Page 7 of Infatuated as They Come
A point had been made. Holly had been given the most Holly cake I had ever seen in my life: pink, three-tiered, and covered in intricate piping that made the cake look like it was covered in lace or frills or something.
“Just try it. The cake’s pretty nice,” I said.
“Maybe when no one’s looking. Hey, did you give Holly her gift yet?”
My eyes fell on Holly who was still in the middle of a conversation with Annie, both their eyes glued to Holly’s phone. “Nah, not yet.”
“Don’t be nervous. She’s gonna love it.”
“I hope so. I really want her to…” A good chunk of the money I had earned on my art projects was going towards moving to New York, along with Brodie’s own move to Boston. I had my old life to pay for on top of the new ones we were both about to have. There was so much shit to pay for, and I was determined to make sure Holly didn’t have to worry about me not contributing. That meant that I had been on a bit of a budget when looking for her birthday gift. But every week for the last few months, after paying for the rent and bills and food and the thousand other necessities, I made sure to put some money aside for her present. Every spare dollar, every spare coin, every spare cent meant that I got closer and closer to buying her the things she deserved.
“She loves everything you give her,” Brodie said. “Honestly, I think she’s just happy you’re her boyfriend.”
Boyfriend. That word was enough to make my heart race. It always did. I was the one she had chosen. She was giving me her heart and that meant so much to me, and honestly, I didn’t trust anybody else with something so special.
Brodie gave my shoulder a squeeze. “I’m going in for the cake, everyone seems distracted.”
Eyeing my cousin, I watched as he approached the dining table with slow,subtle steps, but one of Holly’s aunts caught him before he could grab a slice unnoticed. I laughed lowly, watching as he put his hands up in defense even though he hadn’t done anything wrong. Holly’s aunt gave him a slice of that fancy ass cake, placing it on a pink plate that matched all the other decorations in the dining room.
For every encouraging word Brodie said, I knew he didn’t ever feel completely right in Holly’s world either. It was different when we had been at school: when she was the popular cheerleader that just happened to have a shit ton of money. But being in her home—right there under the watchful and judgmental eyes of her dad—was when we were reminded of where we came from and who we were.
Speaking of…
“You’re being quiet, Sawyer.” Holly’s dad was suddenly by my side, gray hair swept back neatly as he leaned up against the wall. “Everything okay?”
We both knew that he didn’t care about how I was doing, so I just shot him a small, fake smile. One that matched his, because I knew that grin he was giving me was forced and that Joe Sutton was still hating every single second of me being his daughter’s boyfriend.
“I just don’t have anything to say right now,” I said.
“You’re on your best behavior. I’m honestly very impressed.”
“Did you think I was gonna start a fistfight on your daughter’s birthday or something?”
“Fistfights are kind of your thing, aren’t they?”
I shrugged lazily. “Been a while since I’ve been in one, actually.”
“You know what?” He pointed a finger at me. “I’m shocked you and Holly have lasted this long.”
“I’m not.”
“And I won’t lie to you, I was hoping you two would break up before she started college,” he said with a hearty chuckle. “I was really, really hoping for that.”
“That’s too bad, huh?” I muttered.
“How are you feeling about this move?”
“I’m excited.”
“And you’re up for the task of looking after my daughter? Making sure she has everything she needs? Keeping a roof over her head?”
“I’m gonna look after her. I won’t let anything bad happen to Holly.”
“I’ve seen photos of that little shoebox apartment you’re gonna have her living in since it’s about the only one you can afford, so if something baddoeshappen to her, you know who I’m gonna blame…”
“Me. Right. Got it.” He said it like that wasn’t already on my mind, like I wasn’t focused on wanting to take care of her, like I wasn’t already applying for mechanic jobs in New York City. While summer had kept me busy with a good chunk of art projects, I knew I wouldn’t have that when me and Holly moved. Over there, I’d be starting all over again and would be just one of the many starving artists struggling to make a name for themselves. Something steady was better, anyway. Something more reliable than a random project here and there, and since I didn’t have to waste my days at school anymore, I’d have the chance to bring in a bigger paycheck every week. Which meant for a while, my art would have to come second place, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make for Holly.
“You know,” he said, dragging me out of my thoughts, “I noticed that you haven’t given Holly anything for her birthday.”
