.jpg)
by Ashley Jade
Sawyer
Sunlight streaming in from a crack in my curtain rouses me from my slumber.
The first thing I see when I wake is Cole’s gorgeous sleeping face.
He was passed out cold and impossible to move when I came back to my room, so I decided not to disturb him.
Between the championship game and everything else…he must have been exhausted.
As if feeling my stare, he opens his eyes. “Morning.”
I snuggle against his chest. “Morning.”
“Morning,” a voice that sounds like my dad’s drawls.
We both jolt up in bed.
“Daddy, what—”
“Don’t you daddy what me, young lady.” His angry eyes fix on Cole. “What the hell do you think you’re doing in my daughter’s bed?”
“Sleeping,” Cole answers matter-of-factly.
Daddy isn’t amused.
“Jolene,” he yells. “Get my gun.”
At that, Cole’s eyes turn big as saucers. “Don’t do it, Jolene.” I smack his arm. “I mean, Mrs. Church.” I smack his arm harder, willing him to shut up.
Mama meanders into my room sporting a bathrobe and jumbo curlers in her hair. “What in the world—” Her face turns ashen when she spots Cole. “Oh my.” Clutching her bathrobe, she looks at me. “Sawyer Grace, what is this?”
I start to speak, but Daddy doesn’t let me.
“This is that boy you like so much.” Face red with anger, he points to Cole. “In my daughter’s bed.”
Mama sighs. “I can see that, Dan. I’m not blind.”
“I told you this would happen,” Daddy yells. “I warned you she was getting mixed up with a bad egg.” He points at Cole again. “Now the bad egg is sleeping in her bed.”
“I know how this looks,” Cole states. “But I assure you we didn’t have sex last night.”
The horror on my parents’ faces makes it clear they didn’t think we did…until Cole opened his big, fat trap.
“I would certainly hope not,” Mama says. “I’m not sure what kind of girls you’ve been running around with, young man, but our Sawyer was raised to be a proper lady.”
“Don’t worry,” Daddy says, taking a giant step forward. “This boy won’t be running around at all once I’m through with him.”
Oh, Lord.
“Daddy, stop.” I rub my temples, trying to thwart off the headache that’s forming. “Everyone stop.”
I toss the bedsheets off and get out of bed. I’m suddenly grateful I had the sense to put on some pajamas. “Cole came over to see me last night. He needed help with a school project.”
I hate lying to my parents, but I don’t have much of a choice.
They’d lose their damn minds if I told them he snuck through my window and gave their proper daughter the best orgasm she’s ever had.
“What kind of school project?” Mama questions.
“Math—” Cole starts to say until I shoot him a look.
When was the last time a teacher handed out a math project?
“Which is a very important part of the science project we were working on,” he adds.
He should stick to letting me do the lying.
Mama and Daddy aren’t buying it.
“Let’s see this mathematical science project,” Daddy declares.
“Can’t.” Cole looks at the window like it’s a lifeline. “It’s top secret. If we show it to anyone early, it might alter the clinical results.”
“Young man, do I look like I was born yesterday?”
“No,” Cole says. “You definitely do not look like you were born yesterday.”
Mama rubs her forehead. “Sawyer Grace, you know the rules. No boys in your bedroom.”
“I know…but he needed help.” My hands find my hips. “Not to mention, I’m eighteen now.”
The way they treat me, you’d think I was a ten-year-old running around in a gang. I’m so tired of always being under their thumb, never having any room to breathe or make my own choices.
Given they like Catherine so much more, they ought to take a drive to Brown and bug her for a little while.
“Eighteen means nothing to me, young lady,” my father hollers. “My roof, my rules.” His eyes flicker with disappointment. “You’re grounded for two months.” He motions to Cole. “And you have about two seconds to get out of my house before I break both your legs.”
Anger quickens my pulse. “You can’t ground me. I’m an adult.”
Not to mention, I’ve never been grounded in my life.
He jabs his thumb into his chest. “I most certainly can, missy. I’m the parent. Therefore, I make the rules.”
“You’re not the only parent.” I look at Mama. I’ve never played them against each other before, but desperate times call for desperate measures. “He’s being unreasonable.”
Sympathy shades her eyes. “Dan, she’s right. Sawyer’s never done something like this. In fact, I can’t recall her ever giving us a lick of trouble before.” She sighs. “She’s finally having a social life and making some friends. It’s not right to take that away from her.”
“I wholeheartedly agree,” Cole unhelpfully supplies as he puts on his shoes. “I assure you, your daughter is a very good girl.”
He did not just make an innuendo in front of my father. It’s like he wants to die.
“Would you go on and get!” Daddy yells.
Cole leans down to give me a kiss, but Daddy clears his throat.
“I’ll call you later,” he says as he walks over to the window.
“No, you won’t,” Daddy disputes. “After today, Sawyer no longer has a phone.”
He’s out of his mind. “I pay for my phone. You can’t take it away.”
“My house!” Daddy roars. “My phone.”
That is not the way things work.
I turn to my mother. “Mama do something. Your husband is acting like a maniac. Pretty soon he’ll forbid me to go to school and work.”
