Page 8 of Sinful as They Come (Sinful Trilogy #1)

HOLLY

I couldn’t wait until the clock struck three.

Because then I could go home and get ready for the game and cheer my heart out for my boyfriend, and then spend the rest of the night in his big arms. I also couldn’t wait until I graduated, because then I wouldn’t have to deal with the thing behind me kicking my chair.

“Would you sit still?” I whispered harshly.

It was hard to concentrate with Sawyer’s boot thumping against the leg of my chair every thirty seconds.

Just the other day he had ripped my quiz right off my desk so he could cheat, and I thought that’d make him thankful, but nope.

Irritating me was Sawyer’s favorite form of entertainment.

“Huh?” He feigned ignorance.

I couldn’t see his face. But I could imagine his smirk in my head.

“You heard me,” I continued. “Keep your legs to yourself.”

“Or what? You’ll tell your big, scary boyfriend on me? Don’t you remember what happened the last time I got him angry?”

I rolled my eyes and I rolled them hard.

“He ran away,” Sawyer whispered, his breath warm on my neck.

I fidgeted and tilted my head, trying to escape him. But he was once again leaning over his chair to get as close as possible to me. He smelled like cigarettes and woodsy cologne. It was stupidly intoxicating.

“He knew it was a waste of time getting into trouble over someone like you.” I pressed my pen down harder on to the page of my notebook. My handwriting had started off neat, but the words had quickly become messy thanks to Sawyer’s annoying kicking habit.

“Your boyfriend’s a pussy.”

“He is so much more of a man than you are.”

“What makes him a man, princess? Running around with that stupid, little football?”

“Well, it’s better than you’ll ever do. I know it’s only the third week of school, but I must say – I’m shocked you haven’t dropped out yet.”

“You’d miss me too much.”

“In your dreams.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. You’re not worth thinking about, let alone dreaming about.”

“And yet here you are, pestering me.” I glared at him, finally turning around to meet his eyes. And I had been right. He was smirking. He looked so damn pleased with himself, sitting there in that stupid leather jacket he had layered over a band tee.

“It’s just so easy to piss you off,” he told me calmly.

I narrowed my eyes at him before turning back around. Sawyer needed to keep his mouth shut. That was for his own good. Because next time, Carter wasn’t going to be so nice.

Just like clockwork, Sawyer went back to kicking at my chair. The grip on my pen got tighter and tighter, and soon all I could stare at were the hands on the clock, watching as they oh so slowly told me it was time to go home. Finally.

I let out a happy sigh, quickly packing my bag. I had a busy afternoon. I’d have to get ready to cheer for Carter and the rest of the guys, and then I had to prep Brodie for his first interview. I was happy for him. It was gonna be an exciting night.

Just as I slung my bag on my shoulder, I saw Sawyer walk past me.

“Tell your boyfriend not to bother tonight. He’s gonna lose,” Sawyer said with a grin.

I huffed, watching as Sawyer shoved his way through the crowd of students until he was out the door. What a menace .

All I wanted to do was wipe that stupid smirk off his face.

***

One of the best parts of cheer was getting all dressed up before a game. I had turned it into a bit of a bonding thing, and after a little persuading, the cheer team got to use the dance room to do our hair and makeup. It was fun to get ready together and amp each other up.

The room was buzzing; most of the girls were all ready and were just completing a few last-minute touch ups.

I had already finished up with my own makeup, my lips painted crimson and the lids of my eyes coated with a deep, glittery red.

The excessively tight, high ponytail came next, the ends of my hair curled a little to add some bounce.

And then the shimmering red bow that sat atop my head completed the look.

“Stop moving so much,” I said with a laugh. My hand grasped Annie’s chin, holding her in place as I ran the blush brush across her cheeks. “I’m nearly done.”

“You’re tickling me,” she said with a murmur, fidgeting from her spot on the desk.

“You’re being a baby.”

“It’s not my fault I’m ticklish.”

“You’re gonna have to deal with this at CalArts next year when you get ready for all of those shows you’re gonna be in.

” Next year, Annie would be off to California.

She was the most talented girl on the cheer team, but I knew it was ballet that had truly captured her heart, and when she wasn’t cheering with me, she was usually busy on stage putting on the most magical, mesmerizing performance.

Eye snapping open, she looked right at me. “Hey, don’t jinx it.”

Picking up a bottle of setting spray, I rolled my eyes. “Don’t be silly. You’re getting in. And you’re gonna be in all of those fancy performances and wear so many beautiful costumes. I’m jealous.”

