Page 7 of The Sinner (Haven Grace Prep 1)

“Savannah? Hello?” Carter waves his hand in front of my face, snapping me out of it. “Damn, girl. I don’t think Brady would be too happy to find out you were checking out the new quarterback.”

“Q-quarterback?” I croak. This is the new QB?

“Savannah, this is Grayson. Grayson, Savannah. She’s the captain of the cheerleading squad.” Jace introduces us, completely oblivious to the fact that we already know each other. Hell, at one point we knew each other better than anyone. “You would’ve met her last week at practice, but her dad took her to Bora Bora.”

I’m about to open my mouth when Grayson cuts me off. “I’ve got to get to class.” He snarls, walking away before anyone gets a chance to say anything.

My eyes can’t seem to look away from his retreating body as he disappears into the crowd. The last thing I ever expected was for Grayson Hayworth to be the new quarterback. I’ve spent countless hours trying to find him, never with any success. No social media. No listed phone number. No address in the phone book. Even Brady’s boyfriend, Jacob, the son of a private investigator, couldn’t find anything on him. Still, that hasn’t stopped me from trying every now and then.

“What’s stuck up his ass?” Becca asks.

Carter smiles. “I saw him talking to one of the Callahan twins a few minutes ago. She ran off when I asked who she is. He’s probably pissed I fucked up his game.”

Kinsley shakes her head. “No, he said he’s known her since he was a kid. I didn’t think Grayson knew anyone from here.”

“Before this morning, all you knew was his name,” Paige sasses.

She scoffs. “Whatever. I’m going to go make sure he’s okay.”

Just as she goes to walk away, I grab her by the wrist—a little tighter than necessary. “Leave him alone and go to class.”

The thought of Kinsley going anywhere near Grayson has me seeing red. If she knows what’s good for her, she will stay away from him. Otherwise, I’ll do whatever it takes to ruin her life, and I won’t even bat an eye as she begs me to stop.

“Ooh,” Jace coos. “Has someone other than Brady Laurence finally gotten Savannah’s attention?”

“Please.” I wave him off dismissively. “I’m just trying to save the poor guy from being hounded on his first day. The last thing your shitty team needs is for your new star player to run off because Kinsley is breathing down his neck.”

Carter scowls. “Aye! Who are you calling our star player?”

Laughing, I reach up and pat his cheek. “Aw, don’t get butthurt, Carter. You’re still my favorite.”

“Damn right, I am.”

The bell rings, and we all start heading separate ways. It’s the one period we aren’t all in the same class. When I get to mine, Miss Layton gives me a look, but it softens when I smile shyly. It’s when I’m about to reach my seat that I stop. Sitting in the normally empty seat next to mine is Grayson, and he looks anything but thrilled at my presence.

“Fifty-eight, fifty-nine, sixty! Ready or not, here I come!”

I start looking around for my friends. If I know Tessa as well as I think I do, she ditched this game as soon as I started counting and went inside for a snack. As for Delaney, she’s probably somewhere stupid like behind a tree or in a bush.

“Laney,” I singsong as I walk around the backyard. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.” A giggle from behind one of the bushes gives her away. “Ah-ha! Got you!” I jump out in front of her.

She screeches and falls back onto her butt, totally caught off guard. “Savannah!” she whines. “Do you really have to scare me every time?! Stop it!”

“What’s the fun in that?” I offer her my hand and pull her up off the ground. “I think Tessa went inside. Go find her while I go find Grayson.”

Looking around my yard and hers, I know he’s not here. There’s only one other place I can think to look. I run across the street and into Grayson’s backyard, quietly closing the gate behind me. I get to the treehouse and climb up. If he isn’t up here, it’ll at least give me a good vantage point to look from.

The second I open the hatch, Grayson pops out with a “Boo!” My foot misses the step and I scream, nearly falling out of the tree. He grabs my hand at the last second and holds onto me while I find my footing again, then he falls over—laughing hysterically.

“It’s not funny, Gray! I could have gotten really hurt!” I sit in the corner and cross my arms, pouting.

He looks over at me and smiles. My heart rate quickens at the sight of it, something that’s been happening more and more often lately. Just like that, I can’t possibly be angry at him anymore. Not when he’s smiling at me like I’m his favorite person. Still, I do my best to act upset.

“Oh, come on. I had to after the way you scared Delaney. I could hear her squeal from here.” He gets up and comes over to sit next to me, poking me in the cheek when I refuse to look at him. “Savi.” Poke. “Savi.” Poke. “Savi.”

This time when he goes to poke me, I slap his hand away. “Stop. I’m mad at you.”

He sighs and wraps his arms around me, pulling me into him. I try my best to control my breathing, but with him this close, I don’t stand a chance. Instead, I lean my head against him, and the tension leaves my body.

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