He points to the window Cole’s finally crawled out of. “Well, if you intend to meet that boy there, you can kiss both those things goodbye too.”
I’m convinced a demon has possessed my dad. “Do you even hear yourself right now?”
“You’re not taking her phone, Dan,” Mama yells. “And you’re not stopping her from going to school or work either. What in the world has gotten into you?”
“That boy—” Daddy starts to shout before the thread inside me snaps.
I haven’t confronted him about the things he said to Cole, because it hurts too much.
“At least that boy didn’t stand on the front lawn and call his daughter fat behind her back like you did.”
Mama’s mouth drops open.
Hurt splashes across Daddy’s face. “I didn’t—”
“I heard what you told him. I heard every word.” Tears well in my eyes. “I expect it from Mama…but you? God, Daddy. That hurt like hell.”
Guilt colors his face. “Sawyer, you know I think you’re beautiful.”
Lies. All lies. “Yeah, beautiful for a fat girl.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Then how did you mean it? Because the way I heard it, it sounded like you didn’t think someone like Cole could possibly be interested in a fat girl like me.”
“I was only trying to protect you, sweetheart.”
“From what? Someone who put you in your place when you were wrong? Someone who actually cares about me?”
His jaw sets. “I don’t think he does.”
“How would you know? Oh, that’s right—because you were a football player yourself so that automatically means Cole must be bad news too.” I point to the window. “But he’s not. He’s so much more than you think.” Crossing my arms, I glare at him. “Go ahead and try to ground me all you want, but I am not gonna stop seeing him. I’ll move out before that happens.”
He’s speechless.
I walk over to my dresser. “If you’ll excuse me, I ha
ve to get ready for work.”
Sadness fills his eyes. “Sawyer—”
I look at Mama. “Am I grounded, Mama?”
She shakes her head. “No.”
“Good. In that case, I’ll be home late.” I glare at my father. “I’m going to my boyfriend’s house after work since he’s obviously no longer welcome here.”
Chapter 63
Sawyer
“Damn, girl,” Bianca whisper-shouts. “What the hell have you been doing? Because whatever it is, it’s working.”
I try to hide my smile but fail.
It’s been a month since Cole and I have been official, and in that time, I’ve managed to lose another ten pounds.
Mama’s so elated she suggested we go shopping and have a girls’ day this upcoming weekend.
We’ve never had a girls’ day before…that’s always been her thing with Catherine.
I shrug nonchalantly. “Nothing crazy. Just a little low-carb diet.”
“Well, keep it up. Word on the street is Casey is jealous as hell about you taking her place in the kingdom.”
“Place in the kingdom?”
“The queen of RHA, dumbass.”
“I’m not really following.”
She rolls her eyes. “Cole is still the most wanted guy at school. Especially now that he’s fallen for a peasant. For some strange reason, it only makes everyone want him more.” She picks her cuticles. “Anyway, since you’re the one on his arm now, it officially makes you the new queen.” She crinkles her nose. “Well, until next year when I take over.”
That doesn’t sit well with me at all. “I don’t want to be a queen.”
“Too late.” Taking a compact out of her purse, she powders her nose. “Seriously, church girl. I don’t see what the issue is. After the shit these people put you through, you might as well sit back and enjoy it.” She drops her voice to a whisper. “And do something about your hair and makeup while you’re at it.” The compact snaps shut. “The queen must keep up appearances after all.” She blows me a kiss. “Talk to you lat—”
“Yo—” Oakley interjects, striding toward my locker. “Got a minute?”
“For a dirtbag moocher like you?” Bianca questions with a glare. “Never.”
“Save your wrath for someone who actually gives a fuck, baby Satan.” Oakley looks at me. “I was talking to Sawyer.”
Bianca raises her middle finger and licks it. “You’re just jealous because your ex said my pussy tastes way better than your cock.”
Oh, boy. Here we go.
Oakley’s jaw flexes. “Was that before or after she blew me last night?”
Bianca falters. “What?”
“You heard me.” He flashes her a wicked grin. “Let’s just say my blunt wasn’t the only thing she smoked when she came over.”
“You’re lying,” she says, but it doesn’t come out very convincing.
He clicks his tongue. “Want some proof?” He waves Morgan over. “Yo, shorty. Holla at your boy real quick.”
Morgan just about runs. “What’s up?”
He places his arm around her. “Tell Bianca about all the fun me, you, and Hayley had last night.”
Cheeks flaming, Morgan looks around. “What the hell, Oak? You promised what happened would stay between us.”
“Damn. You’re right, boo.” He smacks a kiss on her cheek while glaring at Bianca. “My bad.”
Huffing, Morgan storms off.
Bianca starts to speak, but Oakley leans in and whispers, “Keep fucking with me, baby girl. I dare you.”
The look she shoots him could kill a corpse. “Challenge accepted.”
“What is going on between you two?” I hiss after she walks away.
“Nothing.” He frowns. “But someone should do the world a favor and lock that little psycho in a padded room until she learns to play nice.” He exhales sharply. “Anyway, I got the refill you needed. Meet me in the parking lot after school.”