“ If I get in. Can you imagine if I don’t? I didn’t spend years perfecting my pointe technique for no reason. ”

I winced at the visual. “I still have no idea how you do that. Either way, you’ll get in. Close your eyes for a second.” I gave her face a quick spray before doing the same to mine. “And I’ll get into Columbia. Hopefully. Maybe. Pray for me.”

“Oh, please. They’re probably writing your early acceptance letter as we speak. You get perfect grades. And then you’ll get to go to all of those Broadway shows and have brunch at really nice cafes with Carter…”

“He’s applying to Cornell,” I said with a little sigh. “So, I don’t know how we’ll manage having dates anywhere.”

“He could come drive down on the weekends. You’ll make it work, don’t worry. And then you two can go to The Met and sit on the steps, and it’ll be very Gossip Girl . Your life is already like Gossip Girl , but you get my point.”

“My life is not like Gossip Girl .”

“Your house and wardrobe say otherwise. And I’m not complaining about the wardrobe, ‘cause you’re a good friend who never says no when I wanna borrow something.”

“Is that all you want me for?” I asked playfully. “I told you that you can keep whatever one you want.”

“I couldn’t do that.”

“I don’t mind.” I reached up to tighten the bright, red bow in Annie’s hair, making sure it was secure. “You can borrow the new Zimmermann dress I got on the weekend. It was meant to be for me and Carter’s date next week, but he had to cancel. He has some football thing going on.”

“Again?”

“He’s busy all the time with football and school. It’s not his fault. I don’t wanna pester him about it. He needs some alone time; some space to himself.”

“It’s not like you two do anything together, anyway…”

I heard a whisper and a snicker to my side.

My head quickly spun to the left, eyeing the person who had uttered those words.

Amber was standing a few feet away from me, patting down her cheer skirt.

I could see her sending what seemed like a knowing glance to some of the other girls on the team – to Tatum and Evie – who didn’t seem to bother hiding their laughs.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Me and Annie asked at the same time.

“What?” Amber ran a hand through her sleek, blonde ponytail.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“Nothing,” Amber said with a soft laugh, finally turning to look at me. “It was just a joke, Holly.”

“It wasn’t funny,” I said pointedly.

“There’s nothing wrong with just kissing.” Amber smiled, but I could practically feel the condescending tone in her voice. “I know you guys really like doing that.”

My eyes widened. “Um, excuse me?”

“You guys kiss all over campus, silly.” She gave my arm a squeeze. “I see you guys kiss all the time.”

“Okay, why are you spying on her?” Annie narrowed her eyes. “That’s weird.”

“I’m not spying on anyone. It was just a joke, okay? I’ll meet you guys in the hallway.” Blue eyes rolling, she turned around and linked her arms with Tatum and Evie, all three giggling amongst themselves.

“What was that all about?” I murmured.

“She’s just being annoying,” Annie said.

“Why is my relationship so interesting to other people?”

“Because people love to gossip.” Annie hopped off the desk. “Don’t worry about her.”

Annie wasn’t exactly aware of all the intricate details of my love life – the behind-the-scenes stuff I didn’t want anyone knowing.

No one was. It was embarrassing to admit that the only reason me and Carter hadn’t even done anything was because there were some days where it felt like I couldn’t trust him.

Admitting that meant admitting that there was a problem with my relationship – the one that was meant to be perfect, the one that was meant to be everything I had ever dreamt of.

So, I usually just let people assume what they wanted while I desperately waited for the guy I fell in love with to come back to me.

Skin flushed, I nodded. Sometimes I wondered if Carter thought I was doing it on purpose, that maybe me telling him that I wasn’t ready was some calculated blow to his ego.

It wasn’t even like I didn’t want him or that.

I just needed to know that it was going to be special for him too, that I wasn’t just some conquest, and it ached that I even had those thoughts in the first place.

“You’re right,” I finally said, giving her hand a squeeze. “Thanks.” My eyes flew to the clock, very much needing a distraction and thankful that it was time for me and the rest of the girls to head on out.

“You okay?” Annie asked, still holding my hand.

I nodded, trying to force that horrible feeling of uncertainty about me and Carter out of my head. “I’m ready. Let’s do this.”

***

“Wildcats, Wildcats, tonight’s your night! Wildcats, Wildcats, let’s go fight! Wildcats, Wildcats, they’re gonna win! Wildcats, Wildcats, will make your head spin!”