Had an emergency to attend to. Just work, not the dog this time. No worries, I’ll be there for the live show.
Sawyer stared at the pen as it hovered over the page. If her grandmother saw the note, she’d expect to see the proper farewell, especially since he was supposed to propose to her in just two short days.
A sad sort of grin crossed his lips as he realized that, this time, Betzy couldn’t silence him. He’d say it after all.
With that, Sawyer met the paper with his pen once more.
I love you, Betzy Boo.
Sawyer.
He set the page on top of the bed, hiked his bag over one shoulder, and headed out to the family room. It was then he noticed that the fireplace was on.
A foolish spot of hope rose in him as he wondered if Betzy would be sitting in front of it. She wasn’t, but her Grandma Lo was.
“Sawyer?” She sat in the firelight’s glow on the corner of the couch, arms folded, one leg crossed over the next where it bounced with the tick of the clock. “Leaving so soon?”
He peered into the darkness out the window, knowing his ride wouldn’t be there for twenty minutes at least.
“I have to,” he said. “But I’ll…”
“Keep up your end of the deal?”
Sawyer’s stomach dropped. The scarce light showed her position well enough, but it did a poor job of illuminating her face.
“What deal might that be?” he asked.
“She asked you to propose to her. She wants to stuff it in Daisy’s face.”
Sawyer didn’t reply.
“I can’t blame her,” she said. “I’d have done the same thing. How long are you supposed to stayengaged?”She lifted her hands to put finger quotes around the word.
Still, he couldn’t get himself to answer. At this point, she didn’t seem to have confirmation. Sawyer didn’t want to be responsible for giving that to her. He resigned himself to taking a seat on the opposite couch; from there, he shot another longing look out the window.
“I don’t think you should do it.”
“I can’t not—” But then he caught himself.Crud!Sawyer clenched his jaw shut tight enough for his teeth to grind.
“This isn’t the way to handle the situation. It’s not…it’s not the Benton way. Jonathon would never approve of it. I’m sure Claudia thinks it’s swell. The kids too. But petty tactics like these…you know what they say about playing in the mud.”
Sawyer ran a hand along the back of his neck, still cursing himself for blabbing.
“I know it sounds old fashioned, but there’s no policy or plan better than honesty. And the honest truth is, Daisy was wrong to put the article out there. I’d rather stand in the right than join her in doing something wrong.”
With elbows propped on his knees, Sawyer dropped his face in his hands. “I know what you mean,” he said. “And I know Betzy admires you more than anyone. But if you want to stop all of this, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
“No, I’m not,” she said. “You’rethe one she’s asked to propose to her. On the live taping, is my bet.”
Sawyer pulled his hands from his face, his eyes adjusting to the darkness now, and shook his head. “You don’t get it. If she wants me to do it, no matter whatitis, I’ll do it. I’d never tell her no.” His lower lip threatened to tremble, but he caught hold of the emotion and bit it back.Just get to the car, man. If you’re going to break down, hold out until then.
“You really do love her, don’t you?”
Sawyer turned his gaze on her once more. “More than anything.”
“Does Betzy know that?”
He nodded as a humorless laugh bubbled up his throat. “Yep. She sure as…heck does.” He might have bit back the curse word at his lips, but there were all sorts of language bombs going off in his head. What a joke the night had been.
