Page 120 of Sinful as They Come
“Over a month now…” I sighed for a moment. Sawyer and I had spent weeks and weeks keeping our secret from my parents. They couldn’t know. Not yet.
“Well, good luck with that, babe,” she said before looking over her shoulder. “Your man’s here. Guess I’ll see you on Monday, huh?”
I followed her gaze, taking in the beautiful sight before me. Sawyer approached me with a little swagger in his step. He looked all cozy in his leather jacket, the dark material contrasting against his white tee and black jeans. Sawyer and Annie shared a quick nod before he stood before me, hands stuffed into his pockets.
“That uniform is something else,” he murmured, and then he let out a low whistle. “I’m glad I don’t have to be in denial about admiring it now.”
“Shut up.” I laughed, giving his chest a teasing slap. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me into him so that our chests were touching. My heart quickly started to race.
“You looked so good out there,” he continued, his voice so low. “Real good.”
“You liked my routine?” I asked, knowing full well that my routine wasn’t what he was talking about.
“Ilovedyour routine.” He chuckled.
I gave his lips a quick, soft peck. We were still holding hands, so I pulled him into the direction of the cheer girls’ locker room. “Let me grab my bag and stuff and we can go.”
“Cool. Lemme walk you.”
Sawyer and I walked into the hallway, leaving the slowly emptying football field behind us. I caught a glimpse of some of the girls on the team, a few of them running to get changed. They probably had plans at Fran’s with the football guys. That used to be me. But now? Now none of them were my friends. Besides, I wanted to spend every free moment I had with Sawyer and Sawyer only.
“I’ll be back in a second.” I turned to Sawyer. “I just need to get—"
“What the hell are you doing here?” I heard a horrifyingly familiar voice say from behind me.
Sawyer looked over his shoulder. “Get fucked, Carter,” he said, voice as blunt as ever.
Sawyer stepped forward, pushing me behind him. It gave me the chance to look at Carter. He didn’t have a good game. The rest of the guys did, but the look on Carter’s face confirmed to me that he wasn’t too happy about his performance. Lucas stood behind him, a grimace on his face.
I was thankful for the barrier my boyfriend was giving me. I had stood up to myself that day in class, and it had felt so good – but that didn’t mean that I was okay with whatever cruel words Carter was ready to throw my way. And he had a whole stock of them.
“Are you allowed in here, Trailer Park Trash?” Carter sneered. “You here to go through our bags or something? Huh? Go through our wallets? ‘Cause you’re a few minutes too late.”
Sawyer sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m not here to start shit, asshole. Just mind your own fucking business for once.”
Carter pointed at me. “Sheused to be my business. Remember that, Holly? Before you downgraded to this guy.”
“Dude, shut up. Let’s just hit the showers and leave,” Lucas pleaded from behind. He kept giving me and Sawyer sympathetic looks, like he was embarrassed by Carter’s actions.
“Nah, I’ve got a few things to say.” Carter shook his head. “I’m not done with these two yet.”
“No one wants to hear it,” snapped Sawyer. “Listen to your friend. Go cry in the shower about your shitty performance tonight and then go home.”
Carter sneered. “Look at you. You think you can talk to me like that? You think because you’ve got her now that youmeansomething?”
I pressed up against Sawyer. My hand grabbed his, holding it as tightly as I could. I wanted him to know that not a single thing Carter said had any value. That everything he said was for the sake of cruelty.
“Sawyer does mean something,” I said. “And not just to me. We broke up, Carter. No, actually,youbroke up withme, and I’m glad you did, because like I said to you the other day, I amsomuch better off without you. We’re over. Just leave me and Sawyer alone. We want nothing to do with you.”
Carter’s eyes landed on me. He shook his head slowly, his jaw clenched. “You sure have changed, Holly. Someone’s grown a fucking backbone. I remember when I could say anything I wanted to you, and you’d just sit there and fucking take it. Now you’re just an obnoxious little slut who—"
Sawyer pounced at that. My eyes widened, watching as Sawyer grabbed at the collar of Carter’s jersey. Sawyer shoved Carter back, right up against the wall. I didn’t miss the way Carter’s head smacked against the brick wall behind him. Carter let out a pained groan as he winced. And Sawyer looked at him with nothing but hatred in his eyes. Darkness had taken over his gaze, his big hands tightening on Carter’s shirt.
“Apologize to her,” snapped Sawyer.
When he got no answer, he kneed Carter in the stomach and forced him upright.
“Do it. Fucking apologize to her,” Sawyer said again. “Say sorry.”
