Page 4 of His Middle

“Hey, Sawyer. It’s Noah.”

Oliver’s son had no reason to call him directly, none that Sawyer could fathom. There had always been a spark of attraction, but…There’s a tremble in his voice. For a moment, Sawyer had thought the greeting was the extent of the message, but then Noah began to speak again.

“Uh, I know you’re like on the other side of the world, so I won’t leave you a long message.” The sigh Noah let out spoke of a great burden the young man was carrying. “But as soon as you get back, could you please call me on my cell? It’s super important.” Sawyer could swear he heard a small sob right before Noah gave him the number. “Anyway. Thanks. I hope everything is all right on your end. Bye.”

That meant something wasn’t all right for Noah.Or Oliver. Sawyer’s hand shook. If something was wrong, why hadn’t Oliver been the one to call him instead of Noah?Unless…

Sawyer hadn’t hung up the phone yet, so the next message began, the most recent one. Once again, Noah’s voice echoed in his ear, but while Sawyer recognized the stress in his tone, the pain wasn’t as sharp as it had been on the earlier one.

“Hey, I’m guessing you probably didn’t get my last message yet, but I hope you’re home soon. Maybe you don’t even check this voicemail anymore, but it’s the only number I could find for you.” Noah muttered something under his breath that Sawyer couldn’t quite make out. “Please call. I really need to talk to you. Here’s my number again.”

Sawyer hit call return so hard he almost dropped the phone.

“Hello?”

Sawyer closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Noah, it’s me. Sawyer.”

Noah gasped. “Oh, thank God. I was so worried you weren’t using that number anymore, and it’s the only one I have.”

Sawyer sucked in another deep breath, preparing himself for what he was afraid he was about to hear.

“My number is in your dad’s phone. Is there a reason you can’t ask him for it?” When Noah didn’t answer right away, the icy grip of fear that had already been squeezing his heart got tighter.

“H-he…” Noah hiccupped up on a sob. “My dad died about three months ago.”

Sawyer’s jaw fell open, his worst fears realized. “He… Threemonths?”Jesus. It had to have happened right after he visited, just before he’d left for Nepal. “Oh God, Noah. Was he in an accident?”

How could Oliver be gone? He was only a few years older than him, forty-six, forty-seven at the most.

“No. He had a heart attack. Dropped dead in the club office. They did an autopsy and I-I guess he had a heart defect that no one knew about.” Noah sniffed. “I couldn’t believe it, it’s so unfair. He was such a cool guy.”

“The coolest.” Sawyer rubbed his eyes, the tears that had been welling beginning to spill onto his cheeks. “How are you holding up?”

“Not the best, to be honest. Dad left me Club Playpen, and I have zero clue how to run a business of this size.”

Sawyer drew his eyebrows together. “What about Jonathan?”

“He took off almost right after.” Noah groaned. “I’m so sorry, but I need to ask you for a huge favor. If you can’t, I totally get it. I’m sort of guessing you must’ve just gotten back from Everest?”

“Never mind about that. Whatever I can do to help, Noah, I’m here for you.”

“Can you come to San Francisco? Like, help me manage this club? I’m freaking out, I seriously have no idea what I’m doing and, and…” His voice hitched. “I could just really use your help.”

“OfcourseI’ll help. Give me a day to get myself together then I’ll drive up. Let me also give you my cell number so you’ll have it. Call any time.” Sawyer rattled off the number. “Weren’t you able to get into Oliver’s phone?”

“It was really weird. We never found it. When it wasn’t in the office, I figured he’d left it in his car, but it wasn’t there either. He was always so forgetful that I assumed he left it somewhere like the coffeeshop or something.”

“No phone locater app, nothing?”

“Nope. It’s like it vanished into thin air.”

“Huh.” Sawyer shook his head. “Well, you have my number now, that’s what matters. I’ll be up before you know it, all right?”

“Thanks, Sawyer. You have no idea what a big relief this is. And, uh, I’m sorry you had to find out this way. I know how close you guys were.”

Sawyer swallowed down the tears that were flowing more and more freely. But he had to hold it together for Noah’s sake.

“That’s okay, Noah. You did the best you could. I’ll call and let you know when I’m on my way.”

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