CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE SAWYER
C HAPTER T WENTY -O NE
SAWYER
My nerves are still buzzing from telling Fallon I love her when I enter the last cabin to make sure everything is in working order. How the hell did I just let that slip past my lips? Probably because I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I just hope I didn’t just scare her away.
My phone vibrates, and I fish it out of my pocket as I turn on the lights to make sure they’re working properly. I leave them on.
I lift the screen to see who’s calling, and when Andy’s name scrolls across the screen, I know exactly what this is about.
“Hey, Andy,” I answer as I move to the bed. I switch on the nightstand lights and leave those on as well.
“Sawyer, do you have a second?”
“Yup, what’s up?” I move around the room, examining all the details, checking on the floors, looking for any paint touch-ups we missed.
“Got your proposal. I have to say, it’s very incriminating.”
“In what way?” I ask as I walk to the bathroom and turn on the shower and faucet. I flush the toilet, making sure the pipes can handle all the movement. I check for leaks or anything out of place.
“For you. Everyone knows this movie is based off your experience.”
“I realize that, Andy, and I don’t care.”
After Fallon’s dads told me to make lemonade out of lemons, I sat down for the next few nights and worked on my proposal, fleshing out the plot of everything I’ve been through, all the way down to my drunken body being dragged through the cabins.
Once I had a general idea of what I wanted the screenplay to look like, I brought it to Fallon and asked her how she felt about it.
She read through it, and when she was done, she looked up at me with the most brilliant smile.
She loved it but asked why I’d left Sully out.
I told her I didn’t think it would be right to include him.
I didn’t want to use his story line, since it wasn’t mine.
And because she’s so fucking amazing, she told me the story wouldn’t be right without Sully in it. So, I added him in.
I added it all. Every detail of Sully’s love story with Joan.
When I was done with the proposal, I had Fallon approve it one more time, and when she said it was perfect, I emailed it over to Andy. I’d never felt more relieved to hit send.
“Are you sure? Because this would be exposing your life. I know how private you are, especially since you disappeared to get away from the public eye.”
“But disappearing brought me to much more than I could ever have asked for, and this screenplay is an ode to that.” I turn off the faucets and flush the toilet one more time to make sure it’s good.
When all is right, I exit the bathroom. “Do you not like it?” I ask, slightly worried because I’m not sure I have another screenplay in me, not now at least.
“No, I love it. It’s perfect. It has everything Movieflix is looking for. But mainly, it’s full of heart, and given the few pitches you’ve thrown at them with slasher scenes, I assume this will be a welcome change.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, I figured.”
“I have a few notes, which I’ll send back to you, but overall, I think it’s really good.”
“Thank you, Andy.”
“You know, I was worried about you, but it looks like I didn’t have to worry at all. Maybe all this space and time to yourself is what you really needed.”
“It was,” I say as I take a seat in the accent chair situated in the back of the cabin. “I’ve come to really find a different side of me up here. I enjoyed writing the proposal, but I’ve been able to reawaken a side of me I forgot about. I feel at peace.”
“I’m really happy to hear that.” He pauses. “Are you planning on staying up there?”
I glance around the cabin, the stark white walls decorated in pictures of the Cove, courtesy of Jaz, the pops of red against the black-and-white buffalo plaid. It’s cozy in here. It feels like home—like this is where I belong.
“I am,” I answer honestly. “I’ve met someone who takes my breath away. I’m part of a community that makes me feel loved... needed. And I’ve found myself again. I’m enjoying the things I used to enjoy before the whirlwind of the movies took over.”
“Does that mean you’ve turned in your last screenplay idea—are you leaving the industry?”
“No,” I answer honestly. “But I do think I want to slow down a bit. I have a healthy balance here, and I want to keep that.”
“I can understand that. Well, I truly believe you have a hit on your hands. And I think Movieflix will be very pleased.”
“I hope so. I know everything went a little haywire there for a bit, but I hope this will help salvage that relationship.”
“It will, I really think it will. And hey, all business aside, I’m really happy for you, Sawyer. I know going through the drama of Annalisa and Simon has taken a toll on you, and I’m truly glad you’ve been able to find happiness.”
“Sometimes, when you think you’ve hit rock bottom, what you’ve really hit is the foundation for the next chapter in your life. This is my next chapter, and I’m excited to see where it takes me.”
