“When did he wake up?”
Ford bounced Cal on his knee. “Like a minute ago.”
“Oh, I guess that means we are going to be up for a while till he goes back to sleep.” Sawyer groaned. Okay, he already missed Barb.
Savanna and Gavin opened up the box and set everything up with their game pieces. When Sawyer’s eyes met Ford’s, they shared a smile, and Sawyer motioned for him to lean in closer to him, and their lips met gently.
“Home sweet home,” Ford whispered.
Sawyer turned back to the game, and Gavin started barking out the rules.
“I think we all know how to play,” Savanna said, rolling her eyes.
Sawyer snorted and whispered to Ford, “It’s a miracle her eyes aren’t at the back of her head at this point.”
Ford snickered but covered it with a cough.
“Okay, fine…” Gavin looked at them. “We’ll go this way from Ford.” His brother motioned clockwise.
Sawyer shared another look with Ford, and they both grinned at Gavin taking charge. Maybe Gavin shared more in common with Sawyer than just looks.
Ford stood up and leaned forward, pulling the first piece out. Sawyer watched with his lips held between his teeth when Callum reached forward too.
He went next, then Gavin took his turn, then Savanna.
The first game ended with him making the blocks come tumbling down on his second go. He thought the kids would leave then, but to his surprise, Gavin started stacking and Savanna helped.
The next game started and ended just as quick, with Callum knocking it over.
“That wasn’t me.” Ford shook his head. “Doesn’t count.”
Sawyer looked at Gavin and then Savanna, and in unison, they chanted, “Yes it does.”
Ford reached to his neck and gripped at imaginary pearls, mouth hanging open and eyes wide, and in a mock-hurt voice, he stage-whispered, “Traitors.”
The kids laughed at his theatrics, and Sawyer’s heart soared seeing them having fun.
“Okay, final game then,” Savie said. “Sawyer and Ford are losers.” She shot them a triumphant look before moving to Gavin. “Game on, little bro.”
“Bring it.” Gavin got in his sister’s face, and right when Sawyer was about to tell them to break it up, they both burst out laughing.
The next game went on longer, and no one looked at their phones. The kids were super engaged, whooping when one of them pulled a block out and gasping when the tower threatened to fall.
They each had three more goes, and somehow, no one had knocked it over. Sawyer’s heart raced the more blocks that got pulled out. How was it possible that his blood kept pumping overtime over a simple game? No one could have prepared him for that one.
It was no night at The 40/40 Club in New York, but he was having an amazing time.
Who knew game night could be so exciting?
A few times during the game, Callum got restless, and Ford got up and moved around with him until it was his turn.
Sawyer shot him a teasing look. Apparently, his family was competitive—good to know.
“Gavin you’re up.” Savanna called out to her brother.
Gav had stayed standing since his last go, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
They all watched as Gavin worried his lip. He moved like he was going to pull one block, but he shook his head and went for another one. Sawyer saw it happen almost like it was in slow motion.
Gavin threw his hand out like it would stop the blocks from toppling over, but of course, it was done.
When the game was over, Savanna was the big winner.
“In your face.” She jumped to her feet, punched her fist in the air while shimmying from side to side and singing, “I won. I won. I won.”
Gavin was a good sport and let his sister enjoy her victory. Sawyer and Ford grinned, loving that Savanna was getting so into it.
“All right guys.” Sawyer clapped his hands. “Let’s pack everything away and get ready for bed. It’s school tomorrow.”
“I’m just going to take Callum and put him upstairs so he doesn’t wake up again,” Ford said.
He looked up and saw that the baby was asleep in Ford’s arms.
“Do you want me to take him?” Sawyer walked up to Ford where he stood bouncing the baby by the door.
Ford shook his head. “I’ll get him changed, and you can make sure Gavin brushes his teeth. He can shower in the morning.”
Sawyer nodded and pecked Ford on the lips before he left, then turned back to Gavin and Savanna to find them on their phones.
“Guys, put everything away. It’s time to get ready for bed.”
“But, it’s not late. Can’t we play another game?” Gavin looked at him with pleading eyes.
Sawyer checked the time on his wrist, considering. “Well, it’s only eight…” Sawyer wasn’t about to turn down the kids wanting to spend time with them. “As you wish.”
“I’ve never played Clue.” Gavin picked up the box and turned it around to read it.
“Savie, you going to join us?”
Before she could answer, Sawyer’s phone started to ring.
“Read the rules, guys. I’ll be just a minute.” He got up from the table and pulled his phone from his pocket. Sawyer frowned when he saw Madison was calling. They had a new case worker in Colorado, and he’d spoken to her earlier in the week, giving her their new address.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Sawyer?”
He looked over to the table where Gavin and Savanna were laughing and putting the pieces of the game together. He turned back to his call. “Yes?”
“It’s Madison, the social worker for Savanna and her brothers,” she stated.
“Yes… I’m aware. How’s it going?” His heart started to speed up. Why was she calling out of the blue?
Why did he feel like it could only be bad news, right after everything was starting to go right for them?
“Fine, thank you.” She cleared her throat. “I’m calling because I wanted to make you aware of a situation.”
Fuck, he knew it. She wouldn’t call on a Sunday for no reason.
“The kid’s mother, Cynthia, has left rehab,” Madison said.
“Oh…” That
