Page 57 of Sinful as They Come (Sinful Trilogy #1)

HOLLY

I normally didn’t lie to my parents. Most of the time, I didn’t need to. I was always the definition of a good girl. That meant I didn’t break curfew. I did all my homework. I did everything they asked of me – no matter how silly, how monotonous. But…

Now I was going behind their backs. They just wouldn’t understand, though. They didn’t know Sawyer like I did. God, I didn’t know Sawyer like I did until recently. I had judged him too. And that was something I would always regret.

But life had changed quickly, and for the better.

Because as I cheered the football team on, the players all doing their thing on the field, Sawyer was sitting there in the bleachers.

He wasn’t supposed to come until later. We were going to grab dinner after the game and go for a drive.

Maybe go to my place since my parents were finally away on that trip…

There Sawyer sat. Right at the top of the bleachers, watching as I did a high kick. I blushed wildly as he grinned down at me. Could he see how red my cheeks were all the way from where he was sitting? Hopefully not.

“Wildcats, Wildcats, here we go!” Annie started her cheer next to me.

“Wildcats, Wildcats, get that gold!” I joined in.

“Wildcats, Wildcats, don’t be shy!” Annie continued.

“Wildcats, Wildcats, tonight’s your night!” I finished the chants off.

The crowd erupted in cheers and claps, and I watched as Sawyer chuckled. God, he probably thought cheerleading was the dumbest thing in the world. But he still gave out a sharp whistle.

The rest of the game carried on without much drama.

We ended up winning, and me and the girls made sure to cheer the boys on extra hard – minus one boy, of course.

I avoided Carter. Number 12. He was just a number now.

I didn’t look at him. I didn’t want to look at him.

He seemed to be leaving me alone after that little incident in class the other day, anyway.

The only other girl on the team that I truly trusted was Annie. We cheered together with the rest of the team, but that was it. None of them were my friends except for her. After the bomb had dropped, I realized that there weren’t many people I could trust.

“You seem extra happy tonight.” Annie wrapped an arm around my shoulder, pulling me to her. “You got your boy here tonight again?”

I grinned. “Yeah, Sawyer’s here.”

“Looks like he doesn’t hate football anymore…”

“Yeah, maybe I converted him.”

“Or maybe he’s just here for you, huh?” She winked. “That’s cute. I’m happy for you guys.”

“Thanks. It’s still kinda weird how it all worked out for us, all things considered. But I’m happy. And Sawyer seems happy too. And my parents are completely and totally unaware of what’s going on.”

“How long have you two been sneaking around for? You aren’t gonna tell them? Ever?”

“Over a month now…” I sighed for a moment. Sawyer and I had spent weeks and weeks keeping our secret from my parents. They couldn’t know. Not yet.

“Well, good luck with that, babe,” she said before looking over her shoulder. “Your man’s here. Guess I’ll see you on Monday, huh?”

I followed her gaze, taking in the beautiful sight before me.

Sawyer approached me with a little swagger in his step.

He looked all cozy in his leather jacket, the dark material contrasting against his white tee and black jeans.

Sawyer and Annie shared a quick nod before he stood before me, hands stuffed into his pockets .

“That uniform is something else,” he murmured, and then he let out a low whistle. “I’m glad I don’t have to be in denial about admiring it now.”

“Shut up.” I laughed, giving his chest a teasing slap. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me into him so that our chests were touching. My heart quickly started to race.

“You looked so good out there,” he continued, his voice so low. “Real good.”

“You liked my routine?” I asked, knowing full well that my routine wasn’t what he was talking about.

“I loved your routine.” He chuckled.

I gave his lips a quick, soft peck. We were still holding hands, so I pulled him into the direction of the cheer girls’ locker room. “Let me grab my bag and stuff and we can go.”

“Cool. Lemme walk you.”

Sawyer and I walked into the hallway, leaving the slowly emptying football field behind us.

I caught a glimpse of some of the girls on the team, a few of them running to get changed.

They probably had plans at Fran’s with the football guys.

That used to be me. But now? Now none of them were my friends.

Besides, I wanted to spend every free moment I had with Sawyer and Sawyer only.

“I’ll be back in a second.” I turned to Sawyer. “I just need to get—"

“What the hell are you doing here?” I heard a horrifyingly familiar voice say from behind me.

Sawyer looked over his shoulder. “Get fucked, Carter,” he said, voice as blunt as ever.

Sawyer stepped forward, pushing me behind him. It gave me the chance to look at Carter. He didn’t have a good game. The rest of the guys did, but the look on Carter’s face confirmed to me that he wasn’t too happy about his performance. Lucas stood behind him, a grimace on his face.

