Sawyer preferred to exist in a space where Ford was his boyfriend, they were happy, and he was expected back in Amber Falls.
He might not have done the relationship thing, well, ever, but even he knew that three kids out of the blue wasn’t exactly a two-month-anniversary present.
How would that conversation go? Hey, babe. Surprise! We have three kids. The honeymoon phase is officially over.
Sawyer wiped his hands on his apron—yeah, he now wore one of those. “Gavin, would you go check and see if Savanna wants to eat with us please.”
Gavin looked up and nodded.
Once his brother scampered out of the kitchen, Sawyer hesitantly grabbed his phone and wiped his sweaty palms against his legs. “You can do this.”
Answer the phone, idiot.
“Hello?”
“Hey… I didn’t think I’d catch you.”
Sawyer heard what was unsaid, because you haven’t been answering your phone.
“I’m sure you’ve been very busy lately, and we’ve been missing each other on the phone.” Fuck, he hated that Ford was making excuses for him. “How are you?”
Sawyer heaved a sigh. There was a loaded question.
He gave the only answer he could. “Right now, it’s just great to hear your voice.” Sawyer ignored the voice that pointed out it was his fault that they’d not spoken. “I know I’ve been… scarce, but I don’t want to talk about me. How’s it going over there?”
There was a brief pause. “Eventful.”
That didn’t sound good. “Meaning?” Sawyer’s brow furrowed. “Don’t tell me there’s a problem with the new contractor.”
“No! No! Nothing like that,” Ford said. “I think the new team is going to be great. They started today. It’s just Larry actually.”
“Larry? Does he need a reference?”
Ford snorted. “No, he’s just being a difficult person.”
“What aren’t you saying, babe?” He might not be able to see Ford, but he heard the tightness in his voice.
“It’s nothing. I’ve handled it.” Ford’s response was abrupt, catching Sawyer off guard, and said that the topic was closed.
Yeah, you should be there helping him.
“I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with him.” The words tasted bitter in his mouth like drinking orange juice after brushing your teeth.
“It happens. I’m fine. Everything is fine.” Ford reassured him.
But there was something in his voice that had Sawyer asking, “You sure?”
“I am. Let’s not talk about it anymore. I just wanted to let you know.” There was a pause, and only Ford’s breathing told him he was still on the line.
“I wish I was there.” He hadn’t meant to blurt that out, but it was the truth.
“Yeah, I wish you were here too.” Ford cleared his throat. “Speaking of… any idea when you’ll be back?”
“I—”
“Go away.” He heard the shrill yell from Savanna before he could figure out how on earth he was going to finish that sentence.
“Sawyer? What was that?” Ford asked.
“City sounds,” Sawyer replied. “I gotta go!”
Way to go Lancaster. City sounds? Are you for real?
He hit ‘end’ before Ford had a chance to say anything, and as he put the phone down, it hit him. He had forgotten to say, “I love you.” Please don’t let me lose him. Sawyer wasn’t sure who he was asking for help… his mom maybe, but he hoped someone out there was listening.
“You’re so fucking annoying. Leave me alone, Gavin,” Savanna yelled.
“You said a bad word. I’m going to tell Sawyer,” Gavin said.
“So?”
Yeah, his sister definitely didn’t respect him.
“Sawyerrr!” Gavin screamed his name.
Sawyer groaned and covered his face with his hands. This was definitely not two-month-anniversary material.
“Wahhhh… wahhhh…” Great, now they’d woken Callum up.
Sawyer stepped out of the kitchen into the hall and groaned when he saw Savanna holding Gavin’s iPad in the air, and the kid on the couch trying to reach it.
When he stepped into the living room, he stopped short and just stood there for a moment, the chaos which was now his life hitting him all over again. Sweeping his eyes around the room, taking in the toys scattered on the floor with throw pillows tossed into the mix and some random cartoon playing on the TV, realization slammed home like a punch to the chest that his apartment was as unrecognizable as his life. A shaky breath passed through his lips when the thought came unbidden that he wasn’t the same guy Ford signed up for anymore. Would he still want this version?
7
Ford
Ford dialed Sawyer’s number.
Again.
It rang for a bit. Then flipped over to voicemail.
Again.
He listened to Sawyer’s voice before he hung up and put the phone down slowly, mostly so he didn’t throw it across the room. It took everything in Ford not to scream.
What the hell was going on? Was Sawyer blowing him off and he just wasn’t taking the hint? He’d been calling Sawyer for the last week, since he heard the voice yelling in the background, and somehow, he always got his voicemail. Ford wanted his promised sexy video call.
Sawyer wasn’t completely blowing him off, though, because sometimes Ford would get a ‘miss you’ text. Or a voicemail left super late at night.
So the signals were fucking mixed. If he was being ghosted then… wouldn’t that be radio silence?
Is he cheating on me? That thought plagued Ford’s mind. Like a stupid ear worm he couldn’t shake.
He tried to not go to worst case, DEFCON 1 scenarios, which usually led to dreams of Sawyer fucking two guys and a girl.
And in Ford’s mind, the guys always looked like Chris Hemsworth.
Throwing himself into his work only helped till he had to send an update to Sawyer or he closed his eyes at night. He knew Sawyer was getting his emails because his assistant in New York replied to them.
Maybe that was a sign. But if Sawyer was done, why wouldn’t he just tell him.
His chest burned like getting up and running five miles after not training for a year. He was going to give Sawyer a piece of his mind. Ford grabbed his phone and dialed him up again. He was waiting for it to get to the
