Page 28 of Sorry, We're Closed

Sawyer

“Please come in, it's absolutely pouring out!” I shout over to Gwen and Xander in their delivery van.

It’s a deep red colour with gold writing on the side, ‘The Sweet Bakery’. It's as if they really lucked out with having Sweet as their last name.

I prop open the back door with a chipped brick I found in the alley as the siblings run in trays and trays of baked goods. The scent of pastries and sugar start to taunt me as Xander carries in the last tray.

“That's all of it, Sawyer. I'll quickly run out and grab the paperwork for you.”

Alexander Sweet. Gwen's older brother and practically mine too, he towers over the both of us, not only in stature but in build, too. He definitely gives Avory a run for his money.

No, not now.

He has the shoulders, arms, and dress sense of someone who should be cutting up logs with an oversized axe in the forest, only to rip them apart with his bare hands, yet delicate and full blonde curls which brush against his forehead and meet the tips of his ears in length.

His deep, chocolate eyes match Gwen’s exactly, and are what you are met with whenever you speak with him, and his voice carries the same depth but with more of a gravely tone.

As much as he tries to avoid conversation and tries his best to hide his smile from all of humanity, he’s always had a soft spot for me, and especially his sister. While seven years older than us both, he’s always slotted in nicely between us and often plays the direct voice of reason.

“So, spill it! Is everything looking bright for you two yet?” Gwen grabs me by the shoulders and her grin spreads from ear to ear. She is clearly very proud of that joke. Even in all of this downpour, her eyeliner and mascara remain intact.

“Spill what?” Xander speaks as he appears behind with a handful of invoices for me to organise later. Fun.

Gwen skips in front of me, ready to tell her version of events.

“Sawyer has a big, fat man crush which he isn't doing anything about, even though this guy clearly likes him too! I was just asking if they had gotten any further than gazing at each other over the counter.” Gwen looks back at me, winking and practically boasting about her perfect eyeliner at this point.

“Interesting. Well, good for you, bud! Do we know this guy?” Xander practically ignores Gwen as he locks his eyes on me.

I beat Gwen to it before she decides to describe Avory as some sort of Greek god. She wouldn't be entirely wrong.

“His name's Avory, he's in the band Bright Lights which are performing around here.”

“Oh, I saw them the other night at the pub! They did an amazing show, their leading man has this husky yet powerful voice, and the guitarist clearly knows what he's doing! I caught his guitar pick at the end, assuming we're talking about the younger one?”

I roll my eyes and hum in agreement, Gwen laughing slightly into the canned iced coffee she brought with her – I'll pretend I'm not slightly offended.

“Good, the older one is off limits.” Xander winks as we all laugh at his comment.

While he’s never been quiet about being gay – one of the many reasons why I deal with the deliveries instead of mother – it’s still new for us to hear him talking about anyone in that manner. He has been so invested in work and Gwen this past year that everything else in his life hit pause.

“Sawyer, is your mum still off about everything? Because my offer to speak to her still stands. I'm sure she'd have something to say if our services stopped delivering to Sombre’s.”

Xander is protective of his family, even if it is the adopted member in question. Either way, I can't see blackmail being the answer to getting Tracey Sombre to finally accept her queer son.

“Well, I'm still gay, so that should answer your question.”

Xander ignores his sister's growing anger towards my situation as he strolls past her and comes up to me, pulling me in and wrapping his arms around me. I feel like a freshly planted tree which still needs its supportive plastic railing compared to this solid oak tree of a man. The smell of his damp coat mixes with his citrus, sandalwood aftershave, and it is oddly comforting alongside his voice rumbling through his chest as he speaks.

“While I understand that it's easier said than done, you need to start doing things for you, Sawyer! Our door is always open, no matter what happens, and she can't have this hold on you forever. You are an incredible person, and I cannot fathom why she can't see that your sexuality has little to no significance to her life.”

His arms fall to his sides before grabbing my hand and sliding something slim between our palms. “If he's right for you, then do what you have to do. Don't do what I did last year.”

I remember Xander telling us about a man he was with who he lost, but he never told us why or how. He just always said that he’s to blame and I don't think I could forgive myself if I ever feel that way about Avory.

I need to talk to him; I need to figure out what we are before I throw my heart out there.

I open my palm to find a guitar pick – Avory's. To think that he held this all night long, he entertained an audience with this, my heart races as I follow the red and black marble pattern with my thumb.

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