Page 37 of Sin

“I’ll be fine,” she said, trying to smile but failing miserably.

“You’re not going to be fine.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Why are you afraid of leaning on us?”

She glanced at Hunter. “Because you told me this is a temporary arrangement and I can’t have my heart broken. Any more than it is.”

Hunter frowned. “When did I say that?”

“However long it lasts. That’s what you said. Nothing more than a toy.”

“You took that out of context.”

“Pretty sure I didn’t, but that’s okay. I accept whatever time we have together.”

“Okay, we’re going to discuss this later, because I know it’s not the right time,” Ares interjected. “We want—”

His and Hunter’s phones went off.

“It’s Brim,” Hunter said. “Wants us at the club.”

Ares sighed. “Damn it. Okay. Sweetheart, get some rest. We’ll call you later tonight.”

She nodded and watched them ride away as she entered Livia’s house. Her friend wasn’t home, and the quiet of the place ate at her. Her skin itched like a thousand ants crawled over it. She paced, the anger rising and turning into hate. The need to know why burned through her.

On the kitchen wall was a landline phone, not uncommon since they were in a more rural location. Sometimes storms knocked out cell phone reception. Without thinking about it, she dialed her father’s office phone at the church. He answered on the third ring.

“Reverend Vincent speaking.”

“Such a pretentious way to answer the phone.”

He was silent for a moment. “Adira?”

“My own father, a scumbag of a person. I looked up to you. Trusted you. But you’re nothing more than an awful human being.”

“Daughter, you need to come home. Abel is so worried…”

“I heard you! Cheating on Mom, encouraging Abel to do the same to me. Even Mom is a lying adulterer. The three of you make a happy little family.”

A deep sigh came through the line. “Well, that explains a lot. Come home.”

“I have no home with you. But it doesn’t matter because Ihave a new family now. I just wanted to call and tell you what I think about you now. What a scumbag you are. You always talked about sinning, and what not to do so I can get into Heaven one day, but you should’ve paid attention to your own sermons. Goodbye, Vincent. I hope you and Mom and Abel are happy together.”

“Adira…”

She hung up on him. The call may not have started with a purpose, but she felt cleansed. A festering wound that could now start to heal.

****

She lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling when the sound of a motorcycle reverberated outside. Adria got up and went to her window and saw Hunter get off his bike. He must have seen the curtain move because he looked over and smiled at her. In that moment, everything solidified. She may still be discovering herself, but when it came to Hunter and Ares, she was theirs.

She rose and dressed, stuffing a few changes of clothing in her backpack. Hurrying into the kitchen, she wrote out a quick note for Livia, who had gone out with Courtney, then she was out the door. Hunter caught her as she flew into his arms and gave him a kiss.

“Well, that was enthusiastic,” he said with a grin. “I’m going to have to leave and come back more often.”

“I’m sorry for earlier.”

He shook his head. “Nothing to be sorry for, baby girl. Ares and I understood you weren’t in a good place.”

“I’m in a good place now,” she told him, smiling. “I’ve had an epiphany.”

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