Page 25 of Reconcile
Vivienne stands and places a hand on her hip. “Yeah. No.”
Sawyer winks at Baz as he stands up to face his mother. “Fine. Superhero movies and popcorn. Maybe some soda. Just us boys.”
“Not too much soda, Sawyer. Last time he was up until one in the morning.”
His gaze shifts to me. “What are you doing here?”
There’s no malice in his voice. It’s more like curiosity, but Vivienne walks over to him and smacks his chest. “Be nice. You’re lucky she’s in the same state as you after the sh—” she looks down at Baz and quickly corrects, “stuff you did.”
Baz giggles, and she takes his hand. “Let’s give them a minute to talk, buddy. Asher won’t be home for another half hour anyway.”
“Okay, Mommy.” Baz leaves, and I see Vivienne motion toward me, encouraging Sawyer to talk to me before they exit the room.
I had every intention of telling him to go fuck himself before I ran into Vivienne. But after talking with her and seeing Sawyer with Baz just now, I’m not sure what to do.
His eyes meet mine, and he actually looks marginally nervous, maybe even a little ashamed.
I know I need to guard my heart and be intelligent.
I also know with this man, that’s never been possible for me.
16
SAWYER
Piper is here. With Viv and Baz. I can’t quite wrap my head around it, considering I figured she’d ignore me in the hopes that I’d go away. But I can’t help feeling hope since she’s here.
Of course, sheisglaring at me.
“Piper.”
She huffs and stares at me with a guarded expression I can’t read. “Sawyer.”
“What are you doing here?”
“You gave me a few days, right?”
I wince slightly, thinking about my threat and how pissed Viv was with me when I told her about it. “Look—” I start, but I’m quickly interrupted.
“I came here to tell you to go fuck yourself.”
“Not surprising.” I flop down onto Viv and Asher’s couch, flinging my arm around the back as I look up at her.
“But now, I see you with Sebastian. And his little eyes. I mean...” She looks flabbergasted, and I sit up straight, leaning forward, unsure where she’s going with this. “It’s like he adores you.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
She gnaws on her bottom lip, her eyes full of confusion. “I could tell.”
I stand up again and approach her cautiously. “I’ve changed, Piper. I’m not the same as I was when I was eighteen.”
She takes a deep breath, folding her arms over her waist and putting up another wall. “I want to believe that.”
“Then do it.”
Her eyes flash with hurt, and I back off slightly. “You’re an ass.”
It’s not really said with malice. More like she’s speaking the truth. “I know.” I grip the back of my neck with my hand, feeling the tension there. “I shouldn’t have gone about it that way. I just want to be in her life.”
