Page 21 of GDL

Something very unprofessional hangs between us—most likely the memory from two nights ago when he fucked me so hard I can still feel it when I walk, forty-eight hours later—but as tempting as it is to take advantage of being out here alone and turn things sexual again, I also want to learn more about him. "And your other son, Benji, he's an author, right?"

Sawyer keeps his eyes on me for a while before answering, "An internationally bestselling author, yes. He went through a rough patch with his mental health for a while there, but he's doing great now. Got a great partner, Darren. They were best friends before they got together."

I chuckle. "Same as Logan and Wade."

"It makes sense." Sawyer turns, staring out into the city. "Friendship is the foundation of any good relationship."

I pause, then decide to ask the question anyway. "You speaking from experience?"

"Yeah." A strange look falls over his face. He's silent for a really long time before speaking again. "Elaine and I loved each other very much. Her passing keeps her in a capsule, and I don't want to do anything to tarnish her memory. First and foremost, we were great friends. We had so much in common, whether it was music or politics or both of us believing sleeping in on a Sunday is a human right."

Despite his lighthearted comment, his expression remains pensive. "We were so young when we got together. We fell pregnant and got married before either one of us knew who we truly were. We were so unprepared, and it took its toll on our relationship. I feel like we'd always have been friends, but I don't know if we'd have stayed together. It's kind of a tricky one to think about."

"I can understand that."

"You can?"

"Yeah. I mean, I don't have the lived experience you do, but I understand what you mean about not wanting to imagine a life without her now that she's gone. It's almost disrespectful to her memory, right?"

"Yeah. That's exactly it."

I nudge him with my elbow. "Don't sound so surprised. I'm wise and mature beyond my years."

He turns to face me, and we kiss. It's a soothing kiss. A gentle kiss. A coming home kiss.

After a while, Sawyer shifts, taking a half step back. He aims those inquisitive green eyes at me. "So, are we ready to talk about the elephant in the room now?"

"What elephant?"

He taps my shoulder, right next to my vomit stain. Fuck. I'd completely forgotten about that.

"Like I said, I'm not here sniffing around for some scandal or to ruin your reputation, but please don't insult my intelligence." He takes a good long hard look at me and asks, "You ready to talk? Properly?"

I drop my head back as far as it will go and stare at the stars overhead. "What do you want to know?"

He pauses, then asks the question I was dreading. "Have you got a child, Kynan?"

9

Sawyer

Kynan's expression is like a deer caught in headlights, and it gives me my answer. It all makes sense now.

The baby blanket draped across Tharin's shoulder on the first day he greeted Grayson and me.

Why Kynan is constantly ducking away.

Him acting all weird and paranoid, not letting me into his car, no doubt because there was baby evidence in there.

And now the vomit stain on his shoulder.

"I do," he finally says, bringing his head back up and looking me straight in the eye. "His name is Ashton. He's seven months old. I only found out he existed a little over a month ago."

He stops talking and stares out at the sprawling city.

"Just so you know, anything you choose to tell me now is strictly off the record."

"Thanks." He blows through his nose and keeps going. "I met Carrie at a PR event like this one. She and I got a little too drunk, and well, one thing led to another, and we had sex. I've neverslept with a fan before, but she signed an NDA so I figured what's the worst that could happen?"

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