Page 39 of Uncharted Desires
“Hey. How’ve you been?” I ask, not really knowing how to start.
“What do you mean? You saw me yesterday.”
Right.
I open my mouth to speak, but Xander’s faster. “And speaking of yesterday, where did you disappear to last night? I’ve been calling you.”
“Yeah, about that….” I clear my throat. I know Xander will be cool with my newfound sexuality, but words don’t come easily, regardless. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something. I kind of started da”—no, notdating—“seeing someone.”
“Oh, really? That’s great.” Xander’s voice perks up. “Do I know her?”
My heart’s about to beat out of my chest.
“Wait, where are you?” Xander asks, interrupting my train of thought again as a particularly awful guitar solo starts playing.
I chuckle. “Long story. Anyway, you do know…him.”
There’s a beat of silence, save for the music, and then,” Oh?Oh! That’s…great. When did that happen?”
I run my palm over my face. “Frankly, it’s new. I’m still trying to figure things out.”
“Sweet. So, who is it?”
“It’s…” Suddenly, Sawyer’s name becomes too difficult to pronounce. “You saw him last night, actually.”
“Last night… Wait. It’s not Liam, is it?”
My brows furrow. “What?”
“What?”
“Who’s Li—”
“So, who are you fucking then?”
“Shhhhh!” I hiss to the phone and sink in my seat as if someone could hear what’s going directly into my ear. “I’m not… It’s Sawyer.”
Xander gasps. “Sawyer? Sawyer Matthews?”
I chuckle even though I can feel my heartbeat in my throat. “Do you know any other Sawyers?”
“I—Wow.Wow. I had no idea. I mean, congrats, I guess.”
The tension leaves my body along with my exhale. “So, who’s Liam?”
“Actually, I gotta go! Talk to you tomorrow?”
And before I can answer this non-question, the line disconnects.
Well, that didn’t goexactlyas I planned, but at least he seems to be okay with… whatever it is I’m having with Sawyer.
“There you go.” I jump up in my seat when Sawyer appears out of nowhere and places two giant plates of ribs on the table that’s barely big enough to fit them both. “Hope you en—”
“Who’s Liam?”
Sawyer blinks at me a few times before he sits.
“From the club?” I add.
