Page 49 of Forever After Never

Autumn

After eight hours on the road, I am finally pulling into Sawyer's family home. It is dark now, and the breeze dances around my legs, and I step out of the car. Jed wanders around the front yard and stops to pee.

There is nobody around, and the house is completely dark. I swear to fucking god, if there is nobody home, I am going to lose my shit. I pull my bag from the trunk of the car and throw it over my shoulder, grabbing Jed's bed and his food, toys, and collar. How do I pack lighter for myself than I do for my dog?

The door cracks open, and Lottie appears on the porch. She is looking as perfect as ever, with her hair tied up in a messy bun and stray hairs flying around her face. She is wearing a little pink tie-dye T-shirt dress and white tennis shoes. It should be illegal for someone to be this effortless.

"Hey! What time do you call this?" She beams at me, giving me a little wave, and rushes down the steps to greet me, clickingthe front door shut behind her. "I was going to send out a search party."

Oh man, I am not in the mood for jokes. A drive that should have taken four hours has just taken me eight. All I am in the mood for is alcohol and sleep.

"Hey, yourself." I try to lean it to Lottie's effervescence, but unfortunately, I fall short.

I may be irrationally annoyed, but considering my demanding boyfriend wouldn't let me turn my car around, I am pissed that he isn't the one greeting me on the porch.

"Where is Sawyer?" I ask. My annoyance is painfully evident.

"He's right in the middle of something. I heard your car pull up, so I came to help you." Lottie stretches her hand out and makes a little grabbing motion with her hand, signalling that I should give her a bag, so I dump Jed's stuff in her arms.

"Thanks, Lottie. I'm sorry if I'm grumpy. Just tired, you know. You look great, by the way." I give her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"That's okay, sweetie. I would be tired and grumpy, too."

"Lottie, where is Jed?" I ask, looking around the front of the house, trying to find him.

"Oh, he went inside when I opened the door. He's fine." She shrugs at me.

"Come on, let's get you inside."

"Why is it so dark out here?" I ask, trying not to trip over anything on the way to the door.

Lottie ignores my question but instead says, "I hope you know that you've made Sawyer a better man."

"Ha. I don't know about that," I joke. "He's still an ass." and we both chuckle.

The front door clicks open, and my irritation starts to wane. Something about this house makes me feel so relaxed and comfortable. I can't wait to get in, slide down into the couch, and wiggle my toes on the rug in front of the fire. The mood inhere feels heavy—not in a bad way, but something is out of the ordinary today.

"Where is everyone?" I ask as I step into the house. It is painfully quiet, and I see nothing apart from a warm glow from the back of the house.

"Everyone is here. They're in the yard. There is no point in lighting the house when nobody is in it. Even Alice is here. She's great, isn't she?" Lottie whispers.

"Alice? What? Why is Alice here?" I am so confused, but Oliver walks up to me and slides my bag from my shoulder before I can get my answer.

"Here. I've got that for you!" Oliver's cheerful demeanour never changes. He and Lottie are one in the same person. Always happy, always helpful.

"Ahh, thanks, Oli," I reply, rolling my shoulder.

"It sounds like you had a crappy drive up here." Oliver reaches around his Lottie's waist and pulls her into a hug, planting a kiss to the top of her head.

"Yeah, it wasn't ideal. I am in a bad mood, too. Sorry, guys," I plead with Sawyer's brother and sister-in-law, hoping they won't be put off by my salty responses.

"I would be in a bad mood, too, if I were dating my brother." Oliver laughs into the darkness of the house. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to him. I hope you know that." He tells me with such kindness that I think I may burst.

"That's really sweet, Oli. Thank you. He is the best thing that ever happened to me, too. Don't tell him I said that, though." My voice is lighter in my response. It's like the further into the house I get, the less annoyed I feel. But why have Lottie and Oliver now said such cute things to me? I am a woman on the edge. If they aren't careful, I might cry!

Callie and Jed come crashing through the house and slam straight into my shins.

"Ow!" I wince and bend down to rub the front of my legs. "You little terrors. That is going to leave a bruise, you know!" I shout to the dogs, but they have already zoomed around the lounge and run back out into the yard.

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