Page 15 of Sinful as They Come (Sinful Trilogy #1)

I turned around, watching him as he moved quickly towards the large group of trees in the back. My shaky hands held on to Brodie’s notebook tighter. I had to say something to Sawyer.

“Sawyer?” I called out, but he said nothing.

I sighed and followed him. It was hard to keep up with him. I was practically jogging. He was taking long, heavy strides; still so silent.

“Sawyer?” I tried again. “Are you okay?”

Still nothing. Not even an insult. He didn’t even tell me to fuck off or anything. He just stayed quiet, taking those same quick steps.

“I’m only here because Brodie left his notebook at the meeting,” I explained, doing my best to keep my balance on the unsteady ground. “Is he home? I know he needs it, so I thought I’d bring it over just in case he has homework or something.”

Still not a word.

“Sawyer? Can you, like, say something?”

All I got was silence and the back of his head as he walked.

“Was that your dad?” I asked quietly. “Look, I don’t care if you were fighting with him. You don’t have to be embarrassed or whatever. I mean, I fight with my parents all the time. Last week we were—”

That was when he spun around. He turned around so quick that I collided right into his broad chest. He did nothing to keep me steady as I took an unsteady step backwards, my eyes wide.

There was something written on his face that I had never seen before.

It wasn’t just annoyance, it wasn’t just anger.

It was beyond that. It looked like absolute danger and I was there in his pathway.

“Shut the fuck up,” he said bluntly.

“Excuse me?” I whispered .

“Shut the fuck up,” he repeated. “And fucking go back home and learn to mind your own fucking business.”

“I was just… Brodie’s notebook…” I held the tattered book up like it was a peace offering, but Sawyer left me gasping as he violently snatched it from my fingers. I held my hands together, taking a slow step back. “He left it at school.”

Sawyer sucked in a sharp breath. “I don’t fucking care. Fuck off. Go home. I don’t wanna see your fucking face.”

“Why are you so mad? I’m sorry I overheard your fight. I mean, I already told you I fight with my parents sometimes. It’s not like—"

“I’m sure you and your daddy fight whenever he doesn’t buy you that handbag you want,” he snapped, leaning forwards slightly.

I let out a short breath. “That’s not what I meant.”

“How many times do I have to tell you to fucking leave?”

“I was here doing a favor for your cousin and you still treat me like this?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “I mean, I drive all the way to this place and go out of my way to do something good, and you still can’t even show me some decency.”

“I’m sorry you had to drive all the way to the shitty part of town with the shitty fucking trailer parks to see my shitty fucking house.” He looked daggers at me. “Must have been a real fucking nuisance to come out here in your fancy fucking car.”

“I… I don’t think your house is…” The words came out quiet as I took in what he said.

Did he really think that low of me? That was something I would never judge him for.

Or anyone. There were cruel people like that at my old school; at my private school.

That was one of the reasons I wanted to leave so bad.

“Bullshit,” he barked at me. “Well, now you know what my home looks like. You wanna call Carter? Wanna bring him down here so he can have a good fucking laugh at me?”

“I would never do that. Why do you think I would do that?” When had I ever given Sawyer the impression that I cared about stuff like that? That I was a classist bully? Was it all because my parents were rich? Because of where I lived?

“Because that’s the kind of person you are and that’s the kind of person he is.”

I closed my eyes for a moment. “Carter is not like that. Neither am I.”

“You know what your boyfriend’s favorite nickname for me is, right?” He laughed darkly.

There was an embarrassingly long pause as I thought of what to say. Sawyer was right about that, but still, I would never look down on someone just because of where they lived.

“Well, you aren’t exactly nice to him!” I said.

“He deserves it. You think I’m not gonna defend myself?

I will always fucking defend myself.” Sawyer pressed an angry thumb to his chest. “He fucking starts shit with me. I’m not afraid to fight that little prick.

If he kept his mouth shut, I’d keep mine shut.

None of that fucking matters, anyway. You need to leave before I fucking drag you out of here myself. ”

“I was just trying to be nice. Excuse me for trying. I should have just given it to Brodie myself.”

“Like you give a shit about him,” Sawyer mocked. “The only reason you’re doing this is because you feel guilty about cutting his story.”

“I already apologized to him about it. That’s between me and Brodie.”

“When you fuck with my family, you’re fucking with me as well. So no, Malibu Barbie – it fuckin’ includes me too.”

It was obvious Sawyer thought highly of loyalty and family, but I had to do my best to fight back an eye roll. He was being dramatic. Maybe he was embarrassed I had heard that argument. Some pretty mean words exchanged between father and son.

“I didn’t mean to start anything,” I said softly. “I just came over to… It doesn’t even matter, you won’t believe me.”

“You’ve never given me any reason to believe you about anything, Holly.”

For some reason, those words hurt. I never cared about our stupid, superficial arguments. They weren’t upsetting, they were annoying. But what he said halted me for a moment. “I’m just gonna go.” I held up my hands in defense. “I’m sorry about what happened with Brodie. Really. Tell him I said hi.”

“I’m not gonna do that.”

That time, I rolled my eyes. I didn’t even try and hide it.

I just crossed my arms over my chest and made my way to my car.

There was no point trying to reason with Sawyer.

He didn’t want me to see that moment with his dad.

I understood that. But he had no right treating me the way he did.

He had the wrong idea of me. I was not some classist, snobby, ex-private school girl.

I wasn’t. I was more than that, but he didn’t care to find that out.

“Whatever,” I whispered to myself as I left the trailer park behind me. Sawyer didn’t want to see any good in me. That was his prerogative. I was pretty sure there was no good in him , anyway.