Page 83 of Make it a Double

“Sawyer,” I gritted out. Every muscle strained as I fought the urge to take control. She moved away from my lips and down my neck, biting and sucking as she went. “Sugar⁠—”

And that was when my fucking phone rang, breaking us out of the trance we found ourselves in.

She moved quickly, adjusting her shirt that’d ridden up as I let my head fall back against the chair. Then I reached into my pocket and dug out my phone. Tate’s picture flashed across the screen. She was flipping off the camera in her cap and gown as I laughed harder than I had in a long time. Her aunt had snapped the photo and sent it to me.

It was one of my favorites, but I really didn’t want to see it on my screen right now.

“Tate—”

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BIG BROTHER! I know I’m technically like two weeks late, but there is like, zero, cell service here, so…” I stopped listening to my sister’s ramble as Sawyer’s cup clattered to the ground. I glanced up, cringing as I met her wide, unbelieving gaze.

Fuck. There was no way this wasn’t going to end in tears.

“Anyway, tell me everything. What’d you do? Where’d you go? How’d you celebrate? We’ll have to celebrate when I get back.” It was hard to be mad at Tate’s over-the-top personality, but I didn’t have it in me to entertain her tonight. Especially not as Sawyer looked like she was about to cry.

“Tate? Hey, sorry. Can I call you back? I’m kind of in the middle of something here.”

Tate wasn’t fazed in the slightest. Nothing could ever rattle her. “Sure thing. Have a good night!”

I was out of my seat before I’d even pressed the stupid red button. “Sawyer…”

“When was it?” she asked, banding her arms over her chest.

“It’s just another day.”

“When. Was. It?”

I blew out a breath, lacing my hands behind my neck. “A couple of weeks ago, but⁠—”

“The date,” she said, stressing the word.

I didn’t know why she wanted to go down this road, but I damn sure wasn’t going to piss her off any more than she already was. “The 17th.”

Sawyer scoffed, bringing her thumb to her mouth. I really needed to find one of those fidget things for her. “We spent your birthday at my doctor’s appointment. Cool, cool, cool.”

“I got the greatest gift I could ever ask for,” I said, reaching up and grabbing her hands. She refused to look at me, blinking rapidly to stave off the tears. I just needed her to listen to me. Really listen to what I was saying. “We saw our little boy that day, sugar. That’s all I wanted. All I needed. And I got to spend time with you. What more is there?”

“But I told you that I would throw you a real birthday party,” she said, voice breaking. “We were supposed to stuff ourselves on store-bought cake and pizza that’d been left out in the sun for too long. And a sketchy bounce house!” Her hands left mine to cover her face. “I feel so bad I didn’t remember. Stupid pregnancy brain. I’m so sorry.”

“Baby…” I softened my voice, prying her hands away. It would’ve been comical if she hadn’t looked so goddamn distraught. I just wanted to find a way to make it better. “It’s alright. I don’t know if you know this, but birthdays come around every year. We can make the next one as big as you want, okay? And by then, our son will be able to enjoy it too. It seems unfair to deprive him of all the fun.”

“Ugh. Why do you have to be so nice?” she cried.

I pulled her closer, cradling her head to my chest. “Because I really am the whole package. Looks, brains, emotional stability.” She pinched my side, breaking the tension with half-choked laughter. “You got lucky with me as a baby daddy.”

“I really did,” she said.

We stayed like that until Sawyer’s belly let out a low growl. I pressed a kiss to her forehead before letting her go. “Come on. Let’s eat.”

She nodded, taking a seat. The rest of our dinner was spent in companionable silence. Making conversation right now would’ve been useless. As she took her last bite, I grabbed both of our plates and put them in the sink. I could wash them later after she left. Right now, I wanted nothing more than to just exist in this moment with her.

“Come with me,” I said, holding out my hand. She took it, watching me carefully as I helped her out of her seat. We walked out to the deck, leaving the sliding glass door open. I rarely used the lights strung around the porch, but tonight seemed like as good a night as any.

Grabbing a blanket, I flipped the switch and plopped down on the outdoor sofa. Then, I opened my arms for her to slide in. She did so wordlessly, leaning back against my bare chest. My hands landed on her stomach, cradling her bump. Hers quickly followed as she settled against me. I let my nose trail against her temple, finding the hint of cherries I’d discovered earlier.

That was how we stayed until the sun went down and the crickets sang their song to the moon peeking out through the pines. Sawyer had fallen asleep long ago, but I didn’t dare move. Not when she looked as peaceful as I felt.

SAWYER