Page 44 of Sorry, We're Closed

“Because who you kiss, or fuck, or whatever, is the reason your father left. Your decisions ruined my life, Sawyer. That café is all I have left of the man you sent packing.”

Her fake nails jab at my chest as she spits, a stinging sensation rapidly spreading across my skin.

“Clearly, your father leaving did not get across the message. As long as you think it is acceptable to be this way, you are no son of mine, Sawyer.”

I’m weak, too weak. I collapse onto my bed and everything within me numbs. First my father, and now my mother. She never wanted to have the conversation, she never wanted to attempt to fix this one day, and now I have lost both of my parents because of my reckless decisions. Her words ricochet around my empty head.

“Seeing as I have no son, you can at least keep alive the one part of the man I once loved, whoyousent away. You will work at the café, onmyterms. You are to leave here at seven every morning and return by six in the evening. I know every aspect of that café, so don't you dare think that you can slip some time in with this fucking guitarist on the way home or anything. You clearly can't be trusted, and you are never to see him again, do I make myself clear?”

She towers over me as I continue to try and understand what she’s saying. I can't process any of this. My life has, somehow, changed for the worst because the best thing to happen in a long time, actually happened. I’m dragged to my feet as her hands grasp the neck of my shirt. Her eyes bulge with frustration, and her knuckles turn white with the sheer strength in her grip.

“I said, do I make myself clear?”

Spit dabs across my lens as she speaks through her gritted teeth.

“Yes, ma'am.”

She forces me back onto my bed as she exits my room, leaving my door wide open as hers slams, reverberating across the Sombre house. The one person I want to speak to, I can't. According to her new rules.

Twenty

Avory

What was meant to be a celebratory drink, turns into a celebratory round after round of drinks as we make our way around every stall, the drinks getting stronger in taste and the intoxication making us louder with every sip. I sit alone at the tiki hut as Marcus is dragged away by women who latch themselves to his biceps, forcing his hips to dance side to side with a crowd of brightly dressed and shirtless performers. He continues to look back at me often, shrugging and laughing as I film what I can of these absolute dad dance moves. I am not letting him live this one down.

When I’m not collecting future blackmailing evidence to use against Marcus, I mindlessly scroll my socials, hoping that some sort of humorous video will distract me from the silence which suddenly radiates between Sawyer and me. Did I go too far saying I miss him? Because I do. Everything we’ve seen tonight, everything Marcus and I did, a part of me only wishes to see Sawyer appear out of thin air, tucked under my arm since he seems to fit there so well. My mindless scrolling and hoping for something, anything to arrive from Sawyer is interrupted by a familiar voice.

“Hey, babes! Sex on the beach, please!”

Gwen swivels herself onto the chair next to me, and her stunning smile glows after singing her order over to the bartender. She really does look like a model with her flowing ponytail, neon festival paint which replaces her usual neutral makeup, and her denim shorts hidden by an oversized band shirt. She has belted the shirt to her tiny waist, and all of this gives me a flow of ideas for future performing outfits.

“Realistically, sex on the beach sounds awful, right? Like sand getting everywhere… you've got to keep an eye on the tide… what if someone sees?”

She giggles to herself as the bartender slides over a tall, curvy glass with a sunset-coloured slushy filling it to the brim. A small yellow umbrella and swirly straw stand tall from her fruity cocktail.

“Not very adventurous then, no?” I wiggle my eyebrows at Gwen and sip the last of my drink as she smacks my arm and laughs.

Everything about her just casts relaxation and positivity. Gwen's hand reaches for my jaw and twists my head towards the dance circle where Marcus resides. Her cheek hovers next to mine as her floral perfume wafts in the air around us.

“Let me guess, your companion for the evening is in that group of drunk dancers and you're sitting here, observing and I hope you're collecting videos, if needed, for the future?”

My mouth drops open, and we both release a belly laugh loud enough to shock the bartender serving us. Gwen orders another round for the both of us as she points out her older brother, Alexander or Xander to most, who is currently matching similar moves with Marcus. They’re getting awfully close. Our laughter eventually dies down and Gwen speaks up.

“You guys were incredible tonight! Hell, you probably hear that all the time, right?”

I laugh to myself at her comment, not sure on how to respond because I’m fully aware that Gwen is family to Sawyer, and the last thing I want to do is give off the wrong impression.

“I also think that you and Sawyer, no matter what you guys actually are, are incredible for each other. I haven't seen him smile like he does now in so long.”

My eyes meet Gwen's which are brightened by her makeup, and I can't help but smile and feel the heat rushing to my cheeks.

“Thank you, Gwen. I'm glad I seem to have won your approval,” I joke before putting forward my attempt to dig a bit more into who Sawyer Sombre is. “I'm not sure what we are currently, but I know that he means something to me, even in the short time we've known each other. I just hope I haven't scared him off, thing have been quiet between us tonight.”

Her hand rests on my shoulder as she looks around us, her voice low.

“Avory honey, he is obsessed with you! Please, give him some time, though. There’s lots of drunk people here tonight, but is there any chance you noticed a particular drunk woman? Auburn hair, dotted dress? Was with an asshole of a man?”

Oh my god, the couple who were stumbling around us. The woman, it’s the same woman who seemed to challenge me in Sombre’s Café. How am I only noticing this now? Did she hear me talking to Marcus about Sawyer?

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