Page 137 of The Wayward Son

“I didn’t. But let’s get you some coffee, and I already ordered the burgers. They should be here any minute.”

Sawyer took a drink of water. “What’s going on?”

Sage started to respond, but stopped when Carla arrived with two plates and a pot of coffee. She set the pot down, then put the burgers in front of Sawyer and Sage.

Sawyer looked at her as she filled his cup. “Carla, do you ever have a day off?”

“Of course. I only work five days a week.” She smiled at him. “And here I thought you came in on the days I worked just to see me.”

“I do. I don’t want anyone else pouring my coffee.”

She left the table and Sawyer picked up his burger. “Man, I’m hungry.”

Sage took a small bite of her burger, then set it down and ate a French fry.

Sawyer looked at her. “Time to talk to me.”

“Okay. I’m betraying Jade’s trust. But I need to tell you something.”

“About Jade? Is she okay?”

“She’s fine. She told me something and asked me not to tell you. But it’s gotten to the point that I have to tell.”

Sawyer set his burger down. “What the hell is it?”

“Jade got a job.”

“A job? You mean, in addition to the bartending job?”

Sage shook her head. “Not in Castle Springs. She got a resort job. In…Hawaii.”

The gravity of what Sage was saying didn’t quite sink in at first. “What?”

“Jade got a job offer at a resort in Hawaii.”

“She hasn’t said anything about that to me.”

“I know. That’s why I’m telling you.”

He took a sip of coffee. “An offer isn’t the same as taking the job.”

“She took the job, Sawyer. She’s been emailing them all week.”

He studied her for a moment. “She told you that?”

“No. I sort of looked at her emails from them.”

“You hacked into her email account?”

“Hacked? Really? She didn’t close her account on the laptop. I just looked at it.”

“You looked at her emails?”

“Sawyer. You’re missing the point. She took a job in Hawaii and she’s been spending all this time with you and hasn’t told you about it.”

The reality of what Sage was saying finally sunk in and Sawyer pushed his plate to the middle of the table. “Shit.”

“Exactly.” She reached for his hand. “I’m so sorry.”

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