Chapter 23
Sawyer
All week I’ve checked my phone for a reply, hoping she’d change her mind about wanting to see me.
But when Friday rolls around, I think I’m starting to see how things really are.
Am I okay with just being used?
For now.
Except I actually enjoy all those times when we are alone.
She has a wicked sense of humor that keeps me on my toes, and we work really well together. It’s like we share the same brain sometimes when things really get busy.
Yet she wants to keep me at arm’s length.
My stomach is a coiled knot when I turn off my truck. The engine pings in the cold November air as it cools, almost a metronome to the twinge in my gut.
Is she still going to want me after she’s ignored me?
Taking a deep breath, I let it out into a cloud of steam as I crawl out of my truck.
There’s a few cars parked, so it won’t be just her and I.
I don’t know if that’s better.
“Sawyer, I’ve been waiting for you.” Sheriff Rowland is half sitting, half leaning against one of the stools at the bar.
Only two other tables have people, and they’re all the way across the room.
Val’s green eyes lift to settle on me and a small smile tilts up the corner of her red mouth.
Seeing that tiny sign makes my nuts twitch.
“I hope I didn’t do anything wrong?” I try to plaster an easy-going grin on, yet he’s intimidating as hell.
“No, son. I just need to get your statement from Halloween.” He pats the bench next to him.
Val twirls on her heel and disappears into the back.
Why does the room feel emptier without her?
Sliding into the seat, I nervously pick up one of the small napkins to fidget with.
“I pretty much know most of what happened. I just really need to know if you saw anyone else with Max that night.” Wade slides a sheet towards me that’s nearly filled with an account of how I tackled that guy down.
Skimming it quickly, what he has written down makes me sound like some sort of hero.
I’m not.
“Am I supposed to sign this?” I’d feel like a liar.
“If you agree with it.” Wade’s dark eyes flick from me to the paper and back. “Is it wrong?”
Shaking my head, I pick up the pen. “Just makes me out to be like I’m some Special Forces badass.”
He chuckles and slaps my shoulder. “But you were, kid. Like the angel of death, streaking out of the shadows.”
Val reappears with a steaming to-go container. “The devil in disguise, huh?” She winks at me as she slides Wade’s food into a bag.
Heat rushes through me and gathers behind the zipper of my jeans.
“Back to the original question. Did you see anyone else?” Wade’s laughter fades fast into a serious tone.
All I want to do is stare at Val.
But she gives me a small nod, almost encouraging me to concentrate.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I try to move through the motions of Halloween.
When she made me put the wings on.
Then moving through the crowd feeling weightless after her touch.
Pushing through—
“Yea, there was someone talking with the guy in the Phantom mask. Pretty sure it was another man since they were about the same size?” I blink against the bright bar lights. “He was dressed up like Ghost.”
I remember now thinking it was a cool costume.
“Like, a white sheet?” Wade’s eyebrows furrow over a scowl.
My head shakes. “Nah, from Call of Duty. The video game? I guess kinda looks like the Punisher, but with tactical gear? It’s my favorite installment of the series.”
“So a skull?” Wade jots down a few notes. “Do you remember anything else?”
I know I was in a hurry to get back to Val before I saw Elena get taken out the back.
“Oh. He had a big red ring on his pinky. I thought it was weird because it didn’t go with the character.” It looked more like something the villain would wear. “When I came back inside after all the mess, that guy was gone.”
Wild.
Wade’s lips purse under his mustache. “Good job, kid. I appreciate it.” He folds up his booklet and slips it into his shirt pocket, then grabs the bag. “Thanks. I don’t know if I’ll see you on turkey day. Might stay home this year.”
“Oh. Yea, I’m not sure what I’m doing this Thanksgiving.” I swallow hard.
In the past, I’ve spent most of the day at home, but have always gone to Scotty’s in the evening so we could stay up late playing Call of Duty and hit the Black Friday deals when they pop up in the game store.
Now that he’s off to college, I doubt I will. I might make sure his mom has a package or two of fresh steaks, though. I’d always bring some as a gift.
“See y’all later.” Wade raises his food in a salute before pushing out into the frigid afternoon.
I wish there weren’t anyone else here.
Not that I know what to do with myself around Val anymore.
“Hi.” Awkwardly, I pick up the shredded napkin and step around the bar, dropping it into the bin under the lip of the counter.
“Hey. I’ve got two pizza orders ready in the back for you.” She flashes me a smile.
It looks like one of her well practiced ones.
I’m not sure what I expected when I saw her again.
But it wasn’t that she’d be standing calm and cool, slicing limes at the bar.
Like a boss, not a lover.
“I’ll just—” I jerk my thumb over my shoulder towards the kitchen.
Easier than gaping at her like an idiot, wanting to touch her but being too afraid to.
In the kitchen I feel more at ease. I know what to do in here.
Work up the orders, clean the dirty dishes, prep the bins for dinner.
I guess I was just a one night stand. My unanswered texts from Monday are still sitting at “read”.
It’s stupid to think there was more between us.
“How many times did you jack off this week thinking about me?” Her sultry voice hits me from behind as her hands wrap my waist.
Her hot touch makes me freeze, elbow deep in dough.
“A lot,” I quietly admit.
Is this the way it will be?
Blood rushes to my crotch as her fingers move along the low waist of my jeans.
“Me too. My toys just aren’t the same.” She threads her hands under my loose t-shirt to drag her nails lightly down my chest before she pulls away.
Picking up the pizza from the end of the conveyor, she slides it onto a tray, then twirls back out through the swinging door.
What the fuck?
Am I a secret?
Seems to be.
The bell over the main entrance rings a few times, followed by the conversation noise rising from the bar.
Crap. Up for a busy night.
Probably for the better. It’ll help keep me distracted.
She brisks in with another pile of tickets that she tacks to the counter. “You’re staying the night tonight.”
Funny how she can say that without even looking at me.
“I am?” I feel like I’m on a roller coaster.
Leaning against the edge, her fingers tangle in my shirt to pull me closer. “Yep.” Then her soft mouth brushes lightning over mine for an instant. “Weekends you’re mine.”
Then she’s gone again.
Damn.
She might be up and down.
But I’m along for the ride.