Page 62 of Sinful as They Come (Sinful Trilogy #1)

HOLLY

“Holly, please just open the letter!”

“Mom, stop yelling!” The crisp, white envelope in front of me had me sweating.

It was from Columbia – the little letterhead on the front told me that.

Early applications hadn’t been my priority lately.

My mind had been focused on all the Carter drama, and then Sawyer stormed into my life in the best way possible…

I was hit with memories from last weekend, of Sawyer taking my virginity and making me his. Not to mention how good it felt. And then Sawyer staying over the next couple days, making love to me over and over again. It felt better every time we did it.

I blushed, trying not to think about that while my mother hovered beside me. She had picked up the mail ten minutes ago and practically sprinted back into the house. I had been staring at the letter addressed to me since.

“Please open it,” she begged, her hands clasped together. “Honey, if you got in, that’s amazing. And if you didn’t? Oh well. It’s not the end of the world, and you know that another school would be lining up to get you.”

“I’m just nervous.” I wished that Sawyer was with me. It would have been nice to open it with him, but he was stuck at work fixing cars and would be for the rest of the afternoon and night. “You open it for me.”

“You don’t wanna do the honors?”

I shook my head, handing her the envelope, unable to get control of my nerves. Mom sighed and ripped at the envelope, pulling out a singular piece of paper.

“Dear Miss Sutton. We understand that you have sent in an early application to Columbia University. We would like to… You got in, Holly!”

I barely processed the words. My mother’s arms were around me suddenly, pulling me into a tight hug that I couldn’t get out if I tried. I got in . I actually got in. My heart was racing as I let Mom plant kiss after kiss against my cheek before she finally showed me the letter.

“Wow,” I said, breathing heavy. “I’m going to Columbia.”

“Yes, you are!” cried out Mom. “All that hard work! Oh, I knew you could do it. I’m gonna call your father. He’s going to be elated, Holly. We’re taking you out to dinner tonight! I knew you’d get in. I knew it, I knew it! Where’s my phone?”

Mom kissed me again, my eyes still stuck on the letter. Columbia. New York City. The busiest place on Earth…

Late nights studying. Cheer team. The Chronicle. It was all worth it in the long run. I smiled, holding the letter to my chest as my mom took off into the living room to get her phone.

I’d be there amongst the skyscrapers and the wildness and the vibrant culture. It was an entirely different planet when comparing it to Dallas. It would be a new world for me to discover. New classes, new books, new museums. It was a whole new universe, really.

And Sawyer could come with me. I smiled at the thought of him and I living together.

He could paint there. There were so many opportunities for artists in New York, and with Sawyer’s talent, he’d be busy every day.

There would be so much for him to do there.

And we could live together in the apartment Daddy had promised me.

My parents would get over it eventually.

They’d see how happy Sawyer made me. And wasn’t that more than enough?

The smile wouldn’t leave my face. Me and Sawyer could be together.

Properly . I couldn’t wait to tell him. I could have called or texted, but I wanted to see the look on his face, I wanted to see his eyes light up.

And I so badly just wanted to tell him that he could move in with me and that he didn’t have to worry about rent anymore. We’d take care of each other .

“Sweetie, pick out something fancy!” Mom called out from the living room. “We’re taking you out to dinner to celebrate!”

“Okay! Thanks!” I answered back, leaning up against the counter.

My mind immediately went to Sawyer and how he agreed to meet up with my parents.

We could do it Saturday like I suggested.

We couldn’t sneak around anymore. It was fun.

It was hot. And I loved every second of it.

Like the other night when Sawyer climbed into my bedroom window via the trusty, old oak tree that was right at the side of my house. He had done that a few times now…

I remembered one particular night where I had been on my knees for him, finally getting him in my mouth.

God, he was so big that I choked on him.

And there had been last night where he had pressed me face down into the mattress, pounding into me hard and fast from behind.

I could have drooled right then and there…

But we needed more than just secrets. I didn’t want to hide Sawyer away from my parents anymore.

Instead I promised myself that there would be no more sneaking around.

After Saturday, at least. I had to tell them.

They could at least know that I was seeing someone and that I wanted them to meet him.

They’d be in a good mood thanks to me getting into Columbia.

Surely they wouldn’t get mad if I just told them I was dating someone, and that I finally wanted them to sit down and have dinner together.

They didn’t need to know all the details… yet.

***

“I’m seeing someone,” I blurted out to my parents in the middle of our meal. “And I really like him and I want you guys to meet him and he means a lot to me. He wants to meet you guys for dinner. Is Saturday okay?”

It was a total rush as I said it all, and I failed to mention Sawyer’s name on purpose.

There was no way my dad was even going to let him through the front door if he knew that we were together.

Not to mention the fact that Sawyer had been sneaking into my bedroom the last couple days.

He’d kill Sawyer. And he’d make me watch.

I focused on the soft chatter around us.

The restaurant my parents had brought me to was beyond elegant.

The light, classical music in the background could be heard clearly after me dropping my little bomb.

My eyes darted around the space, desperate to focus on anything else.

The fancy candles at the corners of the room.

The gracefully dressed customers. The beautiful chandelier that hung above us.

I could feel my parents’ eyes on me. Mine instead stayed stuck on the half-eaten pasta in front of me. Please don’t ask who he is , I chanted in my head.

“Oh,” Mom said, sounding a little taken aback. “Who is he?”

There it was. It was an expected question, but it was one I wanted to avoid.

“Um, just this guy from school. He’s in some of my classes,” I said. None of that was a lie… technically.

“What’s his name? Do we know him?” Dad asked, staring at me quizzically. “You didn’t tell us about this guy.”

Dad had been over the moon when he came back home. He was beyond excited about me getting into college. But he wouldn’t be so proud if he knew what I had been up to lately.

“After Carter, I wanted to take things kinda slow,” I said softly, tugging at the hem of my black dress.

That wasn’t a total lie as well, but I totally avoided his first two questions, intent on keeping Sawyer’s identity a secret until the last moment.

Until they really had to know. And then the storm would hit.

“But this guy is really nice. He’s not like Carter at all. I hope you’ll like him.”

“Are you sure you’re ready to start dating so soon after Carter?” sighed Mom.

“I wasn’t planning on it. But… This new guy kinda swept me off my feet,” I said with a little smile.

“Are you blushing?” Mom asked.

“No.” I smacked my hands to my face. “Just please tell me you’re free on Saturday.

You can meet him. I’ll help cook dinner.

And you can all… sit down and get to know each other.

” I held back a grimace. I could picture knives flying in my head.

It was going to be a mess. I hoped Sawyer was prepared for whatever mean things my dad had tucked up his sleeve.

But I was ready to defend him. Well and truly.

Mom looked over at Dad with a little shrug. “We don’t have any plans, right?”

Dad shook his head before turning to me. “No. But Holly, if you’ve been dating this mystery man, you really should have told us. I don’t like the idea of you sneaking around behind our backs.”

“There was no sneaking,” I lied. “We’re just taking things slow.”

“Huh. Well, why isn’t he here tonight celebrating with you?” questioned Dad.

I cleared my throat. “I wanted to tell him the news face to face, which is perfect for Saturday. I can tell him about getting into Columbia, and you guys can meet him. Besides, he’s working tonight.”

Dad’s eyebrows raised. “He has a job? Okay. I may be starting to like the guy already.”

“Mhm.” I downed some of my water. My poker face was terrible.

“But if he’s anything like Carter, I’m gonna kick his ass all the way back home,” Dad said with a slight mutter.

I let out an awkward chuckle. “Trust me. He’s Carter’s total opposite.”

And that was the absolute truth.