I was thankful for the barrier my boyfriend was giving me. I had stood up to myself that day in class, and it had felt so good – but that didn’t mean that I was okay with whatever cruel words Carter was ready to throw my way. And he had a whole stock of them .

“Are you allowed in here, Trailer Park Trash?” Carter sneered. “You here to go through our bags or something? Huh? Go through our wallets? ‘Cause you’re a few minutes too late.”

Sawyer sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m not here to start shit, asshole. Just mind your own fucking business for once.”

Carter pointed at me. “ She used to be my business. Remember that, Holly? Before you downgraded to this guy.”

“Dude, shut up. Let’s just hit the showers and leave,” Lucas pleaded from behind. He kept giving me and Sawyer sympathetic looks, like he was embarrassed by Carter’s actions.

“Nah, I’ve got a few things to say.” Carter shook his head. “I’m not done with these two yet.”

“No one wants to hear it,” snapped Sawyer. “Listen to your friend. Go cry in the shower about your shitty performance tonight and then go home.”

Carter sneered. “Look at you. You think you can talk to me like that? You think because you’ve got her now that you mean something?”

I pressed up against Sawyer. My hand grabbed his, holding it as tightly as I could. I wanted him to know that not a single thing Carter said had any value. That everything he said was for the sake of cruelty.

“Sawyer does mean something,” I said. “And not just to me. We broke up, Carter. No, actually, you broke up with me , and I’m glad you did, because like I said to you the other day, I am so much better off without you. We’re over. Just leave me and Sawyer alone. We want nothing to do with you.”

Carter’s eyes landed on me. He shook his head slowly, his jaw clenched. “You sure have changed, Holly. Someone’s grown a fucking backbone. I remember when I could say anything I wanted to you, and you’d just sit there and fucking take it. Now you’re just an obnoxious little slut who—"

Sawyer pounced at that. My eyes widened, watching as Sawyer grabbed at the collar of Carter’s jersey.

Sawyer shoved Carter back, right up against the wall.

I didn’t miss the way Carter’s head smacked against the brick wall behind him.

Carter let out a pained groan as he winced.

And Sawyer looked at him with nothing but hatred in his eyes.

Darkness had taken over his gaze, his big hands tightening on Carter’s shirt .

“Apologize to her,” snapped Sawyer.

When he got no answer, he kneed Carter in the stomach and forced him upright.

“Do it. Fucking apologize to her,” Sawyer said again. “Say sorry.”

“Or what?” Carter coughed.

“Or I beat your ass, right here in this hallway, and then I drag you into the locker room for all your dumb ass football friends to see. No offense, Lucas,” Sawyer said, looking over his shoulder at the blond for a quick second.

“Nah, it’s all good, man.” Lucas shrugged.

I would have laughed if it wasn’t for the seriousness of the situation.

“So, unless you want all your friends to know that you’re a fucking pussy, you say sorry to Holly.

You look her in the fucking eyes and you say sorry.

” Sawyer grabbed Carter’s chin, his fingers digging into Carter’s skin.

“And you better say it like you fucking mean it. ‘Cause if you don’t, I’m gonna hit you again.

And again. And again and again. And I won’t stop until you’re fucking bleeding at my feet. ”

Carter was panting. He turned to me, eyes wide and filled with panic. I had never seen him like that. The sight had honestly taken me by surprise. There was fear in his eyes. Genuine terror. Did he expect me to help him?

“H-Holly,” Carter stuttered out. “S-sorry.”

Sawyer gave him a sharp smack to the face and then pointed a finger at him. “You can do better than that.”

“I fucking said sorry!”

“Sorry for what?”

“Sorry… Sorry for calling you a slut,” Carter finally managed to get out.

“And?”

“What do you mean and?”

“Say sorry for all the other shit you did to her.”

Carter rolled his eyes and Sawyer pressed a forearm to his throat, as if daring Carter to go against his requests. I knew Carter didn’t mean that earlier apology. It was based on the desire to get the hell out of that hallway. But… I was enjoying watching him squirm.

“Don’t fuckin’ test me.” Sawyer slowly shook his head. “I’m so much quicker than you.”

Carter huffed loudly, his eyes shut. “I’m sorry, Holly, for—”

“Open your fucking eyes when you talk to her,” demanded Sawyer.

I had to hold back a laugh. Even Lucas let out a little snort. I was certain Sawyer didn’t believe anything Carter was saying. He was just doing it to make a point, but I couldn’t help but find it wildly amusing to see Carter grovel.