Chapter 33 Sawyer
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
SAWYER
“How many friends have you made so far?”
Katya skips to the bus stop. When she started school we worked out a schedule. Aiden and I take turns waking up with her—not that it’s really much of a change for me. If anything, I get more sleep now than before they both came into my life.
“Four.”
“Four! And it’s only the second week of school.”
“I’m going to make more.”
“Four friends is great. It’s always better to have a tight group of close friends than a ton of friends you aren’t close to.” Up ahead I see some kids gathered at the bus stop with their parents. Katya wants to stand there alone sometimes, but I’m afraid to let her out of my sight.
Aiden’s a lot more relaxed in that way. I guess after dealing with what they had to, not much scares either of them. “Can I make cookies when I get home?”
“Well, after school you’re staying with sissy for the weekend, remember?”
“Oh, yes!” She claps. “I’m so excited.”
“So is she.” Jane has absolutely stepped into the big sister role flawlessly. There was never a question about how much I knew she’d love Katya.
She’s been the best sister to me all my life.
“She’s taking me to a show on Broadway.”
“That’s going to be a lot of fun. Janey loves musicals.”
We walk up to the bus stop, and I nod to a couple of parents as we stand waiting for the bus. Katya’s dancing a little. Kids are energetic as hell. I don’t think she ever sits still. “She’s so cute.” A woman smiles at me. “Is she yours?”
“Ah, she’s my sister.”
“He’s my brother. I live with him and my other brother, Aiden.” She beams. “They’re in love.”
The woman’s face falls with concern.
“Not like. No, it’s not. I mean—”
“You and Aiden love each other,” she says to me then looks at the woman, her black ponytail swinging with the movement. “They kiss a ton.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “It’s not how it sounds. We’re not blood related. Like at all.”
“We’re blood related.” Katya frowns.
“Well yeah, but—”
“And Aiden and I are blood related.”
“Katya—”
“And you’re in love with each other.” She smiles wide.
I take a deep breath. “It’s a long story. No blood shared between him and me.” I smile tightly and steer her to a different area of the sidewalk. “When you tell that story, maybe leave out the fact that we’re your brothers.”
“But you are.”
“Well yes, but—”
“And you told me to never lie.”
And I’m regretting that. The bus pulls up. Thank fuck. “Hey.” I crouch down to her. “You have an amazing day, and Jane will be here when you get home, alright? I love you.”
She leaps forward, giving me a hug.
I let her get on the bus, waving as it leaves, then I turn around and see that woman. “We’re both her half brothers. No blood relation between us. Long story. Long, long story.” I smile tightly.
She laughs, nodding, and I make my way back to the bakery.
A lot has changed in only a couple of months.
Sometimes my life now with Aiden and Katya makes me feel like a whole different person. Sometimes it feels impossible. Then I’m woken up on Sundays by Katya asking to make pancakes, or enjoying quiet Monday mornings in bed with Aiden after she goes to school. It’s unreal.
For the first time in his life, he’s learning what it means to be loved.
He’s still . . . him. Gruff, blunt, and a little too much to the point at times.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
He’s not outwardly romantic. He doesn’t plan cute dates or makes grand gestures.
Instead, it’s cleaning up the house so I can focus on baking.
Working on the business side of the bakery, which he knows I hate, so I don’t get stressed out.
It’s making dinner—something he’s gotten much better at—so I don’t forget to eat.
Buying my favorite snacks when he’s out grocery shopping with Katya.
His love isn’t loud.
Aiden loves me quietly.
And I wouldn’t change it for anything.
I walk upstairs and make my way into our bedroom, finding him face down on my pillows with his back rising and falling softly. Damn. And that’s all mine.
I get back into bed gently and watch him move. I don’t want to wake him yet.
His eyes flutter open and I smile. He looks at me then at the door.
“Katya here?”
I shake my head. “I just took her to the bus stop.”
