer followed Cecil into the kitchen, where he started making one of his many concoctions.
“I don’t need—”
“Yes, you do. Tell me, do you feel differently now?”
“No. Yes. I guess. Dammit, Sissylt, I don’t know what to think. I’m so confused.”
“I can imagine.”
“I know I made you promise not to tell me, but I’m releasing you from that promise, okay? I wasn’t thinking clearly, obviously.”
Cecil smiled and pushed over a glass. “Drink.”
Sawyer took a chug and immediately regretted his life choices. It wasn’t a smoothie. It burned.
“What is that?” Sawyer said as he tried to remember how to breathe.
“Bourbon.”
Sawyer choked and inhaled as his eyes watered and his entire body heated as liquid flames engulfed his throat and stomach. “You trying to kill me?”
“Not kill, no. Shock.”
Sawyer glared before staring down at the swirling amber liquid. “How do people drink that?”
“They usually sip it.”
“Smartass.”
Cecil smiled, and Sawyer sat down on one of the bar stools.
“You ignored me.”
“I never ignore you.”
“I said, I release you from your promise. So tell me.”
“You also made me promise not to tell you if you tried to release me from the promise so I would tell you.”
“Dammit!”
Cecil held out a second glass for himself and took a small sip. “You’re cute when you’re angry.”
Sawyer growled. “I’m so mad I could scream.”
“So scream.”
Sawyer sighed and took a small sip of the bourbon. “Why is this supposed to help again?”
