Strictly f*******n Intent

5. Sawyer

Sawyer

“Breathe.” Wes chuckles as we make our way to the front door.

I’m overreacting a bit, but my dad’s rotating door of women has made me the subject of conversation more times than I care to admit. Even though what’s going on with my mom and Wes’s dad is totally different, it’ll still raise some eyebrows. It’s a lot for someone who doesn’t like to be the center of attention.

I nod and offer a weak smile, grateful I don’t have to do this alone. I’d prefer not to do it with the hottest boy in school, because I’d rather indulge in the fantasy that he’s my hot guy and not my future stepbrother. But it’s significantly easier to face the day knowing he’s got my back.

“Yo, Wes.” We both turn toward the sound of his name ringing through the parking lot. “Who’s your girl?” a beefy guy asks as he shuffles to us.

“Jen’s daughter, right? I’m Ryan,” says a shaggy blond with a build similar to Wes’s. “We met at your Mom’s flip this summer.” He gestures to three other guys with him, all varying degrees of imposing. I vaguely remember meeting them at the job site of my mom's summer investment project, but at the time I’d been distracted by the x-rated video they’d been watching of her and Anthony. Fortunately, they still don’t realize who they were looking at.

“Hi,” I muster.

“You remember Carter, Bennet and Will, receiver, guard and center.” Wes points at each of them in turn, landing on the beefy guy last. “Ryan’s another receiver.”

I smile and nod, having nothing to contribute to the football talk.

“Guys, you remember Sawyer. My future step-sister.” He slings his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in for a side hug, causing my temperature to rise even as my limbs freeze.

Four sets of square jaws drop halfway to the ground as they take us in. Wes winks at me, his eyes glinting with laughter. I can’t help but smile back. Unfortunately, the light moment is short-lived, the guys recovering their shock somewhat awkwardly.

“Seriously?”

“Are you shitting me?”

“Way to go big Tony! Making a move on the hot MILF,” Will exclaims, drowning out the comments of the others. He raises his arm for a high five but drops it abruptly when he realizes Wes is glaring at him.

“Uh. Wow. Congratulations,” Ryan stutters. “When’s the big day?”

I decide right then Ryan is my favorite. I hope the rest of the school reacts the same way.

“No date yet.” Wes pulls his arm off me and slings his backpack over a shoulder. “Jen and Sawyer moved in over the weekend though, so I’m sure we’ll know soon.”

He glosses right over the fact that they aren’t technically engaged. I say a little thank you in my head.

“Cool man.” Bennet offers an awkward smile.

“Yeah, great news.” Carter stuffs his hands in his pockets and studies the ground.

I smile and nod, unsure of what else to say. Though the guys voice their support their expressions read shock and confusion. Thankfully, Wes rescues me again. “I’ll tell you ladies all about it at lunch, but right now we need to get to class.” Wes takes my arm and spins me so we’re facing the school. I shoot him an alarmed look as we make our way to the door, and not because my body jolts when he touches me.

Somehow, he knows what has me alarmed. Slowing us to a stop he whispers, “Trust me. They’ll get the Cliffs Notes version.”

I glance up to find him staring at me intently, and I’m struck by the sincerity in his gaze. Whatever he plans to tell his teammates, it won’t include details of that video.

“Okay.” I take a fortifying breath.

“Four down, only the entire school left. Ready?” He smirks, and somehow his confidence relaxes me.

“Ready.” I smile.

“You got this. See you after practice.” He jogs towards the senior lockers while I make my way to the sophomore hallway.

I do got this!

***I don’t got this.

I vastly underestimated the ability of the student body to spread gossip. I couldn’t enter a single classroom without every set of eyes turning in my direction, although by the end of the day I would have taken the looks over the conversation that followed.

“Is it true you live with Wes Strait?”

“Do you share a bathroom?”

“Does he walk around without his shirt on?”

“Have you seen him n***d?”

“Tell me he’s big everywhere!”

And my personal favorite, “We should hang out sometime,” because every girl wants to be used to get closer to her hot brother. Stepbrother. Future stepbrother.

By the time cross country practice starts, I want to run out of my skin. I feel so icky.

“Whoa girl, that’s quite the pace you’re setting.” My teammate Hollie pants as she falls into stride beside me, her strawberry blond hair swinging behind her with each step. “What gives?”

I don’t know Hollie very well. She’s a grade ahead of me and someone I only see at practice, but in the past, we’ve kept each other company while we train, and she seems like someone I could enjoy. Plus, her attention isn’t based on my newfound popularity.

“I’m just glad not to be cooped up at a desk.” I downplay my speed.

“And here I thought you were running from all your new friends.” She gives my arm a little nudge as she says it.

“Ugh, not you, too.” I groan.

“I couldn’t help it. I saw you surrounded by a horde of excited girls at lunch, and you looked about ten seconds from making a break for it. You don’t like your new groupies?”

