“I’m just so proud.” Sawyer raised the camera again. “Just a few more.”
“You guys have been saying that for the past hour,” Gavin rolled his eyes. “You took at least a hundred pictures at home. Do you really need more?”
Ford smiled at his boyfriend, and turned back to Gavin. “Just appease him and he’ll eventually stop.”
“Not on your life.” Sawyer held up the camera. “Pose again.”
Gavin stood with his hands on his hips and pushed his lips out. Everyone laughed as Sawyer took at least four pictures with that one pose.
“Okay… feel free to go in.” Sawyer let the camera fall back around his neck. Who knew soccer dad did it for Ford? Or was it theater dad?
“Finally!” Gavin grumbled, but there was a smile on his face. Clearly, he liked the attention. They entered the school, and Gavin led the way to the staging area. He entered the room, then turned around. “Feel free to go find a spot.”
Ford’s jaw dropped. “You don’t want us to come in with you?”
A line appeared between Gavin’s brows, and he whined, “Do you have to?”
Ford looked over at Sawyer, and a frown marred his face. “We don’t have to, but we want to. Or is it not allowed?” Ford asked.
Ford looked past Gavin and saw several parents with their students. Gavin groaned again, “Fine come on.”
They entered the backstage area and Ford looked around at all the props that were stored in any of the extra space.
“Isn’t this cool?” Gavin wore a smile.
“It sure is.” Sawyer pointed to a prop that Ford couldn’t quite describe. “Pose next to this.”.
Gavin heaved a sigh, then moved to stand against it. He crossed his arms in front of and tilted his head, smiling. “Is this okay?”
Ford snickered as Sawyer snapped several more pictures. “I think Gavin is right. We have plenty of pictures that we can use to show off our star.”
Sawyer shrugged and let his camera fall against his chest again. “Amazon reviews said this makes an amazing video.”
“Hey, guys. I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
Ford and Sawyer turned to the voice, and Ford grinned. “Makes two of us. What are you doing here, Owen?
“Asher is in the play.” He patted the boy standing beside him.
“Hey, Asher.” Gavin said.
“Hey, Gavin,” Asher replied.
“I didn’t know you two knew each other.” Ford looked between the boys.
Gavin shrugged. “Asher’s in the play.”
Ford nearly kicked himself when he realized he could have introduced Gavin to Asher ages ago. Although with everything going on, he’d totally forgotten how old Owen’s charge was.
“I have to go now,” Gavin looked in the direction of the stage, and Ford’s eyes followed and saw a teacher motioning for the boys.
“Off you go,” Sawyer told Gavin.
“Thank you!” Gavin took off before they could change their minds, but stopped suddenly, “Come on Asher.”
Asher looked at Owen for permission who nodded, and he took off right after Gavin.
“Good luck!” Ford called out.
“Break a leg!” Savanna yelled after him.
Ford motioned with his head. “Gavin is excited. He has a big role.” Ford couldn’t help boasting about Gavin.
“Nice.” Owen smiled. “How about we go find a seat?”
“Absolutely!” Ford nodded. They left the backstage area and went out to the auditorium and managed to grab seats in the third row. Ford situated Callum on his lap while Sawyer collapsed the stroller and put it under their seats, then they settled in for the play.
“Is Gavin nervous?” Owen whispered, even though the play hadn’t started
“Kind of.” Ford crossed his fingers and said a prayer Gav would be okay. “But he’ll be fine. He knows his lines, so I think once he gets started those nerves will vanish.”
From the corner of his eye, he saw Sawyer lift his camera from where it rested on his neck and he started taking pictures of just the stage. Ford shook his head and started laughing.
Sawyer turned to him. “What?”
“Nothing! You’re cute when you’re in doting-father mode.” He winked at Sawyer. “I like it.”
Sawyer lowered his voice, leaning in closer because Savie was right beside him, and whispered, “How much do you like it.”
“Ask me again later.”
“Oh my gosh… it’s going to be starting soon.” Sawyer sat up straighter when a microphone was tapped.
Savanna moved in closer to Sawyer. “You guys are soo those kind of parents.”
“What kind of parents, might I ask?” Ford felt like his face was going to get stuck in grin mode at Savie’s words, and when he met Sawyer’s eyes, he saw he hadn’t missed the use of the word parent.
“Parents that hover.” She met his gaze and smiled, but it had a haunted quality to it. Savie quickly looked away, and when she spoke, her voice was soft. “The good kind, like the ones Gav and I always wanted.”
He had to swallow tears down that tried to fall at her words. “Thank you.” Ford could barely get the words out. Savie didn’t know how much it meant that she saw him that way. Ford got how she would see Sawyer as her parental figure, but adding him there… well it meant the world.
She nodded and turned back to the stage. Sawyer reached out and took Ford’s hand, and when Ford looked over, he noted Sawyer was misty-eyed too. He slipped his hand into Sawyer’s, needing the connection in that moment, but Sawyer’s phone started to ring, so Ford let go so Sawyer could answer it.
Sawyer grabbed it from his pocket and looked at the caller ID, then he looked at Ford before quickly answering it, getting up from his chair to take the call in private.
“Hello?” he heard, just as Sawyer stepped out into the aisle and began to walk back toward the exit.
Savanna looked at him. “Who’s on the phone?”
Ford glanced in the direction Sawyer had gone to. “I’m sure it’s work, but you know he’ll never miss Gav’s play.”
She nodded, then looked passed him. “Grandma and Grandpa are here.” Ford turned the other way, and sure enough, his parents
