Page 108 of Restrictions

So Baz is staying with her tonight.

It hasn’t really gotten any easier to be away from him overnight, but I know he needs this before she moves. They both do.

I called Sawyer, and we’re going out to dinner. I have no idea where this is going with him, but I know I want to get to know him better.

And I know I need to stay away from Asher, at least as much as I can.

Thankfully, he’s not home when Sawyer picks me up, and I try to ignore the dull ache in my gut, thinking about where he might be tonight.

Sawyer’s smile is beautiful as he opens the door to his car, his eyes momentarily lingering on my neck. And I freeze, hoping he doesn’t say anything. The mark from Asher’s mouth has faded, and I tried to cover it with makeup, but it’s still there.

The floral sundress I'm wearing does nothing to hide it.

He clears his throat as I climb in, but he doesn’t say anything and closes my door, walking over to the driver’s side.

“So, what do you feel like eating?”

He’s not going to mention it. Maybe he doesn’t care. Maybe it’s too awkward to bring up. Or maybe he left his own mark on someone else since our date, but his complete silence about it seems off.

Sawyer rarely holds back.

It’s one of the things about him that makes him attractive.

“Anything is fine with me.”

He drives, and I feel the awkward silence threatening to swallow me whole. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked him out until the mark on my neck was completely gone.

He parks the car at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants, and I wonder silently how he knew I loved this place. But he doesn’t turn the car off, and neither of us move.

“I already knew, Viv.”

My heart threatens to explode in my chest as I try to remain calm. “What?”

His eyes meet mine, and he doesn’t look mad. “I know you fucked him the night we went out. He told me.”

My hand creates a fist in my lap. I’m going to knee him in the balls next time I see him. “He what?”

Sawyer’s shoulder kicks up in a dismissive shrug. “It’s fine. I don’t own you. We went out on one date.”

“A great date. That ended in a fantastic kiss.”

And it was. “Right.” He grips the back of his neck with his hand. “I guess I got you all warmed up for him.”

I feel a pang of guilt as I shake my head. “No. It was... what I did with him was...”

“Stop.” He’s not angry. He really doesn’t appear to be affected at all. “Viv, you don’t owe me shit. We aren’t in a committed relationship. We went out on one date.” His hand drops, and his lips are pulled up in a sexy smirk. “I may not like that his hands were on you, but you don’t owe me fidelity.”

“I . . .” I’m not sure what to say.

“Look, I like you. Which is really kind of a mindfuck. I’m not used to that feeling. And I’ve done a lot of fucked-up shit.”

“Two sisters?” I grin, and he shakes his head, matching my smile.

“Yeah. It wasn’t a rumor. And I played it off, saying they both wanted it, joking about it and acting like it was on them. But the truth is,...” he swallows, and I see remorse in his eyes, “one of them was really hurt. The one I had been casually fucking for a year or so.”

“She cared about you.”

I watch his Adam’s apple bob up and down in his throat. “She shouldn’t have. But yes. And I fucked her sister to push her away. Because I know that shit is unforgiveable. And I wanted her to hate me.”

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