Graham (Scandalous Boys Book 2) (22 page)

“Jesus, I don’t have time for this!” I yelled at her. “Your dick of a brother won’t let me in!”

She sighs. “Fine. Break in. Although I don’t see why you want to. You’re better than this. She’s a horrible person!”

“Madison! Shut up! All that shit on the interview was taken out of context,” I growl.

“You know what, dude? Ladder’s in the garage. Don’t fucking yell at my girl because of what we saw on the news. Let’s not forget the fact that Sarah cheated on you and did horrible shit to Mads most of her life.”

I huff out my frustration. “I know. I got it. Maddy, sorry for being pissy. Thanks for the ladder, man.”

I head to the garage, which opens a minute later. Bryce points to the wall. He turns back into the house before I can even get out a thank you. God, he’s so moody. Of course I’d probably be equally as pissed if I was in the middle of getting some and he came over asking for something.

I line it up against the house just under Madison’s window and climb the cold steel rungs. Hopefully the window is still unlocked. If it isn’t, I hope she lets me in.

At the window, I try to push it up. It goes a little, and then the damn thing sticks.
Shit!
I try forcing it up more, but it’s not budging. This isn’t my only problem, though.

A blood-curdling scream comes from the room.

“Sarah!” I yell, trying to bust the window. Lights in her room flip on. Kyle and Mrs. Issac rush over to the window.

The curtain separates, and Kyle shakes his head at me. Mrs. Issac, on the other hand, scolds me. “Graham Nichols! What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“I … uh … I needed to see Sarah.”

She glowers at me. “We use the front door. Not windows.” She slams the window shut and locks it.

Well, this sucks.

I climb down the ladder and return it to Bryce’s garage. After I close his door, I return to the Issacs’ house.

Mrs. Issac steps out on the porch wrapped up in sweater. “She doesn’t want to see you. She doesn’t want to see anyone. I know you mean well, but if I ever catch you trying to sneak into my house again, you will not like me. Do I make myself clear?”

I nod. “I just wanted to let her know I’m here. Can you tell her?”

“When she’s ready, hon, she’ll call.” She walks back into the house, so I head home.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Sarah

I’m being a big, spoiled brat. I totally know this. But it doesn’t matter.

When I finally got the courage to visit Graham, his mom told me he was at his last meeting.

“Last meeting?”

“The school has decided to let him attend spring semester,” Ms. Nichols said with so much delight. I only wished I could have felt that kind of joy over the news she gave me. I couldn’t.

So I faked a smile and left.

I’ve refuse to see him ever since. What would be the point? He’s leaving. Just like everyone I’ve ever cared about.

What sucks the most is how much I miss him. Break isn’t even over yet, and I crave his presence. This is why I need to keep him away from me. I’m so attached. The boy has stolen my damn soul. Yes, it’s my fault for letting him take it. And now, I have to figure out how to get over someone a second time. How do you possibly move on after they stole all of you? Can someone tell me?

With my very bruised heart, I head to work. Michelle waves to me, but I barely wave back. She’s been kind enough to let me sulk. She hasn’t pushed. Unlike Madison, who has apologized but constantly asks me why I won’t see Graham.

She doesn’t understand. And I’m not going to explain it to her. Waiting to see someone on the weekends sucks! Waiting to see them for months really blows. And that’s what this would be.

“Hey, chica, you know I’m here for you, right?”

I nod. “Thanks.”

“Your boy is in here. I’d lie for you, but I’m pretty sure he’ll spot that eyesore of a car you drive in the lot.”

I nod again. “I’ll go in the back and start on the tills.”

“Oh, um … Brandon says he wants you to go count inventory.”

“But … I always count tills.”

She frowns at me. “I know. Uh … It’s just … Oh, for goodness’ sake. Listen, Brandon is just being paranoid about your … Just go do some inventory today, and I’ll talk to him. Promise.”

“Don’t bother.” I stomp off to Brandon’s office and enter without knocking.

He sets down his phone and blushes. “Sarah? What can I do for ya?”

“Nothing. It’s what I can do for you. I quit. So you won’t have to worry if I’m a good employee or a thief like my parents.” I slam my name tag down on his desk.

