Page 17 of My Favorite Sin

I thought I would grow out of this inability to socialize. That Paris would change something within me. But here we are. Still as awkward as ever.

I’ve been so focused on music as a means for dealing with the loneliness, but looking out at the beach party, I can’t lie to myself. I’m jealous. I want everything I see on that beach. The friends. The physical intimacy. The fun. All of it. Being a reckless teenager feels like a rite of passage I missed out on.

I want… Dan. More than anything. But that’s not going to happen. I can’t allow it to happen.

None of these things can happen while I’m kept under such close scrutiny by Sacred Heart and have a reputation to uphold for Forever Families.

“Hey, Ally, you were incredible on that piano.”

The voice makes me jolt. It’s male, young, and vaguely familiar. I turn around, finding a guy with a friendly smile, dressed in a suit, and with blond hair. I recognize him a second later—the guy from the plane. The one I’d been sitting next to, and who had walked with me into the terminal. We parted ways right before I saw Dan.

The two of us barely exchanged any details on the flight. Despite thinking he was attractive and wanting to have a proper discussion with him, the conversation consisted of awkward chit-chat on my behalf about the in-flight entertainment and how the airplane food tasted decent for once. I assumed I’d never see him again, especially after the awkward handshake I initiated at the end, and I haven’t thought about him since.

But now he’s here. What are the chances.

The guy’s name is Ben George, if my memory is correct.

“George, hi.”

His smile broadens. “It’s Ben. My last name is George.”

“I knew that. Sorry.” I cringe on the inside. I’m off to a real great start with this conversation.

“So, you’re like an amazing pianist. That performance inside was incredible.”

“Thank you. My mother is a founder of Forever Families. She asked me to play tonight.”

“Yeah,” he laughs. “I figured from the introduction she gave for your performance.”

Of course he knew that. Everyone here knows that.

“She said you studied music in Paris?”

“Yes. Do you… live in The Hamptons?”

“Yeah, I was vacationing in Paris for the summer. Back to work now.”

“What do you do?” I ask.

“I’m a chef at a restaurant my parents own. And you? You must be a concert pianist or something incredible.”

“Oh, no. I just started a new job at Sacred Heart. It’s… teaching. I’m a piano teacher. Uh… obviously. Sorry.”

He smiles with this look in his eyes, similar to how he looked at me on the plane, like he thinks I’m being endearing. “You know, ever since we had that good chat about airplane food, I’ve regretted not asking for your number.”

It takes me a second too long to realize he’s making a joke about the food conversation. As for the part about my number, he seems genuine. I try to think of a reply, but I’mso shocked that he’s interested in me, nothing leaves my mouth.

“You’re very pretty,” he says. “Would you like to hang out some time?”

Like, as a date? My stomach flutters with a mixture of excitement but also fear. The one time a guy ever asked if I’d like to hang out, I was fourteen and eager, until it turned out to be a dare from one of the girls at school. Ask the loser girl on a date. Kiss her, catch it on camera, and spread the video around school for everyone to laugh over.

“Um… sure. Yes. That would be nice.” Maybe it’s wrong of me to agree when I’m so caught up in my feelings for Dan. But how will I ever get over Dan if I don’t at least try to be with another guy?

Ben retrieves his phone from his pocket. “What are your digits?”

I tell him my phone number, then a moment later my phone buzzes. “Ah, sorry, someone is calling me. Excuse me.”

He laughs again. “Yeah, it’s me.”

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