Page 4 of Infatuated as They Come (Sinful Trilogy #2)
“You saw that,” her dad said next to me. “Be nice.”
“She was looking at you when she said that,” I said, making an immediate beeline for Holly. My hand found hers and I was pretty sure my heart leapt right out of my goddamn chest when she looked over her shoulder at me.
“Hi,” Holly said, voice all soft.
“Can I borrow you for a minute?” My other hand squeezed at the box in my pocket.
“Not for too long,” Annie said. “She was showing me photos of your new apartment.”
“Just for a couple minutes.” I pulled Holly away from the crowd, eager to get her all on my own. The whole day had been a bit chaotic. “Happy birthday,” I said when I got Holly alone in one of the many quiet hallways of her house. “Again.”
“Thank you,” she said, her soft hands on my chest. “Again.”
I brushed some of her hair behind her ear. “You look really beautiful.”
“Thanks. Are you having fun? Did you like the cake? My mom put aside plenty of leftovers for you and Brodie if you want them.”
“Brodie will definitely take your mom up on that offer.”
She pressed herself up against me, the scent of her flowery perfume in the air. “I really missed you today. I’m sorry it’s been so crazy.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s your special day and all that.” I ran a thumb along her chin. “I don’t mind. ”
“I know a boring birthday party at my house isn’t your idea of a fun time.”
“It’s not boring. I’m having a good time. Just thought I’d get you alone for a minute so I could give you your…” My voice trailed off and the box suddenly felt like it weighed a million pounds.
Holly’s head tilted. “What?”
“I’m kinda nervous,” I admitted, voice all low despite the hallway being empty.
“About what?”
“Your gift. I really hope you like it.”
Her eyes softened. “I’m sure it’s lovely.”
I took the box out of my pocket. “I thought you’d like it.
Maybe you don’t. But you wear a lot of silver stuff so I thought maybe you’d want something else silver and the lady at the store said it was the classiest thing they had and you’re classy as fuck.
” I was rambling as I opened the lid of the velvet box, watching carefully for Holly’s reaction.
“Sawyer,” she whispered. “It’s—”
I snapped the box shut, hating the way the sound made Holly flinch for a second. “I shouldn’t have got you this. I thought jewelry would be a nice idea.”
She pulled at my sleeve. “Wait. No. It is nice.”
“No, it’s… You know, jewelry is really hard to steal.” I rubbed at the back of my neck. “They make it fuckin’ impossible. It’s bullshit. But I can steal you some fancy dress or something if you want. Clothes are easier to steal. Just pick something out and I’ll get it for you.”
“But I like the necklace.”
It was a dumb idea to begin with. I had seen the stuff Holly wore: the sparkling, blindingly shiny earrings and rings and bracelets. One look at them told me that they cost more than I could ever afford. “I can get you something nicer. I’ll take it back.”
“If you take it back, I’ll be really sad.” She looked up at me, eyes big as she pouted, and God, it was really hard saying no to that face. “Do you wanna make me sad?”
I chuckled a little. “I never wanna make you sad.”
“I love it. I promise I do. Can I see it again? Please?”
I did as she asked, and maybe I was imagining it, but I could have sworn I saw her doe eyes light up as she looked down at the necklace.
It had a round, crystal pendant with little silver stones bordering it.
Holly knew the difference between cheap jewelry and the expensive stuff, but she danced her fingers slowly and carefully over the silver chain like she had never touched anything so delicate and precious, like it didn’t only cost a couple hundred dollars.
“It’s beautiful.” She smiled up at me brightly. “I love it.”
“You really like it?” I asked hesitantly.
“I love it.” She turned around, gathering her dark hair in one hand and exposing her neck. “Can you put it on for me?”
I did as she asked and then Holly twisted back my way, flicking all those thick waves of hair over her shoulder and fuck, she was the prettiest girl I had ever seen in my life.
“It’s so pretty.” Soft hands were on my face, her pouty lips up against mine as she gave me a slow kiss. “Thank you so much, Sawyer. I love it. I’m gonna keep it forever.”
“I can get you something else,” I offered again.
“But this is perfect, and you can’t do better than perfect, right?”
I took in her words, my head shaking slightly as I stared at her smiling face. “I guess not.”
She pecked my lips again, reaching down to grab my hand. “Thank you again. So, so much. Come back out and have more cake with me?”
Holly didn’t give me much of a chance to protest. I let her take me back into the busy dining room, my heart soaring at the fact that she really, truly seemed to like the necklace.
“Mom, look at what Sawyer got me,” Holly said, holding up the little pendant. “It’s so pretty, right?”
“It is.” Her mom gasped, tucking some of her dark hair behind her ears before she ran her fingers along the pendant.
She definitely knew it was cheap too, but the smile she gave me had me convinced that she didn’t seem to care at all.
Then she reached up and gave one of my cheeks a pinch. “Oh, you have such good taste.”
I heard a scoff next to me that I was certain was coming from Holly’s dad, but whatever he muttered under his breath wasn’t enough to stop me from staring at my girl and the pure pride that was on her face.
I wouldn’t let him take that away from me.