I pivot to leave, and he stutters, “N-now, t-that’s not what we think.”

I swivel back around. “We?
We?
You know, I actually don’t care. I quit. End of story.”

As I’m leaving, Brandon follows. “Sarah, be reasonable!”

I flip him off. He’s not my boss. He’s nobody. Fuck him.

“Sarah,” Michelle says as I pass the customer service counter, “where are you—”.

I keep marching right out the door. There is no reason to answer them. Any of them really.

In the parking lot, I don’t expect someone to stop me. But I’m wrong once again. A hand latches on to my wrist. “Sarah, what’s going on?”

“Let me go, Graham.”

“Look at me please.” He tries to raise my head up, but I turn away.

“Let me go. Please.”

He does. “Okay. I just … Are you okay?”

I hate that he knows me so well. Why couldn’t he hate me like most people do? Why couldn’t he just give up on me? “I gotta go.” I hurry off to my car and shut myself in it. Part of me wishes he’d come pounding on my window. The other part is grateful he lets me leave.

Nothing stops the tears or the ache in my chest.

***

Maddy studies me from the far side of our room. “What?” I growl.

“I’m sorry. Truly I am.”

“Madison.” I rub my temples. “I know. I told you a billion times that I forgive you.”

She walks over to my bed and sits down. “Want to do something? We’ll leave the city. Take a long drive to no specific destination. We’ll stop when we reach a fourth of a tank. Or something like that. What do you say?”

“I don’t feel like leaving.” I lay back on the bed and stare at the ceiling.

“Too bad.” Her face blocks my view. “It’s my birthday, and this is what I want to do. Let’s go.”

She grabs my hands and yanks me off the bed. “First, you need to change. I’m not taking a road trip with you dressed like that. You can put on PJs or be in totes grunge mode, but you can’t be in that godawful cashier outfit.”

I laugh. It’s the first genuine one I’ve managed for a week. I go grab a change of clothes. “Don’t you have a special date with Bryce tonight?”

She smiles. “We’ll be back in time for it. And if I’m a little late, it’ll be okay. He’ll understand.”

“Must be nice,” I mutter.

“Hey. You’ll get through this. I promise. And I know you want me drop it, and I swear I am, but not until after I say this: Graham’s a really good guy, and he loves you. I mean, he did piss my mom off by trying to climb through our window. But he was dying to see you, to make sure you were okay. Seriously, if it wasn’t for him I’d probably still be mad.”

“I know. But he’s leaving. His suspension is lifted so he can go back to school. I’m still going to be here, though. And I don’t want to be one of those girls who chases after a guy. I won’t do it.”

She nods. “I get it. I don’t want you to turn into that kind of person either. I’ll punch you in the face if you do.”

I laugh again. “Thanks. Glad to know you’ll smack some sense into me.”

“No. I’ll knock it into you. Way different.” She winks. “Ready?”

“Yeah.”

***

Our trip lands us in Chattanooga.

Madison and I get out of the car, and I breathe in the air, which smells of river water. “When I first got my car, I drove here.”

“Why?” I ask. Don’t get me wrong; it’s pretty, but it just seems unlike Madison to drive all the way down here for no reason.

“Well … it was right around the time Graham started dating some girl named Diane. I hated her. Her perkiness. Her perfect hair and skin. I wanted to push her in a big patch of mud. But I couldn’t do that.” She laughs, but I can feel the jealously course through me. I haven’t met this girl, and yet I want to shove her in a big tub of mud. “So silly to think about it now. I mean I really thought forever that I was so in love with him. Man, I never realized how wrong I could be about something. You know?”

She shrugs, as if answering her own question. “Point is I was so infatuated and felt tormented watching them being all cuddly and stuff. So I drove down here. Thinking maybe some distance would cause him to miss me or something. Turns out the only people who wondered where the heck I was were Emily, Kyle, and my parents.” She picks up a stone and tosses it up in the air.

“When did you realize Graham wasn’t the one you wanted?” I ask.

