Series: Fever Falls Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
He studied my expression for a moment. “Is everything okay, man?”
“Of course it’s okay,” I lied as my mother’s voice mail replayed in my head nearly as many times as I’d already listened to it that day.
He seemed suspicious of my reply, but then said, “Carter, you’re not helping me.”
“Oh, please. My job is helping. And I’m very multitalented. You’re unboxing and organizing books. If I can’t help out with this, then I’m more fucked than I’d previously considered. Now, I’ll go grab us some coffees from the café and be back in a snap to get these taken care of. French roast with cream and just a pinch of sugar?”
“You know all my drink orders?”
“We’ve had coffee together enough times for me to know how you prefer yours. Although, I admit, I’ll probably add a tad more sugar than usual to yours…you know, to make you a little sweeter.”
I winked, and he snickered, as though stifling a bigger laugh. It was an exchange that let me know why I’d chosen to head over and see him.
Even without telling him about the shit going on in my head, there was something about simply being around him that made me feel…a little less lonely. Sure, he could be so goddamn serious that it frustrated the hell out of me, but he could cut loose too, same as everyone else. And even he, despite how resistant he’d been to me initially, could make room for my antics…maybe taking them more for the play they were than he had in the beginning.
CHAPTER SIX
Sawyer
I can’t wait for college. I’m totally going to become a different Sawyer Burke when I get there—a better Sawyer Burke.
~ Sawyer’s Journal, 16 years old.
As soon as Carter left the room, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out, knowing exactly who it would be, so I wasn’t surprised to see Cam’s name on the screen.
I’ll be over in 30 to help with the books.
I didn’t know why I hadn’t told Carter that my brother was coming over to help. Actually, I did. I could tell something was going on with him. There was this twinge of melancholy around him that he tried to hide with his typical wit and humor. Ever since I’d word-vomited my relationship with Julian to him, things had been different between us. As much as I hated having done that, it made me see there was more to Carter than I’d been willing to acknowledge, and even though he still drove me crazy, I liked that person. And I wasn’t the type to turn away a friend when they were having a bad time.
Okay, and maybe I sort of wanted to hang out with him, but only because I figured it was smart to cement our friendship a little more.
So I turned off my brain and let my fingers lead me as I typed out a reply to Cam. It’s okay. I’m doing better than I thought here, so I don’t need your help. Go do your thing.
He replied almost immediately. You sure?
Logically, I knew I’d get this done even quicker if both Cam and Carter were helping, but still, I replied and told him I was good.
Carter returned just as I was slipping my phone back into my pocket.
“Here you go.” Carter handed my coffee over, and I took a sip.
“Thank you.”
“Eh, it’s no biggie.” He waved me off.
“It is, though. You could be doing anything tonight, and instead you’re here, so…thanks.” And then I turned away because, yeah, it was a little deep, and I knew Carter and I were both unsure how to handle the change between us. But I wanted him to know it mattered. He could have gone to Fever, which I knew the guys were doing later, or looking for his next conquest, but he’d come here.
“You better be careful, Sawyer Burke, or I’m liable to think you like me.”
“Lies,” I teased, and we both laughed.
We set our drinks on the desk, and I explained my process to him. From there, we got to work, opening boxes and organizing books on carts according to genre.
“So…why a bookstore?” he asked not long later.
“I always loved reading. I was a nerd, remember? Cam was the jock, and I was the nerd. While he had a gang of friends and went to every dance and sporting event, I lost myself in books because I felt more comfortable there.”
“You do that a lot.”
“What?” I opened a new box.
“Compare yourself or your life to Cam’s. It’s often what he is and you aren’t, or what he likes and you don’t. Even when I asked you about the bachelor auction, you said to ask Cam because he was better at stuff like that. I didn’t want to ask Cam; I wanted to ask you, and…” He shrugged. “You stand just fine on your own, Saw. You don’t have to compare yourself to your brother.”