Page 79 of Sorry, We're Closed

I chuckle at her comment, but my entire body warms knowing that we have a thing together now.

“Oh of course, I’ll steal your number from Sawyer, and I will never let you forget me until you find me annoying!” I joke as she quickly responds, “Oh honey, I could never forget you when you look that hot!”

My eyes widen at her comment, quickly followed by another chuckle as Xander’s mouth drops slightly and Sawyer eyes squint at Gwen.

“In all seriousness, Avory?”

“Yes, Gwen?”

“Please look after my Sawyer.”

“Always, Gwen. He willalwaysbe safe with me.”

Xander wraps his arm around Gwen as she steps away from our embrace, her eyes teary as she wipes her cheeks with her sweater sleeves.

With a deep exhale, my eyes meet Xander’s, and as I offer a hand in front of me, his tone comes out more comical than I’m used to. “Are you kidding, Avory?”

My eyebrows knit together briefly as he grabs my hand and pulls me close, throwing my hand around him as his bulging arms wrap over my shoulders. The waft of fresh bread fills my nose while our hug is brief, but his hands linger on my shoulders, like when Marcus hugs me.

“Thank you for everything, Avory. Just everything. I’m sorry, I’m awful at this.” His laugh is full of bass as he turns his head away from the three of us briefly. “Avory, please just look after him. He’s been through so much, and he deserves so much better than what he’s been dealt in life. You don’t need to be a ‘what if’ in his life anymore.”

While Xander may have been talking to me, he alsowasn’ttalking to me. His eyes meet Sawyer’s the entire time, and both share a small smile and nod to his words.

His gaze meets mine once more as my words bring him back to us. “I would have killed for an older brother like you, you know that, right?”

He scoffs as he looks away, but I pull him back in for one more embrace. We step back from each other, and I fall by Sawyer’s side once more. I kiss his curls as I nod to him, taking my leave so that he can say his goodbyes with the people he cares about most. As I search the streets, I find Marcus pulled up against the pavement only a few feet away from us, and I step back into the van, moving myself in the middle seat and cosy up next to Marcus.

“Oh no, this isn’t going to be our new driving arrangement, is it? He’s going to have to stay here, A.”

I smack his arm as my mouth hangs open, Marcus’ laugh fills the van. He throws his arm over my shoulder as he speaks. “Are you okay, A? Definitely?”

My eyes rest on Sawyer, Gwen and Xander in the distance as they exchange hugs, touches, laughter, everything they have always done, and I can’t help but feel the same happiness they feel when they are all together building within me. Gwen jabs Sawyer in the chest with her pastel nails, Xander trying to grab her wrist and stop her, while Sawyer surrenders his hands in the air, and my laughter breaks past my lips.

“Yeah Marcus, I’m more than okay. Are you okay? Knowing you’ll have two of us to deal with now?”

Marcus’ lips curl upward as he brings his arm back to the steering wheel. “You were never something I had to ‘deal with’, Avory. You were andarean exciting addition to my life, and I don’t know where I’d be right now without you. It’s Sawyer you should be worried about, being stuck withus,” he chuckles as he kisses the side of my head.

I search my mind, but it is no use. I can’t find any words which could possibly describe how much I will always appreciate and love Marcus for everything he has done for me, so I say the only thing I can think of, “Love you, Marcus.”

He chuckles again as he looks forward. “Love you too, bud.”

The three of them begin to part, Gwen snuggles under Xander’s arm as they both wave him off, and whenever Sawyer looks away, the Sweets wipe their eyes with their sleeves. They’re really going to miss him.

With every step he takes closer to the van, his bags over his shoulders, I struggle not to throw myself out of the van door and grab him with excitement. To grasp him into the air and around my waist and to kiss him with pure adrenaline for the life we’re about to begin together. The van door opens, the natural noise of the outdoor world coming into the van, alongside him.

Sawyer Sombre.

I take his bags from his delicate shoulders, throwing them into the back and offer my hand for him to step up and into his seat. He plants himself in the seat next to me, his leg pressing against mine as his hand intertwines with mine.

He leans himself forward and meets Marcus’ eyes, his voice gentle and soft. “Marcus, thank you for allowing me to follow you guys on your journey to wherever. Avory, you didn’t even tell me where we’re going!”

Marcus and I snicker in unison, because Sawyer is going to have to get used to our complete and utter disorganisation.

“First of all, Sawyer, you are a part of this family now. As long as my” – Marcus hesitates – “as long as my son trusts and loves you, then I trust you and will learn all about you, as you will with me.”

Marcus’ eyes search for reassurance from me, and I am trying my hardest not to cry.

His son. I am Marcus’ son.

---