Page 45 of Sawyer

“This place is nice,” I commented, taking in the surroundings.

The air was filled with the smell of fresh coffee and pastries. The sound of soft chatter and the occasional bark of a dog created a relaxing ambiance.

“Yeah, it’s one of my favorite spots,” Casey replied, still focused on the menu.

After a moment, we placed our orders—Casey going for a sandwich and iced tea, while I opted for a burger and a cold beer.

Benny even got a treat from the staff, which he accepted with an eager wag of his tail.

I couldn’t help but smile at how happy the little guy seemed.

As we waited for our food, I found my mind wandering back to what Casey had mentioned earlier about Garth raising the rent on his store.

It was a move that reeked of spite, not business.

The thought of Garth making life difficult for Casey made my blood simmer, but I forced myself to push it aside.

Casey had insisted he would handle it, and I needed to respect that—for now, at least.

“So,” I said, shifting the conversation to something lighter, “are you and your brother close?”

Casey looked up, his expression softening at the mention of his brother. “We are. He’s my best friend.”

I nodded, genuinely interested. “What does he do?”

“He’s a popular streamer,” Casey said with a hint of pride in his voice. “He started off just playing games for fun, but it grew into something bigger. Now he’s got a pretty big following.”

“That’s impressive,” I replied, imagining the kind of dedication that took.

The conversation flowed easily as we talked about his brother’s streaming career.

Casey’s eyes lit up when he spoke about it, and it was clear how much he admired his brother.

It was nice getting to know more about Casey’s life—seeing the people and things that mattered to him.

Our food arrived, and we ate leisurely, enjoying the pleasant evening.

Benny was content, munching on his treat and occasionally peeking up at us with those big, curious eyes.

The restaurant’s laid-back vibe was perfect, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace settle over me.

As we ate, I kept stealing glances at Casey, watching the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled and the way his fingers absentmindedly played with the edge of his napkin.

There was something so natural, so easy about being with him.

It wasn’t just the attraction—though that was definitely there—but something deeper.

I started picturing him as part of my life, part of the pack.

I could see him at the pack gatherings, saw him fitting into my world seamlessly, like he was meant to be there all along.

Of course, in my fantasy, Garth was out of the picture.

That bastard had caused enough trouble already, and the thought of him trying to worm his way into Casey’s life made my blood boil.

I’d always been protective of those I cared about, but with Casey, it was different.

The thought of anyone or anything hurting him was unbearable.

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