Page 80 of Sorry, We're Closed

He is accepting of Sawyer.

“You’ll also learn, Sombre, that we are not organised in the slightest, but this once, we actually have a destination in mind!”

As Marcus pulls his phone out from his pocket and begins to type in a postcode while cursing with every tap, Sawyer’s lips meet my cheek, then my neck, then my earlobe before whispering once again, “I love you so much, Avory.”

My eyes meet his beautiful emeralds once more, and I can’t help but kiss his lips briefly,

“I love you, too. I’m not sure how you’ll feel about that in a weeks’ time after being around him.”

Marcus continues to curse at his phone and Sawyer hides behind his sleeves as he laughs. I steal Marcus’ phone as he reads aloud the postcode.

Once the map begins to load, Marcus shouts out, “We’re off to the city, baby! Ready, you two?”

I turn to Sawyer. “Ready.” I speak first, and I don’t think I’m saying ready for Marcus.

No. I’m ready for a life with you, Sawyer Sombre, and if you are ready, my love, then the world is ours.

He exhales through his nose and his voice confirms everything I have ever thought about Sawyer. From the first time over the counter to the van seat that used to be mine.

“Ready.”

Whether he’s ready for the chaotic life we live, I guess we’ll find out, but there’s one thing I am certain of: This boy is all mine, no matter where we go, no matter where this life may take us, no matter what.

Epilogue

Gwen

6 months later

“Really? You had to wear your Bright Lights shirt?” Xander’s eyebrows raise to my choice of shirt as I race my way into the living room and by his side on the sofa, the computer screen propped up on the coffee table.

“Well, of course! Why wouldn’t I show the guitarist of such a brilliant band how much of a big fan I am?”

Xander’s face reads complete disbelief to my statement.

“Oh Gwen, your ever so small crush on Avory is so funny!”

I smack his bicep as I bite back, “Oh, and your massive crush on the lead singer is so subtle?”

His face falls flat before we burst out laughing in unison. Our chuckling is quickly interrupted by the ringtone singing through Xander’s speakers, as two very familiar faces pop up on the screen in a small circle. We compose ourselves as Xander hits the accept button. The screen remains black for a moment, then a mixture of darker colours appear alongside muffled voices whispering through the speakers until the camera begins to settle and their microphone becomes clear.

“Hey guys! Can you hear us?”

Xander and I cheer back to them as both Sawyer and Avory appear on screen. A wooden headboard stands behind them as Avory’s back presses against it with Sawyer sinking lower and under his arm. An evergreen duvet piles around them, and I cannot believe that they are both still in bed at 11 a.m. on a Wednesday. Rather than asking them how they both are, that is the first statement that tumbles out of my mouth – probably out of slight jealousy.

“We may have gotten slightly preoccupied this morning, and it seems we’re still here.”

Sawyer’s eyes widen behind his frames before pulling the duvet over his head as Avory winks, followed by a devilish laugh. Xander rolls his eyes at the young love, my eyes shortly following.

“Isn’t Sawyer the best for cuddles, though? I miss Sawyer cuddles!” I cry out in an exaggerated manner, and Avory instantly agrees, probably not realising how much he then scuttles on about how perfect him and Sawyer fit together.

“Well Gwen, remember our deal! By forty, I’m all yours!” Sawyer reveals himself again from the duvet as he speaks, a small giggle following his statement.

“Huh, so I need to slip a ring on this by thirty-nine? Got it.” Avory threads his fingers through Sawyer’s as they laugh, and there is a moment of pure tranquillity for them.

I can’t help but notice how Sawyer glows when he’s with Avory, and I’ve noticed him burning brighter with his creativity and humour with every call we have with them. We still haven’t caught them since they left months ago, but Xander and I agree that for some time, they need to be away from us. They need their space and with each call we have, we’ve been slowly watching our Sawyer come back, and we have that guitarist to thank.

Sawyer started writing his own romance novels, slowly feeding us with chapters and snippets, which we may have picked up on as his own life story, and I’m consistently spammed with book recommendations he finds online. He also started to learn guitar from Avory, but judging by the lack of chords he can hold after six months, I gather that they don’t actually get on with a lot of practising together. Marcus has been teaching Sawyer a hell of a lot, too, to the extent that Sawyer is now working alongside their manager as an assistant for the band, in every aspect it seems.

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