Chapter 37
Autumn
I haven't heard from Sawyer or Alice all day. I'm starting to get really pissed off.
"What the fuck are they playing at, boy?!" I talk out loud to Jed, like I will get a reply from him. Instead, he cocks his head to the side as if he were really listening to me, then proceeds to flop down on the floor in a heap with his belly in the air.
I wasn't going to message because I am not the clingy type. But things were all kinds of weird when they left this morning.
Me: Earth to Alice. Where have you been all day, and why haven't you called me?
*message undelivered*
Me: Hey, baby. Where did you go this morning? I thought we were going to do something this weekend. I don't know why you left, but honestly, I'm kind of pissed that you did!
Sawyer: Sorry, beautiful. I had to go to see my parents. Something came up.
Me: Is everything okay? Is someone hurt?
Sawyer: No, no, everything is fine.
Me: Then why did you leave, and why couldn't I come with you? I swear to God, if you are having second thoughts about us again, I am going to lose my shit.
Sawyer: No second thoughts. I promise.
Sawyer: I'll call you tomorrow.
Sawyer: You're the best.
Sawyer: I love you.
Me: I am the best. You're right. I love you too.
Sawyer: Better still. Come up to the house tomorrow. Bring Jed. The family are all here, and they'd love to see you, and meet Jed.
Me: I could leave Jed with Jackie and Dale. They haven't had him for a while. They only told me today how much they miss having him for a sleepover.
Sawyer: No. Bring Jed too. My mom wants to meet him. I think Callie would love him too.
Me: Two dog emojis
Me: Barking dog GIF.
Me: Two dogs eating spaghetti GIF.
Sawyer: Don't get any ideas. We're not having puppies.
Me: Jed has no balls. Callie is safe.
Sawyer: Will you come tomorrow?
Me: Sure.
Sawyer: With Jed?
Me: Yes! With Jed.
Sawyer: Goodnight, beautiful. See you tomorrow.
"Good morning, baby boy," I call over to Jed, my voice thick with sleep. He is sprawled out on his bed with his legs in the air like usual, but I hear the distinctive thud, thud, thud of his tail on the floor. A sliver of light is beaming in through the window. I grab my phone from the nightstand and the check the time. nine thirty-two. There is a message from Sawyer.
Sawyer: Good morning, Sugar. Can't wait to see you today. What time are you leaving?
Me: I just woke up. *Yawn emoji*
Me: *sends topless bedhead selfie with one hand covering my tits *
Sawyer: Fuck.
Me: That's what we'll be doing later, I hope.
Me: *sends dripping donut GIF*
Sawyer: Naughty girl.
Me: Yup.
Sawyer: I'll be dripping out of you later alright.
Sawyer: Get your ass up and get ready. Everyone wants to see you.
Sawyer: Going to save that picture as my lock screen. You are perfect.
Me: I'm working from ten until two. I decided on some overtime seeing as you left yesterday. *eyeroll emoji* I am going to come home, grab Jed and I'll leave.
Sawyer: Safe drive, Sugar. I love you.
Me: I love me too. *sassy girl GIF*
Sawyer: Brat.
I pull myself out of bed and plod down to the kitchen. Turning on the coffee pot. I let Jed out in the yard and the warm morning breeze dances through the house. After drinking my coffee, I head back to my bedroom to start packing a bag for the weekend when I get a message from Edith.
Edith: Hi honey, don't worry about coming in today. It's quiet. Enjoy your weekend.
Me: Are you sure? I'm getting ready to come in now.
Edith: It's fine. Have a long weekend. Enjoy yourself.
Me: Thanks, Edith. You're an angel. Love you.
Edith: Love you too, honey.
Okay, that's odd.
Me: Did you call my boss?
Sawyer: I might have.
Me: What! Why would you do that?
Sawyer: I didn't want to wait to see you. Edith could have said no when I asked if you could have the day off. But she didn't.
Me: You're such a caveman.
Sawyer: I am. A caveman that gets his own way. See you in a few hours, Sugar.
Me: FINE! I'm leaving at ten.
I sling my bag into the trunk of my car, and I turn the key in the ignition. The engine roars into life at ten past ten, and I set my favourite country music radio station to play. '1, 2 Many' by Luke Combs blasts through the speakers. I plug the address to Sawyer's parents into my nav and make sure that Jed is settled in the back of the car with his blankets.
"Ready, Jed?" I give him a firm nod in the rear-view mirror and pull out of my street.
Two and a half hours, later and I am stuck in the worst traffic known to man. The nav is saying a delay of three hours, I pull into the nearest stop and call Sawyer.
"Hey," I groan. "I don't know if there has been an accident or something else, but I am stuck. The nav is telling me that there is a three-hour delay, and it's getting longer. I don't know whether to turn back home."
"No!" Sawyer huffs down the phone like he is irritated at me. I don't control the traffic. Jackass. "Don't turn back. If you've been on the road for two and a half hours already, there is no point turning back. The jam might clear soon. There is no sign of an accident, looking at where you are on the map. Be safe. Stop for coffee, but you are coming to my parent's house. Please. Don't turn back."
"You're so fucking annoying," I protest.
"I know." And he hangs the phone up.
I am PISSED .
I have a scowl on my face now, and I can't help it at all. Honestly, who does this man think he is. He is so goddamn demanding. I am now sitting in this shit show of traffic for god knows how long. I'd have turned the car around if I didn't want to climb him like a tree so badly. I may be a brat, but he is a dick.
"Sorry, Jed. We're going to be a bit longer," I say out loud to my dog. I always expect him to answer me.