Page 136 of One Night with Number Nineteen

“Ran here?” I blink at him. “Why⁠—”

“I was late, Pages. And I needed to get here for Ollie’s show,” he finishes with a wince.

“Only you didn’t,” I say quietly.

He winces again, opens his mouth.

“Sawyer!”

We turn as one and see Ollie running across the room.

“Did you see?” he asks, throwing his arms around Sawyer’s waist. “I got every word of “Jingle Bells” right.”

“I—”

“I didn’t see you, ’cause I was looking next to Mom. She was in the front row,” he says. “Were you in the back because you’re so tall?”

Sawyer winces. “I⁠—”

“I told Aparna you were coming. She didn’t believe me.” He runs off, returns a few seconds later, holding the hand of an adorable little girl in a red velvet dress. “This is Sawyer. See? He came.”

Aparna’s mouth drops open and I might have laughed if I wasn’t so mad.

And confused.

And hurt.

“Hi, Aparna,” Sawyer says softly.

“You’re tall,” is the only reply.

We all stare at each other for a few heartbeats. Then Aparna and Ollie run off to play.

“I’ll tell him.”

I turn to look at Sawyer.

“I’m not planning on lying to him,” he whispers. “I’ll tell Ollie I missed it.”

My temple throbs. “Don’t.” I sigh. “Don’t hurt him like that.”

“But—”

“Don’t,” I grit out. “Just…don’t.”

Quiet falls between us but the hum of the conversations all around doesn’t fade away.

“What are you doing, Sawyer?”

He jerks, his hands tightening on the bag. “It’s just a little something for Ollie.”

“I’m not talking about the present. Which is super sweet but probably too much.” I look at him. “And it’s also why I need you to explain it to me.”

“Explain what?” he asks evenly.

But the fear’s there in his eyes.

“Why you do this?”