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“Yes. I went to get something special for Jade’s return home.” She took a cupcake out of the box and handed it to Jade. “Here you go. Enjoy. It’s German chocolate.”
Jade smiled at Sawyer. “Hmm. Seems this is your brother’s favorite kind of cake.”
Sawyer watched them both for a moment while they began eating the cupcakes. “Fine. I’m sorry. I apologize. Sketch is a nerd and his wife probably left him because he has no interest in what happens in the bedroom. And you’re right, I slacked off. And whatever else I said to offend you this evening.”
Sage looked at him for a moment, then handed him a cupcake. “Welcome home.”
“Thank you.”
Sawyer stayed another two hours, then needed to go home and get some sleep. It’d been three long days and two active nights, and it had caught up to him.
He yawned and got to his feet. “Okay, ladies, I need to go get some sleep.”
Jade gave him a quick hug. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Sage hugged him next. “Sleep in. The hay isn’t getting delivered until after lunch.”
“I’ll try. I need to unload the trailer in the morning.”
“Let it sit. I doubt there’s anything pressing in there that you need right away.”
“I just want to get it done. Besides, Jade has volunteered to come help me.”
She smiled. “Yes. I have.”
Sage looked at her. “That’s very nice of you. I’m going to be super busy in the morning. So, as much as I’d like to help…”
“Goodnight, Little Sis.”
Sawyer left and got into the truck. “He didn’t like leaving Jade. He wanted her to come home with him. But he’d be patient. When he got back to the ranch, he went to the house first beforegoing to his loft. He went in through the kitchen door and turned on the light over the stove. There was still half of the pie left. He cut a slice, then picked it up and took a bite.
Ember came into the kitchen and smiled at him. “You don’t believe in silverware? Or plates?”
Sawyer grinned and took another bite. “I didn’t want to put any dirty dishes into Granddad’s clean sink.”
“Of course. That’s very thoughtful of you.” She leaned against the counter. “Are you and Jade okay?”
Sawyer choked on the bite of pie he had in his mouth. He poured himself a glass of water and took a sip, then cleared his throat. “Yeah. We’re fine. Why?”
“I don’t know. I just sense something has changed.”
“Nope. Nothing. We had a good trip and we’re glad to be back. No change. Nothing.”
She laughed. “Okay. I like her. You and she are good together. Don’t let her go again.”
He finished the pie and washed his hands in the sink, then drank some more water. “I didn’t let her go in the first place. She left. She didn’t want to leave. She didn’t have a choice. But she’s the one who stopped communicating.”
“I’m sorry. That must have been hard for you.”
He shrugged. “It was a long time ago. And when you’re sixteen, everything is hard.”
“I guess it is. But she’s back. Is she planning on staying?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think she knows.”
Ember went to him and hugged him. “You’re a good man, Sawyer. You’re a lot like your father. You deserve to be happy.”
“You think I’m like my dad?”