“Why were you at Oakley’s car?”
I jump at the sound of Cole’s voice. I had no idea he was waiting on the other side of my van.
“What?”
“You went straight to Oakley’s car instead of yours when you got out of school. Why?”
Shit. “Oh. I had to drop off notes.”
“I thought you were coming over to tutor him later. Why couldn’t you give them to him then?”
I hate the look in his eyes right now. Like he doesn’t trust me.
“Why are you giving me the third degree?”
The hard edge to his voice softens a fraction. “I just…fuck. You’re right.”
Closing the distance between us, I wrap my arms around his neck. “You know I’d never hurt you.”
He drops his forehead to mine. “Yeah, I just…” His voice trails off.
“You have no reason to be jealous, Colton.”
“Trust me, I have every reason to be jealous.” He buries his face in my neck, inhaling me. “You’re addicting, Bible Thumper.” His teeth nip at my skin. “But you’re my addiction.”
My eyes flutter closed. “You’re my addiction too.”
Chapter 64
Cole
I step out of the Uber and walk into the church.
Sawyer was supposed to come over and hang out after she tutored Oakley…but she canceled last minute.
On us both.
Given she was running her youth group shit tonight, I’m hoping it’s nothing too serious.
There’s only one way to find out.
It’s empty when I walk inside.
Well, apart from some old man standing at the altar.
It does nothing to help the bad feeling I have brewing in my gut.
“Excuse me. Do you happen to know where Sawyer is by any chance?”
I don’t know what to make of the look on his face. “She’s still downstairs.”
I start to walk away, but he halts me. “Not to be rude, but who are you?”
I raise an eyebrow. Who I am isn’t important. Making sure Sawyer’s okay is.
“Who are you?”
His lips twitch. “I’m the associate-minister of this church.” There’s a beat. “I’m also Sawyer’s granddaddy.”
Well, shit.
It’s like anyone in her life that ends with daddy is destined to hate me.
I hold out my hand. “I’m Sawyer’s boyfriend.”
He shakes it. “First time I’m hearing about her having a boyfriend.”
I don’t know why that irks me so much, but it does.
“It’s only been a few weeks.”
He studies my face. “I see.”
I see too.
I see it’s clear he’s not a fan of me dating his granddaughter.
Tough shit.
“Unless you’re a hypocrite—and let’s face it—most of you people are, I thought a man of the cloth was supposed to like everyone.”
At that, he chuckles. “Well, she did say you were rude.”
That confuses me. “But you just said—”
“I said it was the first time I heard about her having a boyfriend. Not my first-time hearing about you.”
“Oh.”
His eyes crinkle at the corners. “See what happens when you assume?”
“If you’re about to give me a sermon—”
“Do you want a sermon?”
“Not particularly.”
“Then I won’t give you one.” He looks at me curiously. “I just have one question.”
“What’s that?”
“Do you ever get mad at Sawyer?”
What a weird fucking question. I should bullshit my way out of it, but I didn’t come here to impress him.
I came here to see my girl.
“Yeah, actually. A lot. She drives me insane most days. But she also makes me happy. Really fucking happy. So, there’s that.”
I expect him to yell at me for my language, but he doesn’t.
He squeezes my shoulder. “You ended with
a positive. Good for you, young man.”
Ended with a positive?
“What does that mean?” I ask as he walks down the aisle.
He chuckles again. “Ask your girlfriend.”
I’m making my way down the stairs when I hear her.
And him.
“I can’t not tell anyone about this, Oliver.”
Oliver? Who the fuck is Oliver?
An ugly feeling stews in my chest.
I knew it. I knew this thing with Sawyer was too good to be true, and sooner or later, she’d move on to greener pastures.
Her voice drops to a soft whisper. “Please, let me help.”
Help?
“You can’t,” Oliver protests. “Trust me, you’ll only make it worse, baby doll.”
“I’m not gonna let you go back there so he can do this again.”
“Just let it go, Sawyer,” the guy chokes out. “I’m sorry I involved you in my shit.”
“Don’t ever be sorry,” she says. “No one deserves this. You have the right to love whoever you want.”
Muffled sobs infiltrate my ears. “He said I would go to Hell for being a fag.”
“That’s not true,” Sawyer argues. “God doesn’t punish people for love.”
The guy sniffles. “You sure?”
“I’m positive.” She clears her throat. “But you have to let me get you out of there, Oliver. I can’t let him hurt you again.”
“I don’t turn eighteen for another week. He’ll call the cops and they’ll take me back.”
“Then you need to stay with someone, somewhere you’ll be safe. I can ask my parents. And if you don’t want to stay with us, my best friend Dylan and her boyfriend have an extra room in their apartment—”
“No. Thanks, but I can stay with my boyfriend and his mom.” He blows out a shaky breath. “I don’t have any of my stuff though and I’m scared if I go home and start packing…he’ll, you know.”
Beat the shit out of him again.
“I’ll go with you,” Sawyer says. “After that, I can take you to your boyfriend.”
Over my dead body.
Turning the corner, I walk into the room where they’re huddled up on the floor.