Page 85 of Sinful as They Come
A wide smile graced my face. That was the best news I had received in a while. What a great opportunity for Sawyer. He’d get his name out there and he’d get paid. He deserved that. Sawyer was talented. Just because we didn’t get along didn’t mean I could deny the fact that Sawyer was the best painter in school.
I replied to Eric quickly, letting him know I’d inform Sawyer tomorrow at school. Sawyer could be a brash guy. I hoped he wouldn’t be brash about this.
Chapter 29
SAWYER
On Tuesday morning I made sure to get in a quick cigarette before class started. It had been a pretty short smoke break without Brodie joining me. I had to let him go and do his own thing – something I immediately regretted once I made my way to my locker.
He was leaning up against the metal, a wide smile on his face as he talked to, of course, Holly Sutton. Everywhere I went I saw her. I had at least not had any more dreams about her, which was a miracle considering how often she was around now. Shaking my head, I walked over to Brodie and his new best friend.
“Hey, Holly’s got great news.” Brodie clapped me on the shoulder. “Tell him, tell him, tell him.”
Holly smiled at Brodie before looking at me. “You remember Eric Anderson, right?” she asked.
“The guy who bought my painting?” I asked. “Yeah. What about him?”
“Well, he works for the Highland Park council. The library has been after some new artwork for a while. And they want the artist to be someone who live in Dallas. Eric recommended you and showed some of the library administrators your art work. They want you to do the painting. It’s a big project, but you’re their first selection!”
Her smile had suddenly widened. It was the first time I had seen her smile that big in a while. And it was due to her giving me some good news, which was fucking weird. But the art thing… I had no time for that with both school and work on my plate.
“I dunno,” I muttered. “Sounds like it’ll take up a lot of my time.”
Brodie punched my shoulder. “Dude, you have to do it.”
“Why would I waste all my weekends and afternoons doing that?” I punched Brodie right back. “Plus I’m really busy with work.”
“They’re gonna pay you,” Holly chimed up. “I don’t know the exact amount yet, but from what I heard, it’ll be worth your time.”
It was starting to sound too good to be true. Most of the time, Holly couldn’t be trusted. But things had changed over the last few weeks. I had seen a side of her I had never meant to see. Not to mention the fact that she had been the reason I made money on my other painting.
“They’ll pay me, huh?” I looked at her.
“Yep. And you’ll have free reign too. I mean, you can’t paintanything. They’ll give you an idea of what they want. But it’s up to you how you wanna interpret it.”
The deal sounded interesting. If I got money out of it, then I was willing to look into it.
“Tell him to call me I guess.” I ran a hand through my long locks. “Thanks.”
Holly just smiled and nodded, looking ready to turn around. But she suddenly darted her head back around, her eyes widening. She seemed to cower and become all small. That confidence I had seen in her, that pride in her eyes when she told me about the offer – that all faded. And I knew why.
Carter Henderson was walking down the hallway like he was on a mission. He spotted Holly from behind. I could tell. Because he slowed down his walk, his blue eyes narrowed as they went from the back of Holly’s head, to Brodie, and then finally to me. My eyes stayed on him, waiting for his next move.
“Is this what you’re doing now, Holly?” Carter called out.
All she had to do was turn around and kick him in the balls. It would have made for great entertainment, and Carter would get what he fucking deserved. But instead she looked terrified.
“You’re hanging out with little old Trailer Park Trash and his cousinnow?” Carter grinned. “Why’s that?”
His asshole friends stood next to him, laughing at the insult.
“Fuck off, Carter,” I snapped.
Carter just scoffed. “Holly, you’re not gonna say anything? You do that a lot when you’re upset. You’re sad, right? About what happened at the party? About how badly youfuckedup?”
“How did she fuck up exactly?” I asked lowly. “I’m pretty sure that was all on you.”
“And what did I do?”
