My Brother's Best Friend | ✓

40. "my boyfriend"

My mom dropped me off in the lobby and she was nice enough to return my phone to me. After a short, anger filled phone call with Cam, filling her in on my disappearance, I took the elevator up to Sawyer's apartment.

I let out a huge sigh of relief when he opened the door and hugged me immediately. The clean scent of soap and aftershave hit me instantly. His hair was still wet from the shower he clearly just had and he smelled so good, I almost couldn't let go. He stepped aside shortly after and let me in, closing the door behind us.

"What happened?" he was concerned. I'm just so glad that through everything that's happened, he's had my back and his support means so much to me. "She broke up with him." I state plainly.

"Yeah, um--my dad, he came by as well, and filled me in." his eyes naturally trail down my body as he thinks. "He told me he had doubts. He knew that she was not in it100%, he felt it."

"Did he say anything else?"

"Just that he wants to be left alone for a while." He shrugs.

I sit back on the arm of the couch. "All along, it wasn't us that was the problem, it was them."

"You know you never told me what happened. Why they divorced." he walks over and sits on the couch right next to me.

I let out a breath thinking back to it, the divorce. That messy time in my life and the feelings that I've been holding back for so long. I never talked about it, not even with Ryan. I know he didn't handle the divorce well either but he'd never admit it. He and dad had a really special bond and when he left, he started spending less time with him and visiting less frequently. I realize that I trust Sawyer and I feel like he of all people can understand, and I can finally tell him.

"She had an affair," I say. I feel his presence behind me and he shifts in his seat uncomfortably but my I continue staring off into the distance. "She never told me who it was or why she did it, but he left and that was that." I continue.

"I carried all this anger and resentment for her for the longest time but eventually I let go. She told me how much she regretted it and we all kinda moved on."

He gently wrapped his hand around my wrist, urging me to turn to him. His loving brown eyes landed on my lips for a moment. He reached over and tucked some loose strands of hair that were covering my face, behind my ear. "That's really rough, I'm sorry you had to go through all of that." he said. He was so quiet and reserved. It was strange.

"I gotta fix this," I say. "I know you want to, but there's nothing really we can do." he gently takes both of my hands in his. "Yes there is. I need to go see my dad." I pause and turn fully to Sawyer. "And I want you to come with me. You can help me talk to him and--I want you to meet him."

A huge bright smile forms on his face and he's quick to respond. "I'll drive."

~

Later on in the day, after I let my dad know I was coming by, we began the drive. I was curled up in a ball in the front seat watching Sawyer drive. The AC was blasting and I wrapped myself in his red baggy hoodie that was a few sizes too big, but it was perfect. His eyes were focused on the road and checking the rearview mirror constantly. I was admiring his arms through his shirt and the way he would run his tongue across his bottom lip every once in a while. "You're staring." he says smirking but his eyes remain on the road. "I'm not." I giggle and scrunch my nose slightly.

"Hey, when we get there--" I hesitate before finishing my sentence. "Do I introduce you as just Sawyer or--" I pause for a few seconds.

"Or as Sawyer, your boyfriend?" he finishes smugly for me. "Yeah." I bit my lip nervously, hoping he will catch my hint and respond accordingly.