Page 63 of Offside Bride

“Goooood morning!” Siobhan strolls into the kitchen like she’s in a Sunny D commercial.

I’m saved!

“Somebody’s chipper,” Sawyer says, returning to the stove.

Siobhan helps herself to a bottle of water from the fridge. “I feel like a million bucks. Something about the fresh Canadian air. I haven’t slept this good in months.”

“Sawyer made breakfast,” I say dumbly, like it’s not obvious.

“Hmmm. That’s interesting,” Siobhan says. “You must be in a good mood.”

“Oh, I am,” he says, moving around the kitchen, humming contentedly. He puts more pancakes on the griddle, occasionally throwing me these looks that make me want to melt into the tile floor.

Siobhan sighs dramatically. “Traveling always makes me so famished. I could eat a house.”

She takes a seat on a tall stool at the island, and Sawyer slides a generous portion in front of her. She digs right in, shoveling huge bites of pancake in her mouth. A few forkfuls later, she gestures to Sawyer, who’s just leaning with his elbows on the counter, staring at me with a wry grin.

“You’re not hungry, bro?”

“I ate a little something earlier,” he says with a wink, not taking his eyes off me. “But I could eat again.”

Am. Deceased.

“Oh my lanta, these are good,” Siobhan says, mouth stuffed full, pointing her fork at the stack of pancakes.

Sawyer decides to have mercy on me and turns back to the stovetop to nibble on his breakfast standing up. He glances over his shoulder at Siobhan and snorts as she devours a whole strip of bacon in one bite. “Slow down there, little sis. The pig’s not gonna walk off your plate.”

Siobhan polishes off her breakfast with impressive speed, and I keep my head down, trying to ignore the way Sawyer’s eyes keep flicking back to me. My cheeks feel permanently flushed at this point.

After what seems like an eternity, Sawyer glances at his watch and says, “Shoot, I’ve got morning skate soon. What are you ladies up to today?”

“I was thinking of hitting up the mall,” Siobhan replies, licking syrup off her fork. “I hear Toronto has some killer shopping.”

“I can take you,” I offer, surprising myself with my eagerness. “We could make a day of it.”

“That sounds great!” Siobhan beams.

An idea strikes me. “Hey, maybe I’ll see if Emily wants to join us. She knows all the best spots in the city.”

Sawyer nods approvingly. “That’s a great idea. Siobhan, you’ll love Emily. She’s a riot.”

He starts clearing the dishes, moving around the kitchen with easy grace. “Oh, by the way, I got you both tickets for tonight’s game. Box seats.”

“Oh, that’ll be fun,” Siobhan chirps. “Sparing no expense, big brother?”

Sawyer winks at me. “Only the best for my girls.”

My heart does a little flip at the possessive ‘my,’ but I squash the feeling down. This is all for show, remember?

“Leave the dishes,” I say. “I’ll take care of it.”

"Thanks, babe,” Sawyer says. “Well, I better head out.”

He pockets his phone and gathers me in his arms, planting a soft kiss on my lips—you know…to keep up appearances.

---