Sawyer burst into laughter. “Well, for that, I’m sorry. How can I make it up to you?”
“Come to lunch with me.”
A sigh, but in jest because Colton was one of her best friends, and she knew he was teasing. Mostly. Besides, getting out of her cubicle and experiencing a change of scenery might help. It wasn’t like she was getting any work done sitting there daydreaming. He wasn’t wrong about that. “Fine. Let’s go to lunch.”
Twenty minutes later, they were seated in a little café about a block from their office building. If yesterday had been unseasonably warm, October was clearly done with that nonsense. A brisk wind seemed to cut through Sawyer’s too-light jacket, and she’d had to pull it tightly around her for the brief walk. She rarely ordered coffee with her lunch, but it was the first thing she did once they sat. Now, both hands wrapped around the warm mug, she finally felt better.
“So, what’s with all the staring off blankly today?” Colton asked, then took a sip of his sparkling water. “Something you want to talk about? If not, that’s fine, it’s none of my business.” He waved a dismissive hand, then leaned forward and added, “Except you should talk about it anyway.”
She debated for about half a second before realizing that she did, indeed,wantto talk about it. Rolling it all around in her head certainly wasn’t getting her anywhere, except that much closer to going mad. With a nod and a fortifying sip of much-needed caffeine, she launched into the story of Jenna that he hadn’t been privy to. He knew about the apple picking, but she’d left it there, so now she told him about the rest. The appearance of Amanda at the house. Sawyer’s reaction to her and Jenna witnessing some of it. Jenna inviting Sawyer over and cooking her dinner. The movie watching. The falling asleep like entangled vines, all wrapped up in each other. The book signing. Right up to how Sawyer waited for Jenna to come home last night, a glass of wine poured for her.
“It was a gorgeous night, and she was wiped out, but she sat on the porch with me anyway.”
The waitress brought their orders, and when Sawyer looked up from her soup and salad, Colton was studying her face.
“What?” she asked, opening a napkin and draping it across her lap.
He shook his head and did the same. “Nothing. I’m just noticing the way you sort of light up when you talk about her.”
“Do I?”
Colton gave a snort. “Um, yes. Like the proverbial Christmas tree. You like her, and she clearly likes you.” He pulled the top piece of bread off his club sandwich and added extra mayo.
“You think?”
He tipped his head and hit her with a stare that saidduhwithout saying it. “If she didn’t, she’d have gone to bed without hanging on the porch with you.”
“Maybe she just wanted the wine.”
“Maybe she just wanted you.”
Sawyer chewed a cherry tomato and held Colton’s gaze as he took a bite of his sandwich. Then she let out a long exhale through her nose.
“What?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“Sawyer. Talk to me.” He waved a finger in a circle in front of her face. “What’s causing this…frowning situation?”
“What if I’m too—”
“Don’t you dare say—”
“Damaged,” they finished together.
“Goddamn it.” He took an aggressive bite of his sandwich.
Sawyer grimaced.
“How many times do I have to tell you your experience with Amanda does not define you?” he said after a moment. “I don’t know why you think it does. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I mean, I did, though.”
“It’s debatable. You didn’t have all the information.”
She tipped her head. “I guess that’s true.”
“It is. You thought she’d be leaving her relationship. And she knew she had no intention of doing that.”