I lay my hand on his back and smooth it across his skin. He still has those scars there. I kiss his shoulder, letting his brain come back online as he smiles sleepily and cups my cheek. “I’m getting up,” he says groggily.
Instead of that, I get up and take off my clothes then slide in under the covers with him.
Instantly, I grab him to me, hugging him close, and he settles on my chest with my fingers in his hair.
“Or we can stay in bed for a few. Noah and Jamie won’t be over until about noon.
” Tonight we’re holding an art show, so the bakery is closed today to prepare.
I have a ton of online orders to start tomorrow, but I have time, and right now I just want to lie with him.
We’re opening tonight from five till nine, and having an online shop and social media makes it easier to announce things like that.
My hours are steady, but Fridays change with certain events, so most of my customers know to check the announcements for our hours on Friday.
We hold little events every other week, with one big event every couple of months.
The bakery has been doing great, finally.
I did sell the necklace and split the money three ways, giving part of it to Jane and setting up an account for Katya when she gets older.
The six-figure price tag was insane. I wish I had more answers about it from my mother.
Why did she take the elephant? Did she know Ivan had a photo of her in it with that necklace?
How did she get mixed up with him in the first place?
That’s life, though.
We don’t all get clean endings and answers.
Aiden’s eyes slowly shut again. I know he’s tired.
We were up late preparing for today. While Aiden is still learning the ins and out of baking and pastry making, he’s great with everything else.
He’s rigid and organized where my mind takes me off track more often than I like.
With him helping I can focus on what I love, and that’s making desserts for people.
Tonight should be fun. I made some samples to put out. We received a catering permit for alcohol and are partnering with a local brewery that’s going to serve drinks. I’ve made a few art-themed desserts for the case, and Bowen is going to play piano tonight too.
I kiss Aiden’s shoulder again and smile when he kisses me and hugs me to him. His hand smooths up my thigh and grabs my ass. “I’m not moving. This is perfect.”
“Your hand on my ass?”
“It’s a great ass.” He smirks. “Bakery Booty.”
“No, you can’t start that too.”
“Noah’s right. It’s perfect, and delicious.” Aiden’s grin turns feral. My skin heats with those memories.
While I’m not a fan of penetration, I am a huge fan and supporter of Aiden’s wicked tongue.
I roll him over and straddle his waist. He takes note instantly, and while I would love to spend all morning in bed with him, we have friends coming soon and have tons of work to do. I lean down and kiss him, surprised when he wraps his arms around me and flips me underneath him.
He fits one of my thighs over his hips and kisses me hard. “Shower with me,” he whispers.
Well, I guess we have a little time.
“I’m so fucking nervous.” Jamie chews his thumbnail and Noah’s sympathetic eyes land on me. “What if no one comes?”
“Ouch. First of all, it’s my bakery, so I’m hoping some people will come, but it’s fine.
Your art is incredible.” Since the changes I made, it feels different in here.
Alive. It’s not sterile or looks like a waiting room anymore.
I used some of the money from the necklace to redecorate a bit, and we’ve repainted the walls a softer shade of green that goes well with the brand new black-and-white-tiled floors.
I kept the lilies.
Those are for my mother. They were her favorite.
Noah wraps his arms around Jamie’s waist as Jamie’s wrap around him, swallowing Noah in his arms. Jamie’s huge, and it doesn’t take much to make Noah disappear.
We’re not charging a door fee for this. It’s casual. People can come in, look at or buy art, try some samples. They can buy some drinks or any of the desserts I made and put in the case.
“Do you have the order forms out?” Noah asks.
“I—”
“I put them out,” Aiden says. “I also made a suggestion box, in case there’s anything people would like to see or events they want us to hold in the future.”
“Pretty and smart.” I squeeze his hand.
Hunter, Mark, Bo, and Cam walk into the bakery followed by Amira. She’s an artist who’s friends with Bo and Cam. I think she and Jamie have gotten close as well.