She turns her gaze to me. “First week you moved in. I was in the park crying, and Bryce found me. I was a snotty mess—and a total bitch. He didn’t let my attitude get to him, though. He didn’t press me for reasons as to why I was sobbing like a crazy person. And when he found me climbing into his tree house, he didn’t tell me to get the hell out. Which he had every right to do. Nope. That sweet boy surprised me with kindness. Bringing me a blanket and a pillow. I think that’s when I started to see things a little more clearly.

“I liked being treated like a princess. Even if I didn’t deserve it. And I knew Graham wouldn’t treat me like that. It took me a little while, but then I saw how he treated you. And I just knew. Bryce was my prince charming and Graham was yours.” She smiles.

I frown and kick some dirt. “He’s not mine. I mean, yes, I love him. God, Madison, I love him. But he’s going to be at school. Then summertime comes. What if … what if he sees what everyone else sees? I can’t get over disappointing him again.”

She hugs me. “Hey. He won’t see you like that. And screw everyone else. I’m sorry for being a jerk. Really. I’m sorry.”

“I know.”

She pulls back, wiping tears from her eyes. “Dang it. Let’s go find some Christmas carolers or something.”

I laugh and follow her back to her car.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Graham

In three days, I’m going to be in Knoxville. Where am I now? Inside Bryce’s tree house with a beer in my hand staring at Maddy’s fucking house. More specifically, Sarah’s window.

I don’t get her! I practically did a B&E on her room to make sure she was okay. And instead of telling me, “Hey, thanks for checking up on me. I love how much you care about me,” or something equally as girly, this chick ignores me. In fact, she won’t even take my calls, answer my texts, or see me. No! She has her family guarding her.

I roll my eyes and take a swig of the beer currently getting warm in my hand.

“Dude. Are you going to watch the house all night?”

I break my gaze from Sarah’s room. “Why are women so damn confusing?”

Bryce shrugs. “Beats the hell out of me.” He laughs. “I never thought we’d have this conversation.”

“I sound like a pussy. Jesus! When did I turn into some pussy-whipped douche?”

He laughs. “Not sure, man. But welcome to the club. Don’t tell Madison I said that, or I’ll kick your ass.”

I shake my head. “I should have stayed the hell away from Sarah. What the fuck was I thinking?”

He clinks our beers together. “Welcome to my whole problem last year. Listen, you like her, right? Just give her some space, bro. I think eventually she’ll come around. Look at Mads. I gave her some space, and now we’re solid. You know?”

“Um, I hate to rain on your parade, but Madison left you. Then you went chasing after her. I’ve been trying to chase after Sarah but”—I glare at the window again—“the damn girl has purposely dodged all my attempts. So I’m done.”

He takes a drink of his beer and sighs. “Dude, this shit is flat-out depressing. Let’s finish these beers and go play some video games.”

“Fine.” I chug down whatever is left in my bottle and head inside the house.

***

After I climb into my car to head back to Knoxville, I swing by her house.

Kyle, thank Jesus, already left. So maybe … just maybe she’ll let me in. I rap on the door. A few seconds pass. I knock again, a little louder this time.

I glance back at her car parked in the drive. Then I peek around the side of the house and notice Madison’s parents’ cars are in the drive. What the hell? I know they can hear me.

I would go grab Bryce’s ladder again, but he and Maddy have already gone off to Pennsylvania. Whatever. I’m done playing these games with her. She wants space? Awesome. She can have five fucking months’ worth.

I slap a note under her windshield wiper then head off.

***

I’ve been on campus for a week now, and I’m sick of it. Something is definitely wrong with me. The day of my suspension, I was literally kicking and screaming and clinging to every lamppost. Kidding. But for real, I didn’t want to leave.

Now, I miss home. I know. What the hell am I saying? Missing that dead-end wasteland over this place? It’s a crime, that’s what it is. You’d think being here would make me happy again. I’m not.

I sluggishly make my way back to my dorm. A shoulder slams directly into me. “Watch it!” I shout.

“Freshdouche? Who the fuck let you back in?”

I roll my eyes at the twat frat boy who my beer pong skills put to shame. I start to walk off when this mofo grabs me. “Hey, bitch! I asked you a question.”

“Get your hands off me!” I shove him off, and he takes a swing. I dodge it. This dude is not worth the trouble. But I’m not about to run away like some pussy either.