Page 32 of Infatuated as They Come (Sinful Trilogy #2)
Holly
Luck was on my side today, because I had been surprised with a canceled midday class, and it was exactly what I needed after so many long days of lectures and cheer practice sessions and Daily Post meetings.
I should have been taking off for the library like a good student, but instead I was leaving campus to surprise Sawyer.
It’d be his lunch break soon and I didn’t want him to have to waste time standing in line to get food, so I picked up some soda and a sandwich from a deli before jumping in a cab.
I couldn’t hold back a smile as I walked into Big Jay’s Auto Shop for the first time ever.
The office was small and cozy with the light sound of rock music in the air.
“Hey,” a warm voice said to my right. “Do you need help, hun?”
Turning, I found a woman with big blonde curls and blue eyes behind the front desk. “Hi,” I said, heels clicking against the two-toned cement floor as I made my way to her.
“Are you dropping off your car?” she asked. “What do you have? We only do luxury cars here on a rare occasion.”
I looked down at my outfit at her words. “Oh, I’m not a customer. I’m here to see my boyfriend.”
She frowned and tilted her head. “Who?”
“Sawyer. He should be—”
“Oh my God. You’re Holly?” She stepped from behind the cluttered desk. “He talks about you all the time. ”
Cheeks hot, I laughed softly. “He does?”
“Constantly. Holly does this, Holly does that.” She pressed her hands together, that same big grin on her face. “He always brings in the Columbia newspaper. You’re on the paper, right? He makes us read all your articles.”
I couldn’t fight back my smile even if I tried. “That’s so sweet of him. And you.”
“I’m Audrey, by the way. I’m the receptionist here if you couldn’t tell. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“You too. This is my first time down here. Maybe I can finally see him in action.”
“You know, Sawyer’s been such a great addition to the team. For a young guy he knows a lot about cars.”
“He’s really smart with car stuff.” I nodded. “One of my classes just got canceled so I thought I’d stop by and see him during his lunch break. It’s soon, right?”
Audrey shook her head. “Oh, he doesn’t really have a lunch break.”
“He doesn’t get a lunch break?” I asked lowly.
“Oh, no. He gets one. He just never takes it. I think I’ve seen him do it a couple times, and that was back when he first started. That boy works really hard. Sometimes I wonder who he’s trying to impress. I guess it’s you. It makes sense now.”
“Oh…” Guilt swept over me fast. God, he pushed himself so much. “I didn’t know he was skipping lunch…”
“Some guys do that every now and then if there’s a lot of work to do. Your Sawyer seems to do it every day. You must feed him pretty well at home,” she said with a laugh.
“I do my best,” I said. “You guys must get super busy. I saw so many cars outside.”
Audrey raised her eyebrows up at me. “Oh, you have no idea, but I’m used to it now. I like how crazy it gets, but we’re so thankful that Sawyer’s joined the team. Jay loves him, but we both agree that he really needs a break. That boy is such a Leo.”
I leaned in slightly. “A what? ”
“A Leo. Leos always work so hard. Jay is a Leo too. His birthday is one day before Sawyer’s, did you know that?”
My star sign knowledge was relatively sparse, but if Sawyer was a Leo, that would mean his birthday was sometime in July or August. That meant it had already come and gone.
“When’s Jay’s birthday?” I asked, and I could see Audrey sending me a little frown. I knew what she was thinking. It should have been easy enough to work out Jay’s birthday since I should have known my boyfriend’s birthday.
“July tenth,” she said sweetly. “And Sawyer’s is—”
“July eleventh.” I couldn’t help but cut her off with gritted teeth. “Of course. Right. I knew that.”
“You don’t wanna spend all afternoon out here talking to me.” Audrey pointed behind her. “I’ll go get Sawyer for you.”
But I shook my head. “You know what? I actually have to head back to campus,” I lied. “I have to meet up with one of my professors.”
“You have to leave now?”
“I totally forgot about that meeting. I’m a little scatter brained today.” I held the paper bag filled with food up. “Sawyer’s not gonna eat this?”
“No, hun. Once he gets here, he really gets stuck into work.”
“Right.” I nodded. “Have you had lunch?”
Her eyes landed on the clock. “Maybe in a few minutes.”
“You can have this.” I rested the bag and can of soda on the counter. “It’s a sandwich.”
“You want me to have it?” she asked with big eyes. “That’s from Nico’s. They overcharge like crazy.”
“It’s all yours.”
“Are you sure?”
“Have at it.” I pressed my hands together. “Can you do me a favor and please not tell Sawyer that I stopped by?”
“You don’t want me to tell him?”
I waved a hand at her. “He’ll just feel guilty that he missed me.”
“Oh.” She nodded. “Okay, sure. I won’t tell him.”
“Great, thanks. I gotta go, but it was nice to meet you! ”
The date wouldn’t escape my brain. July eleventh, July eleventh, July eleventh.
That meant that we had spent our whole summer together, having all of those magical, wonderful days while he kept that information to himself.
My hand flew up to my chest, squeezing at the pendant that hovered just a few inches away from my heart.
We had made so many memories together, but there was an important one we had missed out on, and I was determined to make sure we never did again.