“Let’s just say if anyone else asks me what Wes looks like n***d, which I can’t answer by the way, my brain will explode.”

“That’s what they want to know?” Her jaw drops.

“Among other things.”

“That wouldn’t be my first question.” A tiny crease appears between her brows.

“What would yours be?”

“Who did you piss off to end up off-limits to the hottest guy in school?”

At first, I don’t think I hear her right, but after replaying the words in my head I have to stop to catch my breath since I’m laughing so hard. She has no idea how right she is. The whole thing is so messed up I have to laugh about it, so I don’t cry.

We finish the rest of practice having giggled more than we actually ran, and while that would normally frustrate me, I’m glad for the reprieve. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last.

“Hey,” a perky blonde cheerleader says as a group of them approach. “You’re the one who just moved in with Wes. Sawyer, right?”

“Yeah.” I dart a look toward Hollie to see if she knows what’s happening. She just shrugs.

“Jessie.” The blonde gives a little wave. “Ever think of cheerleading? It might be a nice way to support your stepbrother.”

“Oh. Um, thanks, but I’ve already committed to the cross country team.”

“That’s cool, but running is sort of anti-social. No offense,” she rushes to add. “Cheerleaders are involved in everything. Games, spirit rallies, everything. All year long. It’s a lot of fun. And we get to ride the bus to and from the games with the football team.”

Apparently, this is a big deal, because all the girls have dreamy looks on their faces.

“Thanks, but I’d actually prefer not to be involved in all that. I don’t like football.”

They gasp in unison. I see Hollie try to stifle a laugh.

“You don’t like football? That’s…that’s just wrong. It doesn’t make any sense. Does Wes know that? I mean, he’s like, the best player on the team. He’s got a scholarship next year and everything. Don’t you want to support him?”

They're genuinely mortified, maybe even offended, that I don’t like football. I want to laugh, but I don’t think they’re trying to sound as ignorant as they come across. Evidently, they just really like football. And cheerleading. That’s exactly why I don’t belong in their group. Besides, they never would’ve asked me to join if it weren’t for my connection to Wes, and who wants to be a pawn in that game?

“Yeah, Wes knows I don’t like it. He also knows I don’t have to like the game to support him.”

“Cheerleading isn’t just about cheering for football though,” Jessie says solemnly. “We cheer for lots of games, and we do competitions all over. It’s a tough sport.”

Now she’s backtracking, probably more to stay on my good side in case I tell Wes about this than because she’s worried about offending me. Whatever. I don’t care either way as long as I remain somewhat invisible, something I’ve managed pretty well so far.

All the kids in my grade know who I am and who my dad is, so I’m old news to them. Of course, each time my dad has a new girlfriend I’m the center of attention, but that only lasts for a day or two. The rest of the time I’m just…there.

I’m friendly to people and they’re friendly to me, but we aren’t friends. Not really. The way people talk about my dad makes it hard for me to believe they’ll respect me enough to keep my confidence. As a result, I have more acquaintances than friends, and I’m not desperate enough for acceptance to let myself be used. That said, I’m not bitchy enough to accumulate unnecessary enemies.

“I know cheerleading is really demanding,” I tell Jessie, and I’m not just saying that. The school has won cheering competitions for years, and obviously these girls are all athletic in addition to being pretty. “But I’m the least coordinated person you’ll ever meet. I wouldn’t be doing you any favors as a teammate. Thanks for thinking of me though.”

The girls shrug and make their way back to the patch of grass they were training on. Hollie lets out a low whistle.

“Wow, you put them in their place without putting them in their place. How’d you do that?”

“I wasn’t trying to, I just told them the truth. I’d be a horrible cheerleader.”

“You also said you don’t like football, and you said it with a straight face.” Her expression says she’s waiting for the joke.

“That was the truth too.”

“Really? Isn’t your dad a football player?” She scrunches her nose.

“My dad’s too busy playing football to be a dad. Besides, who wants to watch a single game for four hours?”

“I’m going to have to side with the Power Puff Girls on this one.” Hollie shakes her head. “Not liking football is just wrong.”

“Why?”

“Have you seen the butts in those tight football pants? Damn, I could watch that all day.” She seems to disappear in her own mind for a second.

“Oh well that’s different. Butts I like, it’s the game I don’t care for.”

“News flash, you have to watch the game to see the butts.” Hollie tries not to grin as she delivers this blow.

“Or you could just run past the football field while they’re practicing. Same view.”

She c***s her head as she considers this. “I’ll still watch the game, but you’ve just inspired me to change my training route.”

I smile and laugh along with her, but inside I’m freaking out, because until that little excuse I hadn’t given serious thought to how butts looked in football pants, and now I can’t get the idea out of my head. Especially the idea of one certain butt, which is the one it’s best I never see.