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“Great then.”
Rohde pulled up, and I was about to give him grief about taking so long, when I saw his nephew climb out of the truck as well. Kurt had a box with him, the same one he frequently toted to the park, and he lugged it onto the grass a few feet from the pavilion.
Rohde joined me.
“Looks like you picked up a hitchhiker,” I teased.
Rohde glanced past me to Sawyer. “So did you.”
“I told him if he helped today, I might put in a good word with Evie.”
“Will you?”
“No.”
Rohde smirked. “Did he believe you?”
I shook my head. “Nope. He’s out of options, though. Hey, Richie Rich,” I hollered the last bit in Sawyer’s direction. “Help me haul these coolers into the pavilion?”
He rolled his eyes, but didn’t argue. As we hefted the first large chest to the ground, Sawyer said, “is that the deputy’s kid?”
“Nephew.” If he had any decency at all, warning him off should be enough. “Kurt lost his dad about a little more than a year ago, and they built that plane together. It goes everywhere Kurt possibly thinks he can fly it, and Rohde will publicly execute you if you hurt him.”
“Noted. Not that I was planning on it.”
“Good.” I was grateful the conversation fell off as we finished setting up.
I dove into grilling as everyone else started showing up with their families. One of my favorite things about cooking at these things was watching everyone play, have fun, and just set aside the stresses of life for a few hours.
Bonnie, who worked dispatch, approached Sawyer, and I couldn’t help but turn an ear in their direction.
“Haven’t seen you around here before.” Bonnie’s voice was demure and sugary and nothing like the stern tone I frequently heard barking for attention over Rohde’s radio. “Are you fire or police?”
“Grunt.” Sawyer sounded good natured. “Just here to serve the drinks and watch.”
Bonnie giggled. “I hope you like what you see.”
“Me too.”
“Bonnie,” someone called from the grass, where they were throwing a frisbee back and forth. “No fraternizing with the enemy.”
Bonnie looked between the field and Sawyer. “He looks harmless enough,” she yelled back.
“I promise you he’s not.” I couldn’t help but interject.
The smile that tugged at Sawyer’s mouth was almost snake-like. “I’d listen to Gage. He strikes me as a man who knows a lot about assholes.”
Fucker.
“Hey, Richie Rich. We’re running low on pop. Grab more from the truck.”
Sawyer looked between the coolers he’d just refilled a few minutes ago and me, his eyebrows raised. He gave a brief shake of his head, and I swore I heard him mutter whatever. “Yeah. Okay.”
Bonnie walked away to join the crowd, and for the next little bit, Sawyer lingered at the edge of the pavilion, watching it all and occasionally playing fetch for me.
In between playing gopher, Sawyer lingered near the edge of the pavilion, watching.
I expected him to insert himself into a conversation, and try to make friends.
