Page 13 of Sofa King Devotion

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to go claim your man?” One of the What the Stitch ladies bumps my shoulder with hers, and I notice everyone is watching me.

“He’s not my man,” I say and shake my head. All the What the Stitch ladies burst into laughter. “What? I won him. That only makes him mine for a few hours.”

“Please, you own all that boy’s hours. Probably since he was a boy,” Betty is quick to add.

Is she right? The ladies of What the Stitch grew up in a different era. Nowadays, it’s more common for boys and girls to be friends. Although I don’t love the thought of him being friends with other women. Hasn’t that always been my problem? I’ve always hated the attention Sawyer gets from women, and I’m not sure there’s a way to ever fix that. This feeling is on me, but I can’t seem to get over it.

Tonight felt different. Maybe because he made it so clear to everyone that he wanted me to win him and nobody else. Now everyone is watching me after his very public claim, but I worry it’s still not real. Maybe he knows I won’t hold him to the date? Joke’s on him because I can always use strong hands around my shop.

The thing is, I knew if I told Sawyer I needed help, he'd chuckle and shake his head at me. Then he'd show up to move my whole shop if I asked him. Sawyer has always shown up, and deep down, I know he’s always there if I need him.

Sawyer came running even when he was away on the rodeo circuit. He used to roll back into town and push my button two seconds later. He’s been retired for a long time, but back then, it was easier to put space between us.

"I'm going to go check on Sawyer. Make sure he's got clothes," I tell the What the Stitch ladies.

"Whoa, let’s not make any quick decisions." Betty pretends she's going to stop me from giving Sawyer his clothes.

"And I need to find my cowboy hat." Sawyer tossed it into the crowd, but since I won him, it’s mine.

"Good luck." Betty nods behind me, and I turn to follow her line of sight.

Carly has her paws all over the hat, and I narrow my eyes. I’m not sure what comes over me, but between the auction and, well, a ton of freaking history too, I make my way toward her. When she sees me coming, her hold on the hat tightens.

“Carly, I only want the hat,” I tell her, holding out my hand. I don’t want to make this a bigger thing than it needs to be, but I’m finding myself rather territorial at the moment.

"He tossed it to me." If I were in the sixth grade, I'd believe her.

"You really think that's true?" I put my hands on my hips, and Carly's brows lift in surprise. Guess she didn’t expect I’d challenge her on anything. It’s true that that’s more in line with something Liv would do. She’s the bubbly type, but she is also the type that doesn’t get fazed by attention, so she'd get loud anywhere. Hell, she’ll get loud to take attention off me.

“Why else would I have it?” Carly huffs but takes half a step back. The retreat gives away far more than she realizes. She’s all talk.

“Because you have a habit of wanting things that belong to other people.” I snatch the hat from her hands, and thankfully there isn’t a tug-of-war.

“What has gotten into you?” Carly hisses under her breath. “I’m guessing it wasn’t Sawyer.” Heat rushes to my face. “If he was, maybe you wouldn’t still have that stick up your ass.”

“You know what?” I let out a small laugh. “You might be right. I’m sure Sawyer would be more than willing to fix that issue. If I let him.”

“She means getting into her,” Betty says, coming to stand beside me.

“And removing the stick,” another one of the Stitch ladies adds.

“Not that there is one in her ass,” Betty adds quickly in my defense. I want to laugh, but I want to get to Sawyer more than anything.

"I'm not here to fight with you,” I tell Carly. “I'm only here to get the hat and let you know the lies you told back in middle school really hurt. And it messed with Sawyer and me for years.” I owe Sawyer an apology for that, but it’s a bigger conversation we need to have when we’re alone. "I'm not sure why you're back, but I hope you heal from whatever is causing you to act the way you do."

With that, I turn to head behind the stage. Could I have been a bigger bitch? Sure, but what would that do? I have my own fault in this. I never should have let other people get into my head before talking to Sawyer. I was young, and I thought admitting my crush might ruin our relationship. In the end, it happened anyway.

“Sawyer?” I ask Rhodes when I enter the backstage area. He nods toward a door. “Thanks.”

For some reason, I don’t think to knock and push open the door.

“Hey!” Sawyer freezes. “Oh, it’s you.” His body relaxes, and a smile breaks across his face.

“Forgot something?” I hold his hat up as he stalks closer.

“I sure did.” He’s right in front of me, and I don’t have time to think before he grabs my waist and pulls me to him. “But now that you’re here, I’m going to get it.”

That’s the only warning I get before his mouth covers mine in a claiming kiss.

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