Page 76 of My Favorite Sin

“Scared off?” He laughs softly, cupping my jaw in his palms. “You can be vulnerable around me. I won’t run away or judge you.”

My God. He’s being a dream.

Liam takes the heel of my palm and raises it to his lips. The gesture makes me smile a little. The weirdness of the day hasn’t worn off, but after having my moment of weakness, I can push through this.

CHAPTER THIRTY

ALLY

The work week starts off a drag, even more so than usual. I’m mentally drained from the panic attack on my birthday and it shows when even my students ask if I’m all right. I can’t bring myself to wake up early to join Killian and Violet for our runs. Each day when work finishes, I remain behind, having no energy to act happy around Mom and Josh. I tell them I’m busy with work.

Instead, I stay cooped up in my classroom, playing the piano late into the evenings because I miss the feeling of transcendence it gives me. But most of all, because it occupies my mind and I don’t have to think about anything else, especially the one man who refuses to leave my head.

Come Wednesday at five p.m., Violet knocks on my classroom and enters. “I have a date tonight.”

My fingers stop mid-song and I smile. Other people’s dating lives I can be excited for. Mine, not so much. “Nice. With Killian?”

She gives me the middle finger and laughs. “A guy I met on a dating app. I need to ask a massive favor. Can I please raid your closet for something cute to wear?”

“Of course.” I cuss inside my head, knowing I’ll have to return home earlier than usual. But I’ll do it for Violet.

I close the piano and pack up my belongings. As the two of us head to Violet’s car, she gushes about all the conversations she’s had with this guy, but as soon as we pull out of the parking lot, the focus shifts to me.

“How was your birthday with Liam?”

I sigh and tell her the truth. “It was nice aside from the panic attack I had.”

“Shit. What happened?”

“I don’t know. I was just… over stimulated.”

Violet chews her bottom lip. I can tell she wants to say something, so I ask her to spit it out. “You reckon you would have had a panic attack with this other guy?”

“What other guy?”

“You know, the one you had sex with at the benefit.” Her grin is filled with mischief. I jab her ribs and she squeals.

“We didn’t—” I sigh, avoiding that topic. To answer her question, the absence of Dan on my birthday definitely didn’t help the panic attack situation. “I know you don’t like Liam because of the open relationship thing. But he’s changed. Can we focus on your date tonight? What do you want to wear?”

We talk about potential outfits for the rest of the drive home. When we step through my front door, I head upstairs, guiding Violet to my room, wanting to avoid my parents. But I’m not quick enough. By the time I reach the fourth step, I can already hear Mom approaching.

“Honey, is that you?” She enters the hallway, looking far more fancy than she should for a random Wednesday night. Her hair is perfected with long golden curls, and she has the most gorgeous floral dress on. I assume she’s having adate night with Josh. “You’re home in time for dinner. Oh, and you’ve brought Violet. Excellent. Why don’t you help me set the table? Violet, are you staying for dinner?”

“She has a date,” I answer. “I’m helping her find an outfit. I’ll be down soon.”

“Honey?” Mom rests a hand at the bottom of the staircase railing, watching me with a concerned look. “Are you feeling all right? You haven’t been yourself recently. Ever since the knife attack.”

Since the night I slept with Dan.

I force a smile. “Just tired and overworked. I’m okay.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I’ve cooked your favorite dinner.” Mom climbs the staircase and takes my hand in hers, guiding me back down to the ground.

“Mom, what are you doing?”

Violet chuckles, following the two of us.

“Mom, seriously.”

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