Page 112 of Sinful as They Come
“I’ll see you at lunch?” Sawyer offered, leaning up against the psychology room wall.
“Sounds perfect.” I pecked his lips.
“Oh, and this Friday… Don’t forget to dress up. I’m gonna take you somewhere special, okay? Somewhere you deserve.”
“Sawyer, you don’t have to do that,” I insisted. I knew how hard things were for him and Brodie. Life wasn’t easy for him. The last thing I wanted was for him to go out of his way just for some dinner. “We can just order pizza and watch a movie at your place. Honestly. We don’t need to go anywhere fancy.”
“I’m giving you what you deserve.” He leaned in, giving me a soft, lingering kiss to my lips. “I’ll see you later. Knock ‘em dead.” He winked at me before spinning around, making his way to his own class.
I let out a sigh. Sawyer was already struggling enough. I didn’t want to make his situation worse. His dad still hadn’t come back yet. Maybe he and Brodie were better off that way, though…
I waited until I couldn’t see Sawyer anymore before entering the classroom. My eyes quickly focused on the only empty seat in the room. My luck had run out, because that meant that I had to sit next to Carter. He glared at me from his seat. I hadn’t talked to him since that day in the hallway. The day Sawyer punched him in the face for me. What did I ever see in Carter to begin with?
“Take a seat, Holly.” Mr. Gregson called out behind me. His tone was friendly, though, the noise putting me at ease a little. “Then we can get on with today’s presentations! Aren’t you excited?”
“Totally.” I cleared my throat and began the long walk to my seat.
I heard Carter muttering under his breath as soon as I sat down. Lucas sat next to him on the other side. I could see and hear the two of them sharing a hushed conversation. Probably about me. Maybe about Sawyer too. Word must have gotten back to him by now that I was with Sawyer. It wasn’t any of his business either way.
We were two presentations in when Carter leaned over to me. I fidgeted in my chair, avoiding his stare. He wanted attention.
“Heard you and Trailer Park Trash are shacking up now.” He chuckled. “Is he having fun with my sloppyseconds?”
I rolled my eyes, my gaze stuck on Melissa Chalmers at the front of the room who had just started her presentation.
“Nothing to say, huh?” he continued. “What’s it like to downgrade this much, Holly? Must fucking suck. Do you miss me? I bet you do.”
Oh my God, he couldn’t be serious. How could one person be so conceited? Seriously, what did Iseein him? How had I looked past his gross, arrogant behavior for so long? His words made me want to vomit and punch him in the face at the same time.
“I bet you wish you were still with me,” he whispered. “You should have just given me what I wanted, Holly. Then you wouldn’t be slummin’ it with Westbrook. You been to his house? Sorry, his trailer? What’s that like? That thing got a roof and four walls? Come on, look at me. I know you miss me. I know you want to be with me. I know you wish—"
“You’re the worst thing to ever happen to me,” I snapped, finally looking at him. He looked like he was about to say something else, but I cut him off before he could get that far. I tried to keep my voice as low as possible, my words coming out in a harsh, sharp whisper. “You’re a rude, classist asshole. I don’t know what I was thinking hanging around with you so long. I deserve better. And you know what? Now I have better. So much better. All you did was make me miserable. I don’t need you. Sorry you’re desperate and want me back. I’m not interested. Don’t talk to me. Don’t look at me. And also, it doesn’t count as sloppy seconds if I never even let you touch me in the first place.”
Lucas snorted, nudging Carter. “Dude, pack it up. She just embarrassed you.”
“Shut up.” Carter pushed Lucas’ arm away. He said nothing else. He just slumped in his chair a little, his hand rubbing across his mouth. That was the first time I had ever seen Carter look well and truly embarrassed. And maybe even a little ashamed. Interesting how just a few words could form such a blow to his ego.
Class went on without any more drama – besides Carter looking at me like I had just punched him in the face when it was time for my presentation. I also didn’t miss the way he rolled his eyes at me whileI talked. Nevertheless, the presentation went pretty well and Mr. Gregson seemed fairly happy with what I had come up with.
It would have been nice to have my next class with Sawyer, but he was busy with art while I had AP Latin. Thankfully, Annie was in that class and I didn’t have to deal with Carter for the rest of the day. When I entered the room, I was greeted with my best friend’s smiling face.
“Hey hey. I missed you this morning.” She got up, wrapping her arms around me for a long hug and a kiss to the cheek.
“I know. Sorry. I was a little busy...” I gave her a kiss back and got settled into my chair. “I’ve been busy a lot, actually…”
“Yeah, I heard.”
My head snapped to look at her. “Heard what?”
“About you and Sawyer.” She was grinning at me like it was the best news she had ever heard.
“Word spreads quick around here, doesn’t it?” I mumbled. Annie was my best friend, but I hadn’t told her about me and Sawyer yet. I hadn’t toldanyone.
“Well, I for one think it’s really cute,” she said with a little shrug.
“You… You don’t mind that me and Sawyer are together?”
She shook her head. “Are you kidding me? No. Of course not. First of all, I always knew there was some… tension there between you and Sawyer. And secondly, I know Sawyer’s a good guy. You’re in good hands. He’s gonna take care of you. Unlike you know who…”
