Page 18 of Liar
Chapter Seven – Sawyer
I sat in the lounge in one of the newer buildings in Hillcrest. My bag rested against the cushioned chair, and I stared at the blue eyes sitting across from me. My knees were apart, my posture relaxed. Someone walking by would take one look at me and figure I was at ease, but they’d be wrong.
Truth be told, I was nervous. Apologizing…it wasn’t my strong suit, and after everything I did, saying I’m sorry wouldn’t be enough.
Travis sat hunched over, his arms resting on his knees. “As long as you don’t say anything stupid, you’ll be fine,” he said, eyeing me up suspiciously, like he thought I’d go ahead and say something stupid to Declan.
Which, okay, it was possible I’d say something stupid. There was a lot of bad blood between us. Even though I’d been wrong, I still kind of hated him.
A habit, you know. Just a habit.
Considering my other habits, this one wasn’t so bad.
“I know,” I said, glancing at my phone. Almost time to go to the union to meet him. It was all Travis’s idea. I knew I had to reintegrate myself into the group somehow, but meeting with Declan so soon had been all on Travis.
I had ideas, occasionally, but most of them involved Ash and what I’d do to her if I had her.
Fuck her, obviously. Tell her I needed her. Bare my heart and soul like those sappy shits did in the movies. It wasn’t me, but I was willing to be that dopey guy if it meant Ash would be with me.
The fact that she currently had three boyfriends was a complication that only made things more…well, complicated.
Had to play nice. It kind of sucked, because during the last twelve months, the last thing I’d been doing was playing nice with anybody. I did what I wanted when I wanted—and I supposed that’s what got me here in the first place, what sent me to rehab, besides Travis and my stupid family.
I didn’t care about the Salvatore name. My family was a joke, anyway. I didn’t want to be a part of it, but I’d use their money for as long as I could. At least until my father realized I wouldn’t fill his shoes once he retired.
“Will you be watching like a creep?” I asked, a smirk growing on my face as I stared at Travis, somehow already knowing the answer.
He frowned at me.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” I said, picking at the seam of the armrest on the chair.
“If you want to be with Ash, you need to be good with Declan.”
“I know,” I said yet again. I knew I had to get Declan’s permission, his forgiveness, and all that shit. I was eager to be with Ash, yes, but now…faced with the groveling I had to do, I couldn’t help but feel riddled with anxiety.
I didn’t apologize. I didn’t make amends. I did what I wanted when I wanted…but that was the old Sawyer. The new Sawyer had to be different. I had to get used to being on my knees, apparently.
Not literally, but you knew what I meant.
I checked my phone again. “I should head there.” I got up and grabbed my bag, swinging it over my shoulder. Travis was slow to stand with me, although we parted ways in the hall, leaving the building on opposite sides.
Declan was the primary obstacle. Once I was okay with Declan, he’d try to smooth things over with Will. And Travis—Travis was on my side already, for whatever reason. That one was hot and cold, and I knew I’d have to be careful around him, but I didn’t care. I just needed Ash.
It was funny how much of a one-track mind I had now. Now that I was free of rehab, now that I could breathe clean air, I knew what I wanted. It helped, I supposed, that Dean Briggs was dead. After all this time, my sister had been avenged.
By Will, no less.
Kind of wished I could’ve been the one to end his fucking life, but maybe I couldn’t handle having blood on my hands. I was a vindictive person, I’d wanted Declan dead for so long, but when it came down to it…I wasn’t a monster. I wasn’t like Travis. I was just a broken man trying to put myself back together.
I zipped up my jacket, sighing as the cool air slapped me in the face once I exited the building. My feet drew me to the union. The sidewalks were mostly empty, as the next round of classes had already begun. A few stragglers passed me, though they hardly looked at me.
I wondered if they knew I’d gone to rehab. I had to shut off all of my accounts on every social media site, not only because I’d been MIA for a month while away, but because I was bombarded with questions about parties, not to mention the DMs from all the nameless girls who’d either been with me or wanted to get with me.
My infamy was legendary around here.
Travis had also told me what Ash made them do over winter break, so I knew I’d have to make an appointment to see a doctor and get tested, too. That, I could do easily. This talk with Declan…might be harder.
The moment I entered the union, I saw him. Declan was early, and he stood near the bookstore, his head bent, his dark eyes on his phone. A smile was plastered on his face as his fingers worked to type something in.
