Page 64 of Sawyer

A moment later, the door opened, and there he was—Casey, standing there in a worn t-shirt and jeans, looking slightly apprehensive.

But that look didn’t last long. Without thinking, I stepped forward, gripping his shoulders and lifting him off his feet in one swift motion.

Casey let out a surprised laugh, his arms instinctively wrapping around my neck as his initial hesitation melted away.

“Sawyer!” he gasped between laughs, his face lighting up with that brilliant smile I couldn’t get enough of. “Put me down! What’s going on?”

I couldn’t help but smile back, unable to contain the rush of emotions flooding through me.

“Everyone was right,” I said, my voice full of excitement. “My leg… it was all in my mind.”

Casey’s eyes softened, and he reached out to cup my cheek as I set him down gently.

“Come inside,” he said, his tone gentle but full of warmth. “Tell me all about it.”

I followed him inside, struck once again by just how kind he was. He didn’t hold a grudge, didn’t bring up how I’d acted earlier.

Casey was always patient, always understanding. His forgiveness, even before I asked for it, made my chest tighten in the best way possible.

But before I could sit down, I grabbed his hands, my fingers gently intertwining with his.

“Wait,” I said, my voice softer now, more serious. “Before I start, I want to apologize for how I acted earlier.”

I brought one of his hands to my lips, pressing a kiss against his knuckles, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my mouth.

“I was an ass, and you didn’t deserve that,” I said.

Casey’s expression softened further, his thumb brushing over my hand.

“Everyone has bad days, Sawyer,” he said, his voice soothing.

But I couldn’t shake the need to make sure he knew how much he meant to me, how much I regretted making him feel like he wasn’t welcome in my world.

I needed him to feel secure in us. I needed him. Period.

We settled into the living room, and I told him about the race with Garth, about how I’d pushed through the pain and won.

Casey listened intently, his eyes wide with excitement, and when I finished, his face lit up with pride.

“That’s amazing!” he said, his voice full of genuine happiness. “I always knew you were stronger than him, better than him in so many ways.”

His words hit me hard, a warmth spreading through my chest that I couldn’t ignore. I leaned in, my gaze locking with his.

The way he looked at me, with that unwavering belief in who I was—it made everything else fade away.

I reached out, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind his ear, my fingers lingering against his skin.

“You’re incredible, you know that?” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Casey’s breath hitched, and he looked up at me through his lashes, the connection between us thickening, growing more intense with every second that passed.

He didn’t pull away. Instead, he leaned closer, his lips parting slightly. I couldn’t resist anymore.

I closed the distance between us, my lips brushing against his in a soft, tender kiss.

The moment our mouths met, a spark ignited inside me.

It was more than just the physical connection—it felt like something deeper, something primal had shifted between us.