Read Online The Fundamental Theory of Us by Alyse Raines - Free Book Online
Authors: Alyse Raines
Ads: Link
squeaky three-year-old voice, and gave so many kisses, Sawyer’s face was covered in slobber. She didn’t care, not one bit.
Thoughts of Courtney filled her heart as Sawyer shook out her old clothes and pulled them on. Fitted slacks, a t-shirt and matching cardigan, and gray ballet flats. She almost looked like her old self. The messy hair was sort of a one-finger salute to her mother’s rules.
Andrew knocked on her door a little while later, wearing a shirt this time, and a leather jacket slung over one arm. If he noticed the difference in her outfit, he didn’t make a big deal of it—and to her surprise, Sawyer was glad. This might be a change in a new direction for her. That didn’t mean she wanted to announce it to the world. She was testing her own boundaries. Seeing how much she could take before moving on to the next step.
Andrew said, “Ready?”
Sawyer grabbed her bag, keys, and phone. “Yup.”
They took Andrew’s truck. He opened the door for her and helped her up, then whisked around to the other side. Sawyer clipped her belt as Andrew started the truck. He smiled, then they were off. He fiddled with the radio during the drive and asked a couple questions about her day, but didn’t force the conversation or touch on any deep topics. Being with Andrew felt natural—something she hadn’t experienced with anyone except Rachel. Plus, Rachel wasn’t a guy, so that didn’t really count.
At the restaurant, Andrew got the door for her again. Daytimes in Boone were warmer than late afternoons. A crisp chill settled over the town once the sun went down and Sawyer wished she thought to bring a jacket. Oh well. They were headed indoors anyway, and her coat didn’t exactly match these cloths. And it wasn’t like they’d be walking all the way home, either.
On the trip to their table, she felt the heat of Andrew’s hand hovering at her back, banishing the chill from outside. Andrew slid into the booth next to her and said his friends would show up soon. In the meantime, their waiter brought over some waters and a couple menus. Sawyer studied hers with intense focus, searching for the cheapest thing there. Every meal—even the appetizers—cost more than she had on her. Her next paycheck wasn’t due for another week.
She set her menu down and saw Andrew watching her.
He brushed her hand with his index finger. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Sawyer yanked her hands away and shoved them in her lap, calling herself all kinds of stupid for coming out tonight. For liking the way he looked at her, like she was the only woman in the restaurant. Like she was beautiful.
Andrew stared at her for a moment, unreadable emotions playing in his eyes. “If you’re worried about paying, don’t. I invited you, so it’s on me.”
Sawyer opened her mouth to argue when a couple came up to the table and shook hands with Andrew. She couldn’t exactly moan about not wanting him to keep paying for everything for her in front of strangers.
Andrew introduced his friends, Taylor, a pretty blonde with bright eyes and a friendly smile, and Logan, a sinewy guy with red spiked hair who only had eyes for Taylor. They sat close enough that Sawyer couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began. In her head, she called them TaylorandLogan: a single entity.
Talk shifted from greetings and what everyone did that day, to training. Sawyer listened intently, absorbing every word. I should be doing this—learning to stick up for myself . Maybe she could get Andrew to show her the course one morning. Without TaylorandLogan, of course. Not that she had two left feet or anything. She would just prefer it if no one but Andrew was around to witness her major suckage.
The waiter stopped by and they placed orders. When Sawyer’s turn came, she stared between Andrew and the menu, unsure, until he finally ordered for her. Relief flooded her chest. Conversation returned to training once the waiter left their table.
“We can
Thoughts of Courtney filled her heart as Sawyer shook out her old clothes and pulled them on. Fitted slacks, a t-shirt and matching cardigan, and gray ballet flats. She almost looked like her old self. The messy hair was sort of a one-finger salute to her mother’s rules.
Andrew knocked on her door a little while later, wearing a shirt this time, and a leather jacket slung over one arm. If he noticed the difference in her outfit, he didn’t make a big deal of it—and to her surprise, Sawyer was glad. This might be a change in a new direction for her. That didn’t mean she wanted to announce it to the world. She was testing her own boundaries. Seeing how much she could take before moving on to the next step.
Andrew said, “Ready?”
Sawyer grabbed her bag, keys, and phone. “Yup.”
They took Andrew’s truck. He opened the door for her and helped her up, then whisked around to the other side. Sawyer clipped her belt as Andrew started the truck. He smiled, then they were off. He fiddled with the radio during the drive and asked a couple questions about her day, but didn’t force the conversation or touch on any deep topics. Being with Andrew felt natural—something she hadn’t experienced with anyone except Rachel. Plus, Rachel wasn’t a guy, so that didn’t really count.
At the restaurant, Andrew got the door for her again. Daytimes in Boone were warmer than late afternoons. A crisp chill settled over the town once the sun went down and Sawyer wished she thought to bring a jacket. Oh well. They were headed indoors anyway, and her coat didn’t exactly match these cloths. And it wasn’t like they’d be walking all the way home, either.
On the trip to their table, she felt the heat of Andrew’s hand hovering at her back, banishing the chill from outside. Andrew slid into the booth next to her and said his friends would show up soon. In the meantime, their waiter brought over some waters and a couple menus. Sawyer studied hers with intense focus, searching for the cheapest thing there. Every meal—even the appetizers—cost more than she had on her. Her next paycheck wasn’t due for another week.
She set her menu down and saw Andrew watching her.
He brushed her hand with his index finger. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Sawyer yanked her hands away and shoved them in her lap, calling herself all kinds of stupid for coming out tonight. For liking the way he looked at her, like she was the only woman in the restaurant. Like she was beautiful.
Andrew stared at her for a moment, unreadable emotions playing in his eyes. “If you’re worried about paying, don’t. I invited you, so it’s on me.”
Sawyer opened her mouth to argue when a couple came up to the table and shook hands with Andrew. She couldn’t exactly moan about not wanting him to keep paying for everything for her in front of strangers.
Andrew introduced his friends, Taylor, a pretty blonde with bright eyes and a friendly smile, and Logan, a sinewy guy with red spiked hair who only had eyes for Taylor. They sat close enough that Sawyer couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began. In her head, she called them TaylorandLogan: a single entity.
Talk shifted from greetings and what everyone did that day, to training. Sawyer listened intently, absorbing every word. I should be doing this—learning to stick up for myself . Maybe she could get Andrew to show her the course one morning. Without TaylorandLogan, of course. Not that she had two left feet or anything. She would just prefer it if no one but Andrew was around to witness her major suckage.
The waiter stopped by and they placed orders. When Sawyer’s turn came, she stared between Andrew and the menu, unsure, until he finally ordered for her. Relief flooded her chest. Conversation returned to training once the waiter left their table.
“We can
Similar Books
