“You think I give a fuck about my job?” he explodes, shaking his head. “They were private! And I stupidly thought that meant something, but clearly I made a mistake when I started falling for a child.”
“Child,” I scoff. “Is that what you really think?”
“No,” he whispers.
“Do you hate me?” Because I would hate me, if I were him. I really had no reason to put Sawyer in the blast like I did. It was petty and childish. Stupid hurt pride and jealousy. Like a child. He’s right.
Sawyer pulls the car over to the side of the road.
“I could never hate you. I’m annoyed, yes, but only because in my head I was trying to justify being with a student. Being let go was a huge...relief. But then you left and it was like it was all for nothing.”
Tears well in my eyes.
“Sawyer...I’m so sorry. I was stupid and selfish. I was hurt because this pull we have was killing me. I hated seeing you everyday and not being able to touch you. Except when it suited you.”
His smile is genuine, but a huge pang of guilt hits me. I couldn’t be with Sawyer, his brothers wouldn’t allow it, not when I know they also have feelings for me. Which, if I’m honest, I reciprocate. I can’t forgive them though. What would that say about me, that I’m willing to just let a man walk all over me?
Sawyer unclicks my seatbelt and pulls me onto his lap.
“You know we’re not over. None of us,” he tells me.
“Your brothers can eat a dick. I won’t forgive them,” I insist. Yeah, maybe stubborn should be my middle name. His arms pull me tighter.
“They can atone for their own sins, all I care about is that you’re with me. It’s killing me. The others can fight for you, or not. I don’t give a fuck. You’re mine.”
“How could you be happy with sharing?”
“Honestly, I don’t know...but I do know that they all care about you. But I’m a selfish man, Amelie, and right now I’m fucking ecstatic that they’re in the doghouse, because I can have you all to myself… If you’ll have me.”
We stop on the side of the road for a while, just sitting and enjoying each other. Until Sawyer's phone cuts through the silence.
I shuffle back to my seat. When Sawyer ends the call we are back on the road. He says it was his dad asking how far away we were.
As we pull into the obnoxious driveway, ironically with AC-DC’sHighway to Hellplaying in the background, anxiety hits. Laura is standing at the door. Sawyer gives my hand a quick squeeze for comfort and I try not to show him how affected I am by her. It was different before, with the guys on my side – or so I thought – but now, alone, I don’t want to go up against this woman. She terrifies me. Still.
Exiting the car, I head straight towards Laura though, because there’s no point showing her any fear. It makes everything worse.
“I hope you’re happy with yourself,” she screeches in her annoying high pitched voice.
“Well, I was, until I was dragged back here.”
“You’re such an ungrateful bitch, Amelie. Your father should have raised you better.”
I see red; she didn’t just bring up my father.
“He did the best he could, after you dumped him with two kids! Does he even know what you did to me? Because I never told him. Aadi knows. Be lucky it’s me you dragged here, because if it was him, you wouldn’t be living.”
“That place breeds scum,” she spits, and I launch myself at her.
Sadly, I’m caught mid-launch, as two strong arms pull me back to his body and his lips place a soothing kiss to my neck. Laura starts shrieking on about something, but Monty finally makes an appearance.
“Laura, what on earth is going on?” I look at her and the crocodile tears start falling.
“She tried to attack me and then your son kissed her.”
“I think you need to go lie down for a while,” he says to her. I frown. What?
“But they kissed, Monty.”
