Page 11 of Restorations

I see Sawyer visibly tense as Asher strolls toward us, his neck bruised and purple from, I’m assuming, the blond chick’s mouth.

“Classy look.”

I shoot Sawyer an annoyed look, but Asher just smirks. “I could say the same.” He nods in my direction and then snickers as he walks toward the house. “You lovebirds have fun.”

Sawyer climbs behind the wheel, and I follow suit, falling into the passenger seat and closing the door. “Why do you taunt him?”

“Really? Me?”

I turn to look at him, keeping my voice quiet. “Yes, you. I hate what happened between you two. Don’t you miss him?”

Sawyer starts the car and backs out of the drive. “Of course, I do. He was my best friend, Viv.”

My stomach aches, knowing it was all for nothing and forever ruined. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t do that.” He peers over at me for a brief second while his car stops at a stop sign. “I made my choice, and I would do it again. I just wish I would have talked to him first. I owed him that.”

“You did though.” I look in the back seat, seeing Baz happily playing with his tablet and not paying attention to us. I turn back to Sawyer to see his focus has returned to the road as he drives. “He told us both how much he didn’t want me. He can’t have it both ways, Sawyer. He can’t not want me and then not want me with anyone else.”

He sighs heavily as he navigates the streets. “I know.” I notice his tight grip on the steering wheel. “He was always more than capable of it only being a physical thing. But I had no idea he’d fallen for you. I tried to see if he had.”

I scoff at that and look out the windshield. “He didn’t fall for me, Sawyer. He’s just a child who doesn’t want someone else playing with his toys.”

“I’m not so sure, Viv. Not after his reaction.”

“I’m sure now more than ever.”

And I am. Asher made it very clear to me that he didn’t want a relationship. That he was afraid we would turn into his parents, and he was probably right. But I’m only human. I was in love with him, and it hurt when he rejected me.

And even though we said we could go back to a friendship, we never really did. He avoided me more and more. I was lonely, and I found Sawyer. Sawyer, who may be an asshole, but he owns it. He may be afraid of commitment, but he owned up to that also.

We weren’t sure what we were. All we knew was that we liked each other and that he was good with Baz. He wanted to be there when Asher couldn’t be. And I care about Sawyer. I can feel he cares about me even if it isn’t love.

“Well, one thing’s for sure . . .” I look at his handsome profile as he speaks with a grin on his perfect lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I smile and lean back in my seat.

That statement offers the comfort I desperately needed.

6

ASHER

Lola left a moment ago to go somewhere with Hayden and the house is totally empty now since Sawyer, Viv, and Baz were making their exit just as I was coming home from my “date” with Claudia.

She was fun, and she gave me her number in case I’m ever back in town, but I’m not keeping it. I have no interest in seeing her again.

And for Sawyer and Vivnotbeing in a relationship, they’re sure spending a hell of a lot of time together. But what the fuck ever. I change into swim trunks and go outside to Lola’s pool, laying out in the sun.

I pull out a joint—a parting gift from Claudia—and light up as I lounge, soaking up the rays and hoping the world will stop, even if only for a little while.

My eyes are closed, but I’m annoyed by a presence over me and look up to find my brother standing in front of me, casting a shadow on my day and killing my buzz. “Linc.”

“Ash.” His eyes trail to the lit joint in my hand. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

I wish he’d go away, but he’s a pain in the ass and takes a seat next to me, his knees bent as he remains sitting up straight and eyeing me with suspicion, which I don’t like. “You’re getting high in the middle of the afternoon. Alone.”

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