Page 31 of The Sinner (Haven Grace Prep 1)

“Y-yeah. I, um, I have stuff I need to do today anyway.” She stands and moves toward the door. “It was nice seeing you again, Mrs. Hayworth.”

“You too, dear. Don’t be a stranger, okay?”

She nods. I glare at my mother as I back out of the room. I’ll deal with her later.

With one hand on her back, I lead Savannah out the front door. She shiv

ers from the chilly morning air.

“You know, you really shouldn’t drink that much. Someone may take advantage of you.”

Her brows furrow while she looks down at the ground. “So, we didn’t—”

I shake my head before she even finishes the question. “No.”

A part of me considers telling her what she revealed last night, but I don’t think I could stand to listen to her lie and try to tell me something different. She looks up at me, and for once, I see the vulnerability in her eyes.

Real.

Honest.

Exposed.

It almost knocks the wind out of me, and I grip the door handle to keep from doing something I’ll regret.

Thankfully, the car pulls up, and she walks down the steps to get in it. I don’t wait for it to drive away before I turn around and go back inside. When I reach the kitchen, my mom glances from where she’s standing at the stove, her disapproval obvious.

“What?”

She shakes her head. “Nothing.”

I sit at the counter and rest my elbows on it. “You’ve got something on your mind, so spit it out.”

Sighing, she drops the dish towel onto the counter. “I just think you should be a little nicer to Savannah, that’s all.”

My jaw drops, and I can’t believe what she’s saying. After everything that girl has done to my family, she thinks I should be nicer? That bitch should be grateful I didn’t leave her at that party and let her enjoy the consequences of her choices.

“I don’t get it,” I say in utter shock. “I know you’ve seen the tape. The one that helped convict dad of a crime he didn’t commit. For God’s sake, it was practically the final nail in the coffin. Why the fuck would you be so forgiving of her?”

“She was a child, Grayson. She didn’t know what she was saying.”

“Oh, like hell she didn’t!” I shout. “She was old enough to tell me she wanted to marry me one day. Old enough to sneak out of her house to meet me in the middle of the night. Don’t try to tell me that bullshit. She knew exactly how wrong it was when it came out of her mouth.”

Not wanting to hear another word of this nonsense, I get up and storm out of the room. There isn’t a damn thing anyone can say to change my mind. She deserves to pay for the things she’s done.

11

Savannah

The sun shines in through the window, pulling me from what was such a good dream. My head is pounding, but something feels different. This bed is more comfortable than I remember mine being, and none of the windows in my room face the sunrise.

I peek my eyes open, and my breath hitches. I’d recognize this room anywhere. I spent so much time here when I was younger, it was practically my second home. Grayson’s guest room. Whenever our dads would have to go away on business, Grayson’s mom would watch us both. I always loved this room, because of how close it was to his.

How did I get here?

Getting out of bed, I realize I’m still in the same clothes I wore to the party last night. Thank God. At least they’re still on. I slip out the door, trying to be as quiet as possible as I make my way down the stairs. Just as I get to the bottom and think I’m home free, a voice startles me.

“Hey, stranger.”

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