Page 44 of Sinful as They Come
“She can drive you back,” Sawyer said loudly. “She’ll survive driving out to Cedar Crest. I promise she won’t get mugged.”
“I didn’t even think about that. Yikes. Yeah, Holly, Sawyer will pick me up. That area can get a little dangerous at night. I’ll meet you out the front after school?” Brodie finally looked back at me.
I had to hold back a laugh. Sawyer grunted and threw his head back against the lockers. Brodie seemed like the one person he couldn’t say no to. It would have been cute if he wasn’t so aggravating the rest of the time. I’d let them work out how Brodie was getting back home.
“Yeah, Brodie. I’ll meet you out the front.” I smiled, taking a few steps back from the both of them. “I’ll see you then.”
I spun on my heels and heard someone punch someone else. That second someone then let out an “ow, fuck!” I deduced that it was Sawyer hitting Brodie and shook my head with a laugh.
Chapter 13
SAWYER
It was just before six when I showed up at Holly’s house. Unfortunately I had remembered the directions. But I had no plans on going inside. Instead I sent Brodie a quick text to let him know that I was out the front to pick him up.
But I got no reply.
Huffing loudly, I shook my head and messaged him again. And again. And one more time.
Still nothing.
Maybe Holly killed him.
“Serves him right,” I mumbled to myself.
After calling Brodie up andstillgetting no response, I realized then that I had no choice but to knock on the door and drag him out of there. I didn’t want to spend any more time pulled up in front of Holly’s mansion. I took long strides to the entrance of her home and banged on the door with a heavy fist.
The door swung open not long later, revealing the face of a woman. She had dark hair and big eyes and full lips – just like Holly.
“You must be Sawyer!” She grinned at me. “I’m Nicolette. Your cousin told me you were picking him up. He’s inside. They should be finishing up soon. Come on in.”
No, no, no. “I can just wait in my—”
“Don’t be silly. Come on.” She literally grabbed at my hand and pulledme inside.
I was left with no choice but to follow her down a long hallway. The first thing I noticed was the giant spiral staircase that probably led to a hundred different rooms. The hallway was perfect. Everything looked so pristine. Just like Holly. The paintings on the walls looked expensive as they hung to my left and right. Below one of the paintings was an oak collared side table. It looked vintage, probably expensive too. The too white floor below me was harsh reminder of the cheap carpet back at my trailer. Something in the air smelled good. Like garlic and chicken or something. Being inside Holly’s home felt like being in a foreign country I was about to get kicked out of.
Holly’s mom stopped in front of a door to my right and gave me a little smile. “They’re just in there. Would you like some soda? I’ll get you some!”
“No, really, I—”
“There’s some sandwiches in there too if you’re hungry!” She turned around and walked away, not giving me a chance to tell her that all I wanted to do was leave her perfect home and never come back again.
I sighed loudly and moved into the room and my eyes narrowed at the sight before me. Holly and Brodie sat there on the floor, their backs up against one of the long cream-colored couches in the room. There were three couches – because one wasn’t enough. They formed a U shape, framing a coffee table that sat in front of Holly and Brodie. Directly behind them were shelves and shelves of books and fancy, little ornaments that looked like they were made from glass or porcelain or whatever shit rich people were into. Holly and Brodie were busy typing away, each with a laptop sitting on their thighs.
“You ready to leave yet?” was my greeting to them.
Brodie looked up at me with a smile. Holly seemed startled as she jumped at my words.
“Hey. You’re here early,” Brodie said.
I could have kicked him right in the balls. “You’re kidding, right? You know what time it is?”
“Uh…” Brodie’s eyes trailed over to the grandfather clock in the corner. “Oh, shit.”
“Yeah. Oh, shit indeed,” I mumbled. “Was this your fault again, Malibu Barbie? Seems like you can’t finish anything on time.”
Holly let out a loud sigh. “Sawyer, I had a lot of work to do this afternoon. I already have to do fundraising stuff for the football team, and now apparently the entire writing staff are all hooking up and spreading mono around the whole school.”