“Well, I’m ready to watch where it takes you as well. Happy for you, man. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Thanks, Andy,” I say, equal parts touched and content.
I hang up the phone just as Fallon steps through the door.
When I glance up at her, she has a worried look on her face. “Everything okay?” she asks.
I stick my phone in my pocket and then reach my hand out to her. “Yeah, everything’s great.”
She walks up to me, and I pull her down on my lap, draping her legs over mine.
“That was my agent on the phone. He loved the pitch.”
“Really?” she asks.
“Yeah. Thinks it could be a big hit. I owe your dads some sort of fruit basket.”
“Trust me when I say the only thing they’re going to want from you is a cameo.”
I laugh out loud. “I think I can make that happen.”
“Seriously?”
“Oh yeah.” I wink. “I’ll make sure they’re in there. Since it takes place in Canoodle, we might even be able to shoot it here. No promises, but it’s a possibility.”
“Don’t even joke about that. Everyone will freak out, even Jaz. And you know she pretends not to like you, but this very well might tip her over the edge.”
I smooth my hand over Fallon’s thigh. “Well, if that’s the case, I better work hard at getting them to film it here. That’s if they take the pitch, which I’m ninety-nine point nine percent sure they will. Andy had a few notes, but he’s pretty sure it’s ready to go, and they’ll be more than happy.”
“Wow. That’s so incredible.” She loops her arms around my neck.
“I’m in awe, seeing you able to take a story like that and turn it into something.
” Her thumbs glide over the back of my neck.
“Does that mean you’re going to go back to LA?
” Her voice trails off, and I can see the slight tension in her posture, possibly waiting on bad news.
“Funny you mention that,” I say. “I was actually telling Andy that I planned on staying here, and not just indefinitely or for the time being—but permanently. It’s only a little over two hours to LA, so when I do have to attend meetings, I can just drive in.
But my priorities have changed, and there’s no reason to stay in LA when I can be here, with you. ”
“You mean that?” she asks, a mix of surprise and appreciation on her face.
“Of course I mean it. I love it here, Fallon. I’ve truly found myself here, and a lot of that has to do with you.”
“Me? What on earth did I do?”
“Remind me that the world doesn’t revolve around me, but rather it revolves around the people near me, the community I live in, the love between family members and friends.
Your selflessness and your need to carry on your grandfather’s legacy were the gut punch I needed to open my eyes and shake off the selfishness I’d been carrying.
I don’t think I would have done that if I didn’t stumble into this town. I’m grateful.”
“Well, I’m grateful you did, because today never would have happened without you.”
“Not true.” I lean in and lightly press my lips to hers. “You would have found a way to make it happen. It might have been harder, and you certainly wouldn’t have had the eye candy waltzing around the Cove shirtless, but you’d have made it happen.”
The softest of chuckles passes her lips. “Well, I’m glad you feel that way, because I need to evict you.”
“What?” I ask, pulling back just enough to look her in the eyes.
“Yeah, I just had someone call in hoping to score a reservation for the grand opening, and since you’re not a paying customer, I’m going to need your cabin.”
“What do you mean I’m not a paying customer? I’ve been paying this entire time.”
She shakes her head. “I haven’t been charging you for the last three weeks. You should really check your credit card statements.”
“Fallon,” I say, irritated. “I told you to charge me.”
“And I decided not to. Are you really going to get mad at me about it?”
“Yes.”
She sighs, and before I know it, she’s straddling me and pushing me back against the chair, her hands on my chest.
“This changes nothing,” I say, my hands falling to her backside. “I’m still mad at you.”
Her hands sweep under my shirt and drag up over my skin.
“Still mad.”
She lowers her mouth to my neck and peppers kisses up my jaw while her hands travel over my pecs.
Fuck ...
“Still... mad.” I gulp as she moves her hips over mine. It’s the smallest amount of friction, but given how much I’ve wanted this woman, it feels like she just gave me a ten-minute lap dance.
“Don’t be mad at me,” she says, her lips traveling over to mine, delivering an open-mouth kiss that makes my goddamn toes curl.
Unable to stop myself, I grip the back of her head as I match her kiss with my own, keeping her firmly in place, just where I want her. In my arms.