Chapter 37: Bryn

My heart hasn’t slowed once since I got off the phone with my sister. Her scared voice keeps running through my head, and I can’t focus on anything other than getting to her and Milly as soon as possible. I wasn’t able to understand much since my sister was crying, but Milly had a fever that got too high. Then it caused…something, and they had to call an ambulance.

“God, I hope she’s okay. She’s still so little.” I say absentmindedly.

Sawyer and I must have broken the record for the fastest packing because we were in and out of the apartment in ten minutes. I’m sure I forgot something behind, but I’ll grab whatever it is once I know how Milly is.

“Let’s not think the worst until we get there,” Sawyer says, but I can make out the worry in his voice.

We don’t talk the rest of the way to the airport. What can we say? Although it seemed like Sawyer was about to say something when my sister called.

“Where are you going to ask me something before my sister called?” I ask just as we pull into the long-term parking area.

“What?”

“You looked like you were going to ask me something or tell me something.”

He shifts in his seat and clears his throat. “Uh, it can wait. We can talk about it once all of this is taken care of.”

“Why? Is it something bad?” I ask because I hate not knowing what’s going on when it involves me.

I’m not good with surprises for that very reason. I never seem to go along with plans that lead to a spectacular ending.

“Of course not! The opposite, actually. Well, I hope you think it is, but now isn’t the right time.”

He’s acting weird and avoiding my questions, which makes me even more suspicious.

“Sawyer, come on, maybe it could help me get my mind off all this. Please.”

He sighs and looks so close to cracking when he finally finds a parking spot and he pulls in. Whatever he was going to tell me is forgotten, and we grab our bags and rush toward the terminal. For some reason, our terminal is nearly empty, so we’re able to check in and go through security fairly quickly. We make it with thirty minutes to spare. We’re out of breath when we finally find a couple of seats in the waiting area.

I check my phone for any updates on Milly, but all I see is a text from my mom saying my dad will be waiting for us when we arrive.

“Any news?” Sawyer asks.

I shake my head. “No. Everyone is probably too worried and scared to say anything, if they know anything.”
My phone rings and I nearly jump up to answer it. “Hello? Poppy, thank god. What’s going on? Is she okay?”

“Hey B, I’m sorry I didn’t update you sooner.” My sister sounds tired and like she’s been crying.

“Don’t worry about that. How’s my niece?”

She sighs and pauses for a while. “She had a seizure. I was so scared because I didn’t know what was happening so I called 911, and I was so panicked that even them assuring me that it looked worse than it is wasn’t helping.”

“What do you mean? Why did they say it was not as bad as it seems?”

“Apparently, people having seizures aren’t aware of what’s happening and they don’t feel any pain. It looked like she was in pain, though, and she was making these little sounds. God B, it was horrible.”

“I’m so sorry. I should have been there with you- “

“No B, you need to have your own life. Besides, you’re coming now, so that’s all that matters. Anyway, she’s doing okay now. She had a cold for the last couple of days and her fever was what caused the seizure. The doctor says it’s common in children under the age of five to have this reaction to fevers. So with some rest, she’ll be fine. They want to monitor her overnight just to be safe, but she’s okay.”

“That’s great. I’m so glad she’s okay.” I let myself relax into my chair and I reach over and squeeze Sawyer’s hand and give him a small smile.

“She okay?” He asks softly.

I nod quickly.

“I’m sorry you’re jumping on a plane for this, but I’m sure Milly will want to see you.”

“Don’t you dare apologize. I want to be there for you guys. You guys need your family around.” I insist.

“You’re right. So my future brother-in-law is coming too?” She has a teasing sound in her voice that sounds a lot more like her.

“He’s already your brother-in-law.” I hiss into the phone.

She laughs. “You know what I mean.”

“No, I do not. You and mom need to cool it with all that.” I scold her, but she just laughs again.

“Is that B?” I hear Zach call out from the background.

“Yeah. Hang on.” My sister fumbles around with her phone and soon she’s video calling me.

I answer, and there is a crowd of faces on the screen. Sawyer’s mom is there too.

“Hey everyone.” I say with a small wave and then I turn the phone enough to get Sawyer in the frame.
“Sawyer and B! How are you guys?” My mom asks.

“We’re fine, Mom. don’t worry. We’re just happy Milly is doing okay.” I tell her.

She sighs and I see her eyes start to fill with tears. “She gave us a scare, but she’s sleeping now.”

Everyone takes a small step to the side so I can see my tiny niece resting. Now my eyes are filling with tears and soon I feel Sawyer’s warmth wrapping around me and he’s pulled me into his side. That, of course, has all eyes on us and everyone has this knowing smile on their face.

“Well then, I guess the rumor is true.” My dad says, sounding far too amused.

“What rumor? Please tell me everyone isn’t talking about this.” We live in a small town and word gets around fast.

Zach rubs the back of his neck, and I narrow my eyes on him. “Zachary Timothy Bennett!”

He cringes.

“What have you done?”

Sawyer snickers and I reach over to pinch him in the side. He is nice enough to react like I might have hurt him, but let’s be real. It didn’t hurt him at all.

“I may have let it slip when I was at the hardware store. You know how Old Man Lawson can pull information out of people. He knows everything about everyone.” He says in his defense.

I roll my eyes. “Sure. You seriously have the biggest mouth in this family.”

Everyone laughs, and Poppy hisses at everyone to be quiet.

“He really does, but I’ll keep him.” Poppy says turning to Zach and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

He smiles at her and puts his arm around her shoulder. They look so perfect together…I wonder if Sawyer and I look like that. Or is that from years and years of being in love with someone? I clear my throat and try to not let it show what I’m thinking. Sawyer and I have just started dating. I don’t think ‘love’ will be said between us for a while.

Thankfully, our flight is annoyed before anything gets too awkward.

“It’s time for us to board! We’ll see you guys soon.”

“See you soon sweetie!” Mom calls out and I wave at everyone before hanging up and stand to grab my bag.

“I got it,” Sawyer says taking the bags in one hand and using his free one to hold my hand.

I swoon at every little sweet thing he does, and it isn’t good. He’s making me fall hard for him, which I didn’t think would be possible, but he keeps proving me wrong.

When we’re boarded, he makes sure to let me sit close to the window and puts our bags in the overhead bin. He stops and sets my bag on the chair before opening it and pulling out the book I packed. He looks up at me and holds it out to me.

Did I mention swoon?

“Thanks.” I say before taking it and setting it in my lap.

I decided on packing a romcom with a discrete cover for this trip. I can’t be offending traveling grandmas with a scandalous book cover. They might have a heart attack and then I’ll have that on my conscious. So it’s for the best, but don’t get me wrong, there are all kinds of spice in it to make it worth the read.

Sawyer sits down next to me and shifts around awkwardly. I have to bite back a smile because he looks huge in the seat. I have a comfortable two inches on both sides, but he looks like he’s a centimeter from getting stuck.

“Shut up.” He grumbles and I break out laughing.

“Aw, look at you.” I coo at him and he rolls his eyes.

“It’s a good thing I love your cute ass.” He says, and I swear all the air is sucked from my lungs.

What did he just say?