Page 30 of The Wayward Son

“So it was worth it?”

“Yeah.” He went to the elevator and pushed the button. “But I’m not going to race the elevator this time.”

“Good call.”

When they got to the apartment, Sawyer went to the couch and sat down. He opened his energy drink and took a sip. What he really needed was Ember’s magic electrolyte potion. But he didn’t have the ingredients to make it. This canned, and a lot less effective version would have to do until they got home.

He was staring at Jade’s wedding dress, which was lying in a corner of the room in a pile of satin, lace, and tulle. When she sat next to him, he looked at her.

“How much did you pay for that dress?”

She shook her head. “You don’t want to know.”

He looked at the dress again. “What are you going to do with it?”

“I have no idea. There’s not a giant market for used wedding dresses.”

He took another drink. “You could save it and wear it for your next wedding.”

Jade glared at him. “That’s really not funny. I highly doubt there’s going to be a next wedding. But if someone did somehow talk me into getting married, I wouldn’t wear that?”

He smiled. “What would you wear?”

She looked at the jeans and t-shirt she was wearing. “Something like this. Just me, my guy, and a Justice of the Peace. No fuss. No muss.”

“Good luck with that. Families have a way of interfering with the no fuss, no muss, part.”

“I don’t have a family.”

“That’s true. But your guy probably will.”

“I’ll just have to find myself a guy with no family, then.”

Sawyer nodded. “I guess that takes me out of the running.”

Jade laughed. “Would you really want to be in the running?”

He looked at her for a moment. “I don’t know. Life would certainly be interesting.”

She patted his arm. “Well, like you said. You have a family. So, you’re out of luck.”

“Damn.” He finished his drink and crushed the can in his hand. “Can you go switch the laundry by yourself?”

“Yes. I will brave the scary laundry room alone.”

“Bring your phone. You can call me with an SOS if things get hairy.”

“I’m afraid by the time you got to me using the elevator, it’d be too late.”

He thought for a moment. “I could at least stick around and identify the body when the cops show up.”

Jade stood and put her phone in her pocket. “Because that’s what friends do.”

“Yep. That’s what friends do.”

Jade left the apartment and Sawyer leaned against the back of the couch. Tomorrow would be a long day, but he was glad he’d have company. Once again, he was glad Jade showed up at his door.

His thoughts wandered next to the fight and the subtle ultimatum Keith had given him. It was time to make a decision. He just wished it wasn’t so black and white. Either he was in or he was out. He rubbed his side.

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