Page 26 of Sorry, We're Closed

We laugh and even our laughs harmonise together perfectly.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

Our laughter continues until silence eventually fills the space, and his eyes dance between my eyes and lips. My gaze falls to his lips, and I’m desperate for that connection with him. I am desperate to feel his lips on mine.

I can’t silence my thoughts though. Am I aware that this will cause problems? Yes. Am I aware of the consequences if she ever finds out? Yes, and I am terrified, but somehow Avory locks that all away and throws the key into the next continent.

The tip of my nose brushes against his, my eyes rapidly darting between his eyes and his lips. This sensation hasn’t rushed through me since college, and yet this is a hundred times stronger.

This sensation comes to a grinding halt as my phone buzzes, pulsing shivers across my thigh. I pull it out of my pocket to see who it is, my face remaining ever so close to Avory’s.

It’s her. It’s like she knows I was about to do something that would end in nothing but upset and disappointment. All it reads is:

Home. Now.

“Avory, I’m sorry, I have to go.”

Twelve

Avory

Sawyer's bag is thrown over his shoulder as he hastily jumps the stairs and beelines for the shop door. His breathing grows louder and quicker, the words “sorry”and “breathe” muttering through those tinted lips of his.

Yes, I notice the shine that has blessed his lips.

All I want to do is reach for his hand and pull him back to me. I crave to rub my hand between his shoulder blades until his breathing transforms into the same gentle hum he had when he was resting against my chest.

His hand reaches desperately for the door handle and as it swings open, stronger than he expected it to due to the seaside winds outside, he stops for a moment. His eyes meet mine as if he’s trying to tell me something. His lips part and close over and over, but the silence remains between us.

I should be stopping him. I should be grabbing him by that beautiful face and feel the shine that is glazing over his lips blending into a blurred mess between us, but I can’t. This fire that burns for Sawyer inside me is being fanned, fuel is being added every second and it is intense. An intensity I’m not used to, but I don't want it to calm down.

He nods goodbye as the door shuts behind him and I watch him fly down the high street, his feet looking like they never touch the ground. I lock the door behind him, but the urge to slam my head through the wooden frame is festering.

I've felt attraction before, but not one that creates this tugging sensation from my chest to his. A string that knits itself between every rung of my ribcage which tugs, pulls, strains towards him.

Your lips were moments away from mine, and a deep regret grows in my mind for not pushing us together sooner. Sooner, before your phone vibrated and your entire demeanour changed. I watched you collapse in on yourself, and all I want to do is collect every shard of Sawyer Sombre, and piece him back together, placing us back on that amp.You intrigue me,SawyerSombre.

When Marcus told me that he had bought himself a new outfit for our shows, I did not expectthisto strut out into our living room. Step by step, Marcus’ feet strut in front of each other with his arms extending either side of him, I'm convinced he’s popping his hip with each step.

The sheer volume of his boots on the hardwood floors tells me how powerful and how attractive he feels in this new outfit. Black snakeskin boots surrounded in silver buckles and chains choke his calves as a tight pair of faux leather trousers hug the rest of his leg.

He dons a white silk shirt which screams elegance. The neckline plunges down to the beginning of his abs and layers upon layers of ruffles surround his visible pecs.

He displays his usual beaming grin, and his hair flows naturally compared to usual, sections of black and silver hair dangling over his forehead. My jaw has dropped and there is no bringing it back from the floor.

“While I know I look stunning, like I'm talking incredible, genuinely I have never looked this good.”

Marcus continues to slowly spin around, pulling all sorts of poses to display his favourite assets, before signalling to my entirety. “But look atyou! We look fucking incredible!”

You know what? He’s right. We do look fucking incredible, even if this is miles out of my comfort zone.

Marcus has somehow convinced me to wear matching leather trousers with him which gives a crystal-clear picture of what I pack in the back and front for anyone and everyone who could be watching us. Not that I necessarily have anything to be embarrassed about, especially with these heeled boots which make my ass perkier and the trousers crease underneath my cheeks.

My eyes follow my silhouette from the heel to my midsection, which is fully on display. I have a Bright Lights shirt which I ripped directly under the logo, creating a crop top and showing off an asset of mine which I don't mind all that much. I always try my best to stay in shape, especially with our greasy eating habits and outrageous amounts of caffeine, and it’s clearly working with the darkened lines leading into my trousers and the abs developing over my stomach.

My wrists, neck and fingers are wrapped in leather bands and silver, and I somewhat neaten up my usual eyeliner and stretch the wings to meet my temples.

I stand with Marcus until he throws his arm around me and raises his eyebrows. “Get your phone out then! We can't forget this.”

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