The Scarred Wife's Racing Five

Chapter Sixteen

POV Holly

Sawyer Adams was completely different from Noah Canterwood, but after he told me the story about his stepfather, I could see that there was a common hardness under both of their exteriors. A history that molded the men I see today. I just didn’t know to what extent. I also didn’t know why the two of them were on my mind so much. I’ve been holed up in the apartment finishing up on minor details for two days now, and I haven’t even talked with Noah after he found out about my injuries. Sawyer was completely out of the question, but I knew he left a voicemail about my injuries on the shop’s main line.

He wasn’t too keen on disclosing my medical information on a phone used by Noah’s shop, but when I told him I didn’t have another option, he decided to deal with it.

However, I’ve just been too much of a coward to respond back to Sawyer. Then there’s Noah…. I don’t know what happened to him. It was like something shifted. Not only have we stayed silent towards each other, he’s been out for two days. I even had to tell his customers a straight lie when they arrived for their appointments. My favorite being he had got into an accident, and had to seek emergency care. The reality was simple though. He was nowhere to be found.

The oven arrived this morning and once I was done with cleaning the bathroom and updating the dented bronze finishings with polished chrome, I was ready to officially move up here. Whatever was going on with him had put that next step to a halt. He didn’t strike me as a person to slack off on his duties, though.

It’s obvious he’s avoiding me. Maybe I should just ask him for some compensation for the renovation work and leave. He shouldn’t jeopardize his livelihood or sleeping at home for some stray.

I wiped the sweat from my brow and grabbed a water bottle from the new fridge I hooked up yesterday. Plopping myself on the new dining room chairs, I took a deep breath and scratched at the bandage around my leg. I really need to talk to Sawyer about getting this thing off. It’s honestly a hindrance. It’s not going to stop me from finishing what I started. “Now I just need to get the bed up here.” I huffed to myself before standing, turning around, and coming face to face with the two men I shouldn't be looking at with rose-colored glasses. Noah Canterwood and Sawyer Adams.

I gasped and jumped backward, almost falling again. This time though, Sawyer was the one to catch me. “Careful. That leg is still pretty fragile. Don’t want you to get hurt again.” He said calmly as he lifted my body back upright. Then, as smoothly as he caught me, he stepped back to Noah’s side.

The glacial statue stared at the space and I darted my eyes between him and Sawyer. “What are you doing here?” Yeah, I know. Stupid thing to ask. It’s Noah’s house for crying out loud, but the shock of them just appearing hadn’t worn off yet.

“I want to check the progress.” Noah said, with absolutely no emotion to his tone.

I folded my arms over my torso and tilted my head towards the space. “Well, as you can see, it’s done. I’m about to bring up the last item, then I will be out of your hair.” Right after I change the locks. I can’t have Noah showing up here whenever he pleases. He leased the place to me. Boundaries are required.

“And, that is?” Sawyer asked with a gentle smile. I turned to look at him and immediately relaxed. He was much more palatable at the moment.

“I have to bring my bed up here. The one I’m getting on loan from Noah.”

“Gift.” Noah corrected shortly, and I raised a brow.

“Gift?”

“Let’s go get the bed, Sawyer.” He huffed again, without responding to me, and disappeared out of the open front door.

Sawyer laughed lightly and walked up to me. “He’s just confused is all. Give him a minute to reboot back to his normal grumpy self.”

“Confused about what?”

Sawyer sighed and looked up to the ceiling before landing his eyes back on me. “Confused about you, of course.”

“Me? Please, I’m an open book.” I clipped sarcastically.

“Are you? You may have told me a bit about your past and yelled at him about your battle scars, but you never told us who you are. All we know is this: You aren’t from here, you know a lot about cars, and life has dealt you quite the hand. I’m still questioning the second bit, but Noah vouched for you so you must know your stuff.”

“Oh? Are you as much of a racer as he is?”

“Kind of. We all dabble.”

“We all? Who is the we?” I pressed, and he rested his finger on his lips before a soft 'shhhhh' sound drifted in the air.

“That will be for another time.”

“Who says I’ll see you again, Dr. Adams?”

“I thought we had gone over this. Just Sawyer is fine.”

“Alright, just Sawyer. The question still stands though.”

“A movie?” I saw him rubbing the back of his head as I looked him over. “As friends, of course.”

I let my tongue slip over my lips as I thought of his offer. Then, the reality of a real break without having to look over my shoulder was tempting. “As a friend, that would be fun. I need to get a cell phone at some point. Maybe we can do that afterward?”

“Or before. I’m okay with either. We have to go one city over to see a movie, but that’s also the best place to get a phone. More options than the mom-and-pop shop here.” He added with a chuckle.

“Sawyer! Hurry up!” Noah shouted. We both froze and looked at each other before a laugh fell from our lips. I don’t know, why but Sawyer felt like an older brother to me. Kind of like Susan felt like a sister. It was…nice. Not as much pressure as Noah. More like a lab when Noah was like a Doberman. “Sawyer!” Noah shouted again, and I snapped myself out of these crazy comparisons I can’t seem to stop making.

“The warden is calling. We will be back with the bed. Let us know where to put it.” Sawyer said before jogging out of the door.

I turned and focused on getting the smaller things out of the way, so there was a clear path to the bedroom. I heard them heading up the stairs before I saw them. The pair of muscles put my mattress and box spring down on the frame that was delivered with the fridge. Then, I quickly put the sheets and comforter on.

I headed back into the kitchen and Sawyer was cracking open a bottled water while Noah went for an 805. “Thank you both. I think I’m pretty much done with the remodel. Noah, if you could view the space and sign off on it, I’d like to move in tonight.” I said into the silent room.

The glass bottle stopped on his lips, and he slowly let his arm fall to his side. “Sounds good. I’m assuming you need to bring up your clothes?”

I shook my head. “I did that this morning.”

He nodded slowly and took a swig of his drink. “Alright. I’m fine with you moving up here today. Do you have a clear source of income to make sure the rent is paid?”

Harsh much? “I have enough to last until the end of the year.”

“Four months. That’s not much. How about working in the shop from eight in the morning until five in the evening on weekdays? We are closed on the weekends and race days. I will have you focus on the quick maintenance first, then you can work on harder jobs when I clear you.”

“Race days? Working in the shop?” This is too good to be true. He sounds like he's offering my dream job.

“Race days are when Noah will be signed up to compete. He has to close down the shop for the day prior, the day of, and the day after at least. It helps to remove distractions before the race. I’m sure he’s offering you a job so he can ease up his plate and know for a fact you will have the money each month to stay here. I guess it’s his way of being nice.” Sawyer stepped in again, and I was grateful for the translator.

“I don’t need you to analyze me, Sawyer.” Noah hissed.

“Then stop acting like an ass, and talk to her.” Sawyer called back calmly before heading towards the door. “It was great to see the awesome renovations, Holly. Tell Noah when you are ready to go see that movie and grab your phone, and I’ll make sure to be ready. I have to go though. Night shift at the hospital and all.”

I couldn’t collect myself from the shock of Sawyer’s words before he left and the silence from Noah meant the same was happening to him.

That was until I heard him groan irritably and slam himself into a chair. “Alright! I give up!”