Page 133 of Sinful as They Come
“You should be with a guy like that.” I finally opened my eyes to look at her. I was certain my heart broke into a million pieces when I saw her staring up at me with those big, sad eyes. Fuck. “That’s the kinda man that deserves you.”
“I don’t want that, Sawyer,” she whispered. “I want you.”
“I don’t wanna ruin your life. I don’t wanna… I don’t wanna drag you down and stop you from doing what makes you happy. I don’t wanna be that person.”
Joe grinned. “Glad I got through to you.”
Smug fucking asshole.
“You aren’t that person! You aren’t! Don’t listen to him. Daddy, you’re wrong about Sawyer!” Holly tried. “He’s perfect for me. I don’t care if you don’t approve. I want to be with him and no one else.”
“No, you should listen to him,” I told Holly, my voice low and dismissive, and then I said something that I knew would hurt the both of us. “This was never gonna work out.”
Holly gasped. “You don’t mean that.”
“It’s the truth. We’re too different. It’s better off this way,” I told her bluntly before turning to her dad. “You were right.”
He chuckled. “You’re finally talking some sense. I’ll show you out.”
“Sawyer.” Holly pulled at my hand, desperation clear as day in her voice. “Sawyer, don’t.”
“I’m going home,” was all I said to her, yanking my hand from her grasp. I heard her cry out. But I turned around, taking swift steps back the way I came from.
I was leaving Holly’s house behind. The too perfect mansion. I couldn’t ever give her that. No fancy ring. No wardrobe filled with designer shit. I couldn’t be that man.Why the hell did I ever think I could be that? I was an idiot for ever getting my hopes up. Why would Holly Sutton ever want to be with little old Trailer Park Trash?
“Sawyer, please don’t,” Holly whispered behind me. I could hear her light footsteps as she scurried behind me. “Please. Can we talk about this? Can we sit down and talk and just… Please don’t walk away from me.”
I didn’t turn around. I couldn’t see her face. Her voice was hurting me enough. “Get away from me, Holly.”
“But—”
“Don’t make me say it again.”
“Is this it? Are you ending this? Are… Are you breaking up with me?” Her voice cracked.
I stopped in my tracks and shut my eyes. I didn’t want my own tears to fall. And if I turned around, I was certain they would just from the sight of Holly’s sadness.
“Like I said, this was never gonna work out,” I said sharply. “Whole thing was a waste of time.” I didn’t mean that. Especially the second part. Holly was the best thing I had ever had in my fucking life, and I didn’t want to throw it away, but Christ, I couldn’t live with myself if I couldn’t give Holly the perfect life she deserved.
That seemed to be enough for her. She let out a choked sob and the sound made my heart ache. I heard rushed footsteps before the sound totally faded away. She had run away.Run away from me. That was probably the last time I’d get that close to Holly. And I had just torn her heart apart.
It was better off that way. She’d be better off without me. She’d do what her dad said. College, rich lawyer husband, big mansion, perfect kids. Theperfect life. And I’d be… I’d be off wonderingwhat ifI could have given her everything she deserved.
“Time to head on home, son.” Holly’s dad smacked his hand to my shoulder, pushing my forward. “It’s a shame we didn’t get to know each other properly. But you seem to get it now. My daughter’s just not the girl for you.”
I pressed my lips firmly together as I walked in front of him. He guided me through the hallway, my eyes lingering on the steps for a long moment. Holly was probably up there in her bedroom, crying into her pillow. I felt the urge to turn and run up them and grab her and tell her I didn’t mean any of that mean shit I said. But I couldn’t. Holly needed better than me and it shouldn’t have taken me so long to see it.
“But you’ll find a girl,” Joe said, pushing me around another corner and towards the front door. He opened it swiftly. “And you’ll be happy with her. You just can’t be with Holly, of course. You understand. It was never going to happen. You just weren’t meant for her, you know?”
“Is that right?” I grumbled out, making my way down the stairs.
“That’s right. I’m just glad I was able to put a stop to this before you two could get really serious.”
I hissed, looking over my shoulder at him as he stood on the stairs. “You know, I love your daughter. I thought that would have been good enough. I thought that would have madememore than enough, especially after how the last guy treated her.”
“Son, that is so naïve of you.”
My eyes narrowed. “Your daughter means a hell of a lot to me. I want her to have a good life. You think a good life is a million dollars and a suit and tie. I just loveher. All of her. Every fuckin’ part. And you know what, that might be all I can give her, but she seemed pretty fucking happy with me.”
