Laundry tomorrow, then.
“Wow,” he laughs on the other end of the line. I hear water running, and the thought of Sawyer walking around naked in his apartment makes it nearly impossible not to head over there.
The line hums with everything we’re not saying. “I should probably head to bed soon.”
“Oh.” Sawyer clears his throat. “Yeah. Of course.”
I need space. I need to clear my head.
I need this to stop.
“Good night, Aiden. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Good night.” I sit in silence for a moment, feeling my chest grow tighter with each minute that passes. The call may have ended, but whatever I’m feeling never goes away.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
AIDEN
I watchSawyer move around the bakery. Though he may technically be my boss, and I am technically fucking around with him, while we’re working Sawyer is professional. And stressed.So stressed.
I swear, for everything he’s checked off his list he’s added three more.
All the while I’ve sat here confused as ever.
My mind is still on the other night—Sawyer in my arms and not having any strength to bring him home. We lay there for hours, kissing, touching, and talking. Then last night. That phone call.
I wish I could blame sex for this feeling, but it’s not what we did in the car that plays on a loop.
It’s seeing his face in the crowd at my match.
Watching me. Supporting me.
I need to get rid of this feeling. It’s awful and I don’t like it. It makes my skin feel tight. My stomach drops whenever I think about him. “Aiden?”
“Huh?”
“You okay?”
No, I’m not. I’m horrible. “Yeah.”
“You’ve been kind of quiet.”
“Just tired.” Tired of all this.
Sawyer is quiet, looking at me. Or am I staring at him? I really need to get a hold on this bullshit. Still no closer. I know Ivan’s going to be breathing down my neck. Maybe he doesn’t have it. What then?
For years Ivan thought this thing was gone, but something happened in the last year that made him manic about it again. I’m not sure why or how the fuck Sawyer is even involved. Those are questions I don’t have the privilege of getting answers to.
All I know is that if you’re in Ivan’s sights, it’s never a good thing.
The bell chimes, and my heart instantly plummets to my fucking feet.
No.
What the fuck is he doing?
“Aiden!” Katya runs up to me, and I’m helpless to do anything but catch her in my arms.
