Page 12 of Infatuated as They Come
“I know Nate,” I said. “I’m not interested. Also:I have a boyfriend.”
“I’m just saying you don’t have to settle with Sawyer.”
“I’m not settling.”
“Joe, can you stop?” Mom leaned in close to him. “I’m tired of you criticizing that poor boy every five seconds.”
“Poor is the operative word, isn’t it?” he asked with a smile.
“That’s not…” She turned to look at me, squeezing at my hand. “That’s not what I meant, Holly.”
Mom had always been nice to Sawyer. So warm and welcoming, never casting a judgmental eye his way. That had never shocked me, because she had never been the kind of person to judge anyone for anything. But my father? It seemed like he’d never be convinced that Sawyer was good enough for me.
“You know, you could have gotten to know him,” I offered quietly. “You didn’t even try. You two could have hung out.”
He scoffed. “And done what? I think it’s best if we both avoid each other as much as possible. I’ll be a lot happier that way.”
“You don’t even talk to him when he picks me up for dates. You don’t say hello to him and you barely acknowledge his existence. You don’t try. He tries, at least. Why can’t you make an effort?”
“You call buying you those cheap flowers he always gets trying?” he asked, voice all sour. “Where does he get them, from the grocery store? How much do you think they cost?”
“I like them,” I mumbled. I liked them so much that every time Sawyer got me new flowers, I’d pop them into the vase right by my bed so I got to look at them before I fell asleep.
“It was bad enough having him at your birthday party. Do you think I enjoyed having to explain who he was to all your aunts and uncles and cousins?”
I pushed a fork into my food. “Everyone seemed to like him. Maybe you should try liking him.”
“Well, until then, I’m not really interested in hanging out with your boyfriend.”
“Are you going to be like this forever?” I frowned at him. “What, ten years from now you’re still going to hate him?”
“Will I have to deal with him ten years from now?”
“Well, I don’t plan on breaking up with him anytime soon, so yes.”
Mom sucked in a sharp breath. “Will you two stop it?”
“I have a feeling he won’t be hanging around that long,” he said.
“What makes you think that?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Just a feeling I get.”
“And what if he’s still hanging around that long? I mean, what are you gonna do when me and Sawyer get married?” I asked, and the laugh he gave me was enough to hurt my heart a little. “What? Is that funny?”
“It is funny,” he said. That laughter wouldn’t fade. “Yes.”
“It’s not funny,” Mom spoke up, squeezing at my hand again. “Don’t listen to him.”
“You’re nineteen!” he cried out. “Youjustturned nineteen, and you’re already talking about marrying him?”
“Okay. I get it. We’re both young.” Letting go of my fork and knife, I held up my hands. “Let me rephrase the question: what are you going to doifme and Sawyer get married?”
He lazily lifted up a hand, letting out a low chuckle. “I mean, can he even afford to buy you a ring?”
I blinked at him, eyes wide as I processed his words, because I was pretty sure that was the cruelest thing I had ever heard him say about anyone ever.
“Apologize to her,” Mom snapped at him.
