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JAMIE

M y phone buzzes with an incoming text from Sawyer.

I’m sitting in the upstairs living room facing the windows but glance over my shoulder in the direction of the bathroom. War’s in the shower after returning from the gym, and when he comes out, I’d rather he didn’t hear me talking with her.

Switching seats so I can keep an eye on the hall, I unlock my phone.

Sawyer: Ash is driving us back to GU. Wants to stop by yours. Is that ok?

There’s not a second of hesitation.

Jamie: Yes. Come.

Rising, I shake my head at the way my heart thumps faster at the thought of seeing her. I’m glad Ash is coming by, too. That way there’s no chance Sawyer and I will start a deep conversation that’s too honest to be safe. I’ll just get to see her and make sure she’s all right.

And if she needs me, I’ll figure out a way to keep her close.

After I pull a sweatshirt on over my t-shirt, I get a text from Ash that they’re downstairs. I grab my coat and gloves and keys. Then, I head outside, closing the door behind me.

Both women emerge from the car, and I join them. Ash puts an arm around my neck as she hugs me. Sawyer remains next to the car, several feet away. Though I should hold back too, I don’t. Moving in, I pull her to me in a tight hug.

The familiar scent of spicy berries and Sawyer hits me like a express train.

In a low voice near her ear, I ask,“Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. We weren’t close. Or even on good terms. As you know.” Her words are soft but clipped. Can’t tell if she’s angry or just guarded. Can’t blame her either way.

Her fist presses into my ribs, signaling for me to let go.

With reluctance, I release her. “Glad you’re well.” Because she seems closed off, I glance over at Ash. “Want to come in?”

Ash’s eyes rise to the second floor, and she narrows them. “No.”

I glance over my shoulder and spot War’s hulking figure as it recedes. He’s seen what I’m about. Unfortunate, but not unexpected.

Sawyer reaches for the Camaro’s door handle. At the same time, my palm presses against the door to prevent her from opening it.

Ash says, “Hang on, Seesaw. Don’t you want to clear things up?”

My eyes return to Sawyer, studying her face for any hint at what they’ve been discussing during the drive. “What’s that?”

“I told Ash why you broke up with me. She doesn’t believe it.”

So much for keeping things surface. “Let’s not pull Ashling into it.” I lick my lips. “But you and I should talk. There are aspects you’re not seeing. And I was too quick to end things. Liquor and an Irish temper are not the best mates to turn loose together.”

“Jamie,” Ash says sharply. “Are you saying you really did break up with Sawyer because her biological mom’s in prison? Because that’s a straight-up hypocrite move no one?—”

“Hold on, what?” My gaze cuts back and forth between the girls. “What’s this about your mother?”

“My bio mother is in jail for dealing drugs and related crimes. It’s why I had to go into foster care.” Sauce stares at me with a hostile expression.

I give a nearly imperceptible shake of my head.

Ash’s narrow-eyed gaze studies me. “You didn’t know that?”

Sawyer’s arms fold across her chest, but her expression becomes curious. “If not my mom… What the hell were you talking about? Who did you mean?”

I’m backed into a corner. Saying the brother did something is not an option, since he’s just been murdered. And if I do tell her the truth about her father, it won’t be in front of Ash.

At first, I say nothing.

Since I’m going after her father, what I should do is cover my tracks by claiming it was the biological mother’s past that I took issue with. But as Sawyer stares up at me with her beautiful brown eyes, I just can’t bring myself to do it.

“It’s not the kind of conversation to have while we’re freezing our arses off in a parking lot. Will you come in? Ash can go, and I’ll drop you off later at your dorm.”

Sawyer hesitates and then finally shakes her head. “It’s been a long few days, and I’m all talked out.” She turns and attempts to push my hand off the door.

I lean down, bringing us closer together. “Go then. We’ll talk tomorrow. I’ll come for you after class.”

“I don’t know.” She shoves a hand back in a bid to push me away so she can open the car door.

My feet might as well be nailed to the ground.

Turning her head with fury flashing in her eyes, she stares at me. “You’re seriously going to push the issue? Right now?”

I’m tempted to stop her from leaving. I want the misunderstanding behind us, so I can have her back. But it’s not only us here. There’s Ash. And there’s War. Neither of them will be cool with my pulling Sawyer into the house.

“Right, no.” Stepping back, I shove my hands in my pockets. “But tomorrow, Sauce. We will talk.”

Ash appears next to me and gives me a gentle push to get me farther away. Then she opens the passenger door for Sawyer. “The men in my family are crazy. Really sorry about that.”

Sawyer drops into the passenger seat, and Ash closes the door.

Ash turns and looks at me with a skeptical expression. “Sort yourself, James, or I’m going to stop helping you.”

“You won’t. But I will sort this out.”

Ash gives me a brief, violent hug before she shoves me away and turns and stalks to the driver’s side of the car.

I wait, watching as Ash gets in and the car starts. It’s not until they pull away and completely disappear that I jog up the metal stairs to enter the house.

War sits on the couch, scrolling on his phone. Without looking up, he says, “You’re fucking kidding, right?”

“I’ll handle her.”

His nearly black eyes rise. “That’s the problem.”

War’s proven himself the best sort of mate a killer could have, so I don’t fault him for a thing.

Avoiding Sawyer is in the interest of protecting myself and him from the hell-storm that would rain down if anyone found out what we’d just been up to.

It’s a shame I can’t do the smart thing.

Sawyer’s mine, and I want her back.