Page 92 of Sinful as They Come
I just nodded.
“Your… Your dad took your money?” Holly asked in a hushed whisper. She sounded scandalised. “Sawyer, that’s awful.”
I rubbed at my face, hoping that it would relieve some tension. It didn’t. “It’s fine. Really. I’m working tonight. And tomorrow. And the next day. We’ll be fine. I appreciate the concern.”
“That’s not fair. You worked so hard on your art. And then he goes and just…”
“My dad ruins shit. That’s what he does best.”
“Well, what are you gonna be eating for dinner tonight?”
“I dunno.” I rubbed at the back of my head. “I have cash on me. I’ll think of something.”
“What do you normally eat for dinner?”
“Whatever’s cheapest.” I shrugged. That look of concern on her face had yet to fade. That frown, those big eyes. I swear to God it looked like she was about to cry right then and there. “Holly, it’s okay. This isn’t the first time my dad’s taken off and left me all alone. I lived that time, and the other time he did it, and the other time he did. I promise you I’ll live this time.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Holly sighed. “It’s not fair that you guys have to go through that. I know how hard you worked on that painting. And your job can’t be easy. Plus you have school. You have a lot going on, Sawyer.”
“That’s life, huh?” I mumbled.
She bit her lip, taking slow steps backwards “I… I gotta go. But I’ll see you guys in, like, forty minutes. What time do you start work, Sawyer?”
“Seven,” I told her suspiciously. “Why?”
“Great!” She clapped her hands together. “I’ll be back in time for you to get to work. Just… Just stay put, okay?”
Holly turned around before I could ask anymore questions. There was a weird sense of excitement in her voice. I heard her dart out the door and get into her car, and before I knew it, she was leaving Mills MobileHome Park behind. But according to her, she would be back. I hummed, watching her through the window.
“What the hell are you up to, princess?” I muttered to myself, watching as her car soon became nothing but a dot that disappeared into the distance.
Chapter 32
HOLLY
It wasn’t fair that some people had such easy lives and others got to glide by like nothing really mattered. And what was completely unfair was that some people had hurdles thrown their way from day one.
Sawyer was like that. And while I had known him as nothing but a bad boy who stole and swore and smoked and got under my skin, I had soon discovered that he was more than that. He was oddly protective for someone who disliked me so much. That wasn’t just a one time thing too. At Alden Lake he looked out for me and helped me get away from Carter’s wandering hands. He had hit Carter at the party after he caught Carter in the act. And he had hit Carter again when he wouldn’t let up and leave me alone earlier today.
Sawyer had done more for me than Carter ever had. And while I believed violence wasn’t always the answer, I was pretty sure Sawyer’s actions came from a good place. Maybe his heart wasn’t as dark as I had thought.
Which was why I was going to help him.
My trunk was filled with a wide assortment of groceries. Pasta, meat, vegetables, sauces. Sawyer had done me favor after favor – whether he realized it or not. And I was about to do him one.
When I got back to his place, I braced myself for a possible screaming match. Sometimes it seemed like Sawyer didn’t want to be helped. I understood that: especially if that help was coming from someone he had never liked. But I was willing to take the risk if it meant Sawyer wouldhave some food on the table. Brodie too.
Knocking on his trailer door, I was greeted with a very confused looking Sawyer. And a grinning Brodie in the background.
“Where’d you go?” Sawyer asked.
“Don’t get mad at me,” was my answer to him.
Sawyer raised an eyebrow at me. “Why? What’d you do?”
“You need groceries. You’re in a bad position right now. I can’t fix everything. But maybe I can help with this one, little thing, so I bought some stuff,” I said the words quickly, needing to say my piece just in case Sawyer took my actions the wrong way.
Sawyer sighed loudly and leaned on the doorway. “You bought groceries? You didn’t need to do that.”