With a smile on her red lips, she looks around the space. “Wow. This is amazing.” She has some canvases in her hand. “Can I start hanging?”
She came by the other morning and put some up already. Her artwork and Jamie’s are polar opposites but both stunning in their own way. Amira does abstract landscapes with bold, bright colors. Jamie sticks to realism, and has a lot of pictures of animals he’s done.
“Hey, Sugar Bear—”
I look over at Noah and realize he’s talking to Aiden. “What? Sugar who?”
“Excuse me, Bakery Booty, I was talking to that gorgeous man you’re banging. Sugar Bear.” Aiden’s hard eyes flit to me for help.
I throw my hands up. “Bakery Booty is staying out of this one.”
Noah grabs Aiden’s hand. He turns and mouths “Sugar Bear” as Noah drags him away.
“I still don’t know why I don’t have a nickname.” Jamie pouts.
“I still don’t know why you want one,” Hunter whispers.
“I don’t have a nickname,” Mark says.
“Oh, you have nicknames . . .” Jamie says.
“Can I have a minute?” Hunter asks me. I follow him to the door, opening it for him and then following him through.
“What’s up?”
Hunter shoves his hands in his pockets and shrugs. “I just want to say—”
“Don’t get gooey on me, please.”
He laughs. “Shut up. I’m so fucking proud of everything you’ve accomplished this year. It’s been hard and I fucking miss her, and I know if I miss her, I can’t even imagine how much you do. She’d be really proud to see this.”
My eyes sting. Fuck, I hate this. “Asshole.”
He laughs, hugging me. “I’m so happy for you.”
I honestly can’t believe it. Everything is falling into place. The road to get here was super fucked up and weird, but honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I now have Aiden, Katya, and even Koda, although I haven’t seen him in a month.
He’s living with Kenji now, and according to Aiden that’s not something any of us want to get roped into.
For the first time in Koda’s life, he’s free.
I just want to know what he’s going to do with that freedom.
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
The door opens and Aiden pokes his head out. “There you are.”
“What? Noah likes you.” I smile.
“Yeah, well, he’s very affectionate.”
“What was he doing?’
“He . . . he gave me a shirt.” I laugh then swallow it as he holds up a black crop top.
“Oh my god.” My eyes widen. Hunter starts laughing. “Babe, you need to wear that immediately. I look at the shirt. Pound My Cake Daddy.
“I’m burning it.”
Hunter claps me on the back then looks at Aiden. “You should have run when you had the chance.” He walks back into the bakery, leaving the two of us out here.
“You’re wearing this tonight. With nothing else.”
“I’m going to light it on fire. Possibly with me in it.” He stares at me.
I hook him around the waist with a smile. “Could wear it while I pound your cake.”
His eyes cut to slits. “I hate you.”
“Only, that’s not true, is it?” He fakes annoyance, dodging a kiss, but his resistance lasts all of a minute when his lips break into a smile. For so long I searched for this thing. This feeling. “I think you kind of like me.”
Who knew I’d find it with someone like him.
Aiden isn’t bad at romance, or touching, or feelings.
He just never experienced those things. And now I get a lifetime to make it up to him.
“Unfortunately, you’re right.” He hugs me back. “I don’t do speeches or love confessions. It’s just hard for me. But . . . this is not . . . awful.”
“Oh, you’re so bad at this.”
He cups my face and leans in brushing his forehead against mine.
“I love the way you look at me. I love the way you touch me, have patience with me, and let me figure this out. I’m not going to be perfect.
I will fuck up. But as long as you understand I’m trying.
That I love you more than anything and I want to be all those things for you. It’s just going to take time.”
I smooth his dark hair back. “You don’t have to be anything other than you. That’s who I fell in love with. If given a choice, I’d choose you every single time.”
“I love you.” He looks away. “I um, I don’t even hate your friends.” My mouth drops open. “If you tell anyone I said that, I swear to god I’ll deny it!”
I hug him close while he struggles, then I calm him with a kiss. “Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.”