Page 56 of Up in a Blaze

“How about we see what he’s like when he rocks up?”

“Fine.” I rolled my eyes. “But—” I heard something outside and headed toward the window. Sawyer climbed out of a small, beat-up car. “They’re here,” I informed Blaze, rushing up to kiss him and then running to the front door.

I watched their approach through the peephole. Sawyer’s brother looked like him a lot. Both had blond hair, slim builds, and were on the smaller side in height. I suspected their eye color matched too. Sawyer had an amazing light blue.

When they grew close, I opened the door and smiled. “Bonjour, Sawyer and brother.”

Sawyer gave me a hesitant smile in return. “Hi, Henri. This is Arlo. Arlo, Henri.”

The boy glanced up and waved before he looked down again while his other hand tightly held the backpack strap over his shoulder.

“Come in. Make yourself comfortable, Arlo.” I stepped aside, and they walked by. After closing the door, I went into the living room where Blaze still stood. “Mon amour, fix your face before you scare them,” I warned.

Blaze rolled his eyes but kept looking grumpy like he always did. Just the way I loved him.

“Sawyer, you know my grump. But Arlo, this man is mine, and his name is Blaze.”

“Hi, Blaze,” Sawyer offered shyly.

Blaze grunted, and when Arlo looked up and up and up, his gaze widened as Blaze tipped his chin, and said, “Hey, kid.”

“You’re big,” Arlo blurted.

“Arlo,” Sawyer snapped with a wince. “Sorry.”

I laughed. “No need. Blaze is big, Arlo.”

Arlo nodded, still watching Blaze.

“Thank you for doing this, Henri.”

“It’s no problem, chéri. Arlo and I will find some fun. We have all the streaming channels. Well, most I think, and Blaze has some of those video games. Plus, I haven’t had pizza in a long time, so I was going to order us some.”

“Arlo would like that. Right?” He nudged his brother in the shoulder.

“Yeah. Thanks.” He finally looked away from Blaze and down to the floor again.

“He’s got some homework to do too,” Sawyer said, which made Arlo grumble under his breath.

“I will make sure it gets done.” I hoped I knew what Arlo was learning. What grade was he even in? “Sawyer, Blaze thought it would be a good idea?—”

“Henri,” Blaze bit out, tone scolding.

I sighed. “I was thinking it would be easier to go from here to work together since you have to come back to the same destination. It will also help me get mon amour away from those computers at a better hour.”

Poor Sawyer looked like a deer caught in headlights.

“Don’t have to, kid. No stress.”

“No, I, um, I don’t mind. It’ll save gas.” He blushed, probably not meaning to admit that. “Thank you.”

But why did he need to save on gas?

From what Blaze said, Sawyer lived in a relatively nice area in a three-bedroom house. His wages could easily cover repayments, if there were any, and all the expenses on top.

There was something we weren’t seeing. I glanced to Blaze, and he caught my stare and nodded. Yes, he was suspicious too.

“We’d better go,” Blaze announced.