Page 57 of Tempt

“Yes, I envy all the shit you were dragged through for that.”

Sawyer shoves a hand through his too-long hair. “Worth it. All of it.”

I turn that over as he drinks his beer. “You mean that.”

My best friend since we were kids is my opposite in a lot of ways—reckless, compulsive.

Lately, I’ve been feeling more like him than I let on.

Sawyer frowns. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. My life’s better with her in it.”

When he arrived at Russell U last year, he had been coming off some legal drama in New York. He didn’t want to be here, but was forced to through circumstances. He decided to stay.

Doesn’t hurt that the woman he loves is finishing her degree here.

“How do you know?” I ask.

My best friend is usually quick with a comeback, but this time he considers.

“I’m a better person with her around. The right woman changes everything.”

A year ago, I would’ve said I’d already met the right woman. I loved her, married her, lost her. And with her, I’d lost my chance at happiness, at least the kind you find with another person.

“How’d things work out the other night after the Rona trip?”

“It’s a work in progress.”

He turns to face me more fully. “You called me over because you needed to get supplies at ten thirty PM to fix a…”

“…mailbox…”

“…right, and you haven’t even fixed it.”

“It wasn’t only about the mailbox.”

Sawyer’s brain performs its lightning-quick calculations.

“I thought it was going well?”

“She’s always there.”

He doesn’t ask who I mean.

“Because you pay her to be.”

The ball flies back up the court. I’m barely watching.

I thought it was a crazy, hot dream.

It wasn’t the first one I’ve had.

We talked days ago but every word is still imprinted on my brain.

“I wish she’d be less…obvious.”

Sawyer chuckles.

“You have it bad.”

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