Page 36 of Sin

Then he turns off the lights, and I can hardly see a thing.

“This is too dark. I won’t be able to read.”

“Good. You’ll be ready for bed sooner.”

I groan as he marches toward the door. “I’ll be right back,” he says before disappearing.

While he’s gone, I quickly grab my phone from the coffee table in front of me. I’m surprised he didn’t take it away when he lit the candles. He already nagged me via text this past week that I’m not allowed to use my phone an hour before bed unless it’s for reading and I dim the brightness.

When I swipe the screen, my breath catches. I have a text from Jake.

Jake: I’m at a party a few streets down from your sorority. Any chance you can stop by and say hi?

Well, well. It took a week, but he finally texted me. Maybe the shy guy is finally ready to make a move.

Why isn’t my stomach flipping over? I’ve had a mild crush on him for weeks. He’s such a contrast to Mason, so mild-mannered and with a calmness I probably would have found boring months ago but now puts me at ease.

I’m not as excited as I thought I’d be. I’m not even disappointed that I have to tell him no. My domineering coach would never allow me to go to a party when he’s trying to help me train myself to sleep.

Somehow, the thought of spending a quiet night with Ethan sounds much better than going to a party with Jake.

I don’t have time to contemplate that thought further when Ethan strides into the room and sets a steaming coffee mug on the table in front of me. “Chamomile tea,” he says before placing a small pill next to a glass of water. “And melatonin. Drink the tea now and take this right before bed.”

I keep my head down so that he can’t see my amusement at his commanding tone. After nodding, I reach for the mug. Warmth seeps into my hands as I take a sip.

Ethan’s gaze shifts to my phone lying on my lap . Without a word, he grabs it and heads toward his desk. “I thought you already put this away. I told you no phone before bed. I’m putting this in my drawer.”

“Wait, I need to send a text first.” I reach out my hand. “It’s Jake.”

Ethan whips around, his eyes wide. “The guy from the coffee shop?”

“Yeah, the one I told you I like.”

He stiffens, his jaw clenching. For a moment, he stares at me as if in indecision, but then he drops the phone into the drawer and shuts it with a snap. “You can text him back in the morning.”

I stare at him, fighting a smile. His shoulders are rigid, and his hard gaze is fixed on my face.

Maybe I wasn’t imagining it in the coffee shop. I think he really is jealous.

The thought sends a rush of heat through my veins. What if Ethan’s overprotectiveness was always somewhat rooted in jealousy? It seems so odd that he would form a sudden attraction to me after one angry kiss. Maybe he’s always wanted me, and he fought his attraction.

And what about me? Did I delight in provoking him because deep down, I wanted his attention? The way he looks at me now, with his iconic stern intensity, makes heat pool in my tummy.

Without another word, Ethan grabs a book from his desk and sits down beside me. His scent washes over me, fresh and clean with a hint of citrus.

I’ve always loved the way he smells. Even on the sidelines after a game—when he was sweaty—his scent had an undeniable earthy appeal. That has to be attraction. Liking someone’s scent is such a primal thing, a deep, instinctual pull that defies logic.

To distract myself from these unsettling thoughts, I glance at the book in his hands. Oh my God, it’s a Bible.

How adorable. The golden boy reads his Bible at night before bed.

“Is it interesting?” I ask, fighting a smile. “I’ve never read it.”

He lets out a long sigh. “I wish I could say it was. I read through the whole thing every year, and there are some good stories. But most of it is…such a slog. I feel like a bad Christian, especially compared to my brother. He finds this whole book fascinating.”

“Well, you’re not a pastor like your brother. I’m sure God will forgive you. At least you’re reading it, which is more than I can say for most Christians I know.”

“I read it every night before bed, no matter what.” He looks up at me, his smile lazy. “That’s about as much as God can expect from a brainless gym rat like me, huh?”

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