“Do you know why you’re in trouble tonight?” Sawyer started.
Gavin nodded, the look on his face solemn. “I took off when I shouldn’t have.”
“We’re only worried about your safety,” Sawyer wiped his face, “A lot has happened.” Fear twisted his gut. “We just don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I know, but I was only trying to look at the store,” Gavin spoke up.
Sawyer looked over at his younger brother in the front seat. “Yeah, I get that, but you should have asked, and either Ford or myself would have taken you. If you would have done that, then one of us could have gone with you. That’s the rules, bud. None of this running off so we have no clue where you are.”
“I’m sorry,” Gavin’s shoulders slumped.
Sawyer faltered at dishing out punishment when he saw Gavin’s tearing up.
“I know you’re sorry, but all the books say to be firm, and consistent. A part of me really wants to take away you auditioning for the play,” Sawyer said.
“What?” Gavin eyes widened. “I wasn’t even lost. I promise I wouldn’t do it again.”
Sawyer held up his hand and raised a brow at Gavin. “And I know that, which is why I’m not going to take away the play. I know that you worked hard at the audition. But, I mean it… if you ever pull a stunt like this again, there will be serious consequences. Do you understand me?”
Gavin nodded sadly. “I’m sorry.”
“Come here!” Sawyer motioned for Gavin and opened his arms, then pulled the boy into his arms. “You know I love you, right?” Gavin nodded against his chest, “And I’m just trying to keep you safe.”
“I know. I love you too!” Hearing those words from Gavin never stopped warming his heart. When they parted, Gavin wiped a tear from his eyes and it tugged at Sawyer’s heart.
Sawyer walked into the bedroom. Ford was lying over the covers, wearing just his lounge pants. “Finally got Callum back to sleep.” He crawled into bed and kissed Ford. He groaned as they parted. “Waited all night for that,” he smirked as he lay back in bed.
“So, how did the conversation with Gavin really go?” Ford asked.
“Remarkably well,” Sawyer said. “He knows he was in the wrong, and I threatened to take the play from him.”
“Not the play,” Ford quickly argued. “Did I tell you that I saw him practicing in his room earlier? It was the cutest thing ever.”
Sawyer’s lips curved, “No, of course I didn’t take the play from him. It was only a threat.” Sawyer exhaled. “He knows why he shouldn’t have run off like that. I really think he does get it.” Sawyer hesitated and dropped his head before he whispered low, “It was scary though.”
“Hell yeah, it was scary. It was like we were back to when Callum was taken.” Ford closed his eyes and Sawyer knew he was reliving that moment.
“Come here,” Sawyer whispered. He grabbed the nape of Ford’s neck and pulled him to him. They kissed as he pulled himself up and over Ford’s lap, straddling him, never breaking from the kiss.
Sawyer grabbed onto Ford’s pants and was just starting to yank them down, when he heard a knock on the door. He quickly rolled off of Ford who pulled his pants back up.
“Who is it?” Sawyer asked.
“Gavin. May I come in?” Gavin asked.
“Sure!” Sawyer said. When Gavin opened up the door and stepped into the bedroom, Sawyer frowned. “Thought you were in bed, What’s up, bud?”
“I was, but couldn’t sleep,” Gavin kicked his feet before looking up at Ford, his voice sounding contrite. “I wanted to apologize for worrying you. I didn’t mean to.”
Sawyer looked over to Ford who was smiling.
“Thank you for saying that.” Ford held open his arms and Gavin ran into them.
They hugged and Sawyer just watched on. “Goodnight.” Ford kissed Gavin’s head, “Sweet dreams.”
“Night!” Gavin straightened and smiled brightly, before turning and running from the room, closing the door behind him.
Sawyer turned to Ford. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
“You can tell me again and again,” Ford said, laughing, as Sawyer resumed his position, straddling Ford’s legs. They moved in and got back to making out. Things had a way of changing from how he anticipated spending the evening, but the way it ended, was amazing.
“You should lock the door if you want to get me out of my pants.” Ford groaned between kisses.
31
Ford
Ford and Sawyer couldn’t have been prouder when Gavin got callback for the part in the play he had tried out for, and Gavin was super excited about it even more so when he got it. It was all he talked about.
Gavin was proud of himself, and he had every right to feel that way, since he had aimed for the supporting actor role on the cast, and that was what he got.
On the day of the play, though, Ford thought they were going to have to bail Gavin out. He would definitely write a food-poisoning letter for his kid if that was what Gavin wanted. It struck him at that moment how easily he referred to Gavin, and Savanna and Callum for that matter, as “his kid.”
“I can’t do it.” Gavin cried. He turned to Ford, eyes wide and pleading, already dressed up in his costume, with panic written all over his face.
“You’re going to be just fine,” Ford soothed. “Sawyer will be home soon, and we’ll all head down to the school. Remember what Sawyer said.”
Gavin nodded. “Imagine them wearing nothing but underwear. I feel like how I felt after getting on the Space mountain after eating the mac and cheese, turkey leg, and churros.”
That wasn’t good.
