25. Sawyer

CHAPTER 25

SAWYER

I check my phone again for the millionth time to see if I have any messages from Leah.

Nothing.

I don't know why I thought she would come. She isn't the one to bail on plans—especially not with her friends. Our entire team was put on the VIP list for this NYE party tonight and even though press is my least favorite part of the job, it comes with the territory. I told one of the guys at the door that I was expecting a plus one and gave him Leah's name—in case by some miracle she decided to come—but as the moments tick by, I'm growing less optimistic that she will.

I grab a whiskey from the bar, shamelessly checking the entrance for her again , as someone slides up next to me.

"Well, if it isn't the Sawyer Clark." I turn to see her standing with her arms crossed over her chest, with a clutch in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other and a playful scowl on her face.

"Alana Townsend. Holy shit. Long time no see." She finally breaks and a huge smile spreads across her face.

"Yeah, that's what happens when you trade, you asshole." She slaps my chest with her clutch and laughs. "Dad was so pissed when he lost you. This season hasn't been the same without you."

I wave a hand dismissively. "Ah, he'll be alright. He has plenty of talent there, he's just gotta utilize it." I wag my brows and she shakes her head, a soft smile playing at her lips.

"I always admired that about you, you know? You never were afraid to let him know how to use certain players' strengths to the team's advantage."

"Ah, what's the worst he could have done, traded me?" I wink at her, and she rolls her eyes.

"Benched you," she teases, tipping her champagne glass up to take a sip. I place a hand over my heart.

"Oof. Talk about not using your players to your advantage." We share a laugh and simultaneously check our watches.

"I better go find Decker. It was so good to see you, Clark." She lifts on her toes to give me a hug.

"You too, Alana. Give Decker my best if I don't catch him tonight." She gives me a nod before disappearing into the masses. I allow myself to check the entrance one last time for Leah, and my heart skips a damn beat when I actually see her.

She came.

She looks drop. Dead. Fucking. Gorgeous.

Her hair is naturally curly tonight, falling around her shoulders perfectly. She has on a fitted, long sleeve, gray mini dress—that makes me want to drop to my fucking knees—and a pair of blue booties that ironically, match the suit I'm wearing tonight. But, the look on her face nowhere near reflects the elation I'm feeling over seeing her. And when I follow her gaze as it leaves mine, I see Alana floating through the crowd.

Of course she saw me with her and is thinking the worst.

When I turn back to her a look of embarrassment flashes across her face, and she spins on her heel headed straight towards the exit.

Um, I think the fuck not.

I rush through the crowd of people to get to her, not caring who I shove out of the way in the process.

When I finally reach her, I wrap my hand around her arm, causing her to freeze mid step. I take another step closer, bringing her back flush with my chest and I lean down so only she can hear me.

"Where do you think you're going, Dove?" I notice as her shoulders square before she turns around with her game face on.

"Just didn't want to interrupt, that's all." She shrugs her shoulders and looks around the crowded rooftop casually. "Thought if you had found someone to hang out with at midnight, maybe I would find someone to hang out with too." Her eyes lock with mine again and she raises a brow. I glance up to find an empty spot in the corner next to us and gently pull her over to it.

"You're cute when you're jealous. You know that?" I smirk at her, letting her know I'm not indulging in her little mind game. Not tonight.

"I am not jealous." She rolls her eyes, but her cheeks betray her, turning that perfect rosy shade they do when she's flustered.

"Well, I sure as fuck would be." Her expression softens and those perfect green eyes find mine again.

"Why did you ask me to come here, Sawyer? It looks like you have more than enough people to keep you company tonight." It's not often I see Leah in a vulnerable state. Anyone else might miss it if they didn't know her—but I see it. The way she avoids eye contact, or distracts herself when she asks questions she's not entirely sure she wants the answer to.

I nod to the right. "That's Alana Townsend, she's my old coach's daughter. She's married to Decker Townsend and has been for four years. They have two kids, and she was like a sister to me the entire time I've known her. And if you hadn't shown up tonight. I would have left here alone."

"Oh…" I can't help but smirk when she turns pink from her chest up to her hairline. She may have changed in some ways over the last ten years, but she's still my little Dove at her core.

"And I asked you to come here because I haven't stopped thinking about you since I kissed you. I tried to give you space—to come to terms with what happened and how it may have ended another relationship for you. I thought about calling you to apologize but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I couldn't do that."

"Why not?" She frowns.

"Because I'm not sorry. Maybe I should be. Maybe it makes me a horrible person for not feeling bad about kissing you when you weren't mine. But I just—" I run my hands through my hair, frustrated by how many things I want to say to her. That I've wanted to say to her for so long and haven't been able to.

"Fuck, Leah. I need you. Simple as that. I can't get you out of my head and even more, I don't want to. So, if that means taking you from someone else without remorse, then so be it." I take her hands in mine, looking at her until I know she's looking at me, and only me. "I asked you to come here tonight because I need to know if you can forgive me. If you think you could ever let yourself trust me again, because I think you and me…we could be something really amazing. Don't you?"

"Maybe," she breathes. I can see it in her eyes, how badly she wants to say yes.

"What's it going to take for you to give me a chance?" I see a glimmer of amusement flicker in her eyes.

"Maybe I want to see how long it takes for you to beg." She lifts a brow in an almost defiant way, with the same glimmer in her eyes and a smirk on her lips. Suddenly all the blood in my body starts traveling south.

Fuck me. I'm helpless with this woman.

"Say the words and I'll drop to my knees and beg like a dog." I close what little space is left between us, running a hand carefully through her curly hair.

"I don't want to get hurt again, Sawyer," she whispers, and it breaks my heart knowing that I've caused her any kind of pain in the past.

"Then let me heal what I hurt and prove to you that I'm not walking away again." Her eyes flick up to mine and she says the single best word I've ever heard.

"Okay."

"Okay?" My heart picks up speed as I confirm that I've heard her right. She nods her head and smiles softly at me. As the people around us begin the countdown to midnight, I take her face in my hands.

"Please tell me I can kiss you, Dove. That I can let everyone here know that you're mine." She bites her lip, and it completely unravels me. My heart is hers, whether she wants it or not.

"Yes, please."

Motherfucker.

My lips land on hers just as the fireworks go off around us. My hands travel to her ass, and I pull her body flush to mine and her arms wrap around my neck. I swipe my tongue across her soft lips, and she parts them, allowing her tongue to dance with mine. While people shout around us, cameras flash, and fireworks pop in the sky, the only thing I can think is—this is how it was always meant to be.

Me and Dove against the world.

I'll be damned if I fuck this up again.

I wrap my arms around her waist and pick her up, feeling her foot pop out behind her as she squeals against my lips. I finally set her back down, allowing both of us to come up for air, and I'm certain I've never been happier than I am right now.

"Since I'm no longer pretending that I hate you, I guess I'll let you know… you look so sexy in this blue suit." Her hands fist the collar of my jacket as she bites her now swollen lips.

"You should see how I look out of it." I wink at her and when her eyes grow wide and her cheeks flame, I know I'm going to have the time of my life making her mine—properly.