Page 58 of The Wayward Son

“Is it morning?”

“Not yet. Go back to sleep.”

“Do you think your dad thinks we’re…you know. Doing it?”

Sawyer laughed. “No. Why would he think that?”

“Because I stayed with you for a week before we came here.”

“First off, he knows we’re friends. And secondly, I’d be a jerk if I made a move on you right after you broke up with your fiancé.”

“And you’re not a jerk.”

“No. I’m not.”

She sighed. “Have you ever thought about it, though?”

“What?”

“Doing it. With me.”

Sawyer sat and turned to face her. “Are we really having this conversation?”

“Sorry. I’m just curious if you’ve ever thought of me as someone other than Skittles.”

He took a moment to think about what his answer should be. “Jade, you blew into my life a week ago and I’ll admit, you’re beautiful and interesting. And a little bit crazy. But I really think you need a friend right now more than a—”

“I’m not asking if you want to take me right here and now. I just wanted to know if it ever crossed your mind.”

He took her hand. “I’d have to be blind and stupid not to find you desirable, Jade. Is that what you want to hear? Because it’s the truth.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

“What’s this all about?”

“I’m feeling a little bit rejected. I think the reality of Seth dumping me on my wedding day is finally sinking in.”

“Seth is an idiot.”

She smiled. “He kind of is, isn’t he?”

“A huge idiot.”

“Thank you. You can sleep now.”

Sawyer turned back around and leaned against the couch. He’d been mostly honest with her. And he thought she was satisfied with his answer. But if he told her the whole truth, it’d be, of course, he’d thought about moving out of the friend zone and discovering just how interesting and crazy she really was. He’d thought about it a lot. And if he was honest with himself, it was the reason he was there, in the living room, instead of in the loft. He missed her. And being close to her felt good.

Chapter eighteen

"You're kind of like a little puppy."

Between the conversation he had with Jade and the smell of coffee coming from the kitchen, Sawyer found it impossible to go back to sleep. He finally gave up, put his pants on, and went to the kitchen. Jake was at the table checking the weather forecast on his phone.

He looked up at Sawyer. “Couldn’t resist the smell of coffee, eh?”

“No.” He went to the pot and poured himself a cup. Then he joined Jake at the table.

“I wish we had J.T. to help us. But it’ll just be the two of us plowing the road.”

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