Page 41 of Wicked Sins

The worst part is that, more than once, I wake up with my hands down my underwear. And I’m always soaking wet down there, usually still tingling on the brink of a climax.

Again,notcomplaining.

I’m just wondering how normal it is. Not the dreams, but the shame that comes after.

* * *

Josiah doesa double-take when I walk into the kitchen. He makes a show of looking at the large clock on the wall. “You wet the bed?”

My cheeks flame, and I hang my head so my hair will hide my embarrassment. I hadn’t thought he’d be down here—his bedroom door was closed, so I was sure he was still asleep.

I almostdidwet the bed. At least, my underwear was soaked again when I woke up this morning.

“I’m glad you’re finally figuring out how it works,” he says, seeming oblivious to the fact that I’m not in the mood for small talk.

When he doesn’t carry on talking, I’m part grateful, part curious. I pour myself a coffee, and then turn around and blow steam off the top with a big sigh. “How what works?” I mumble.

He’s sitting at the breakfast nook, going through something on his phone, and replies without looking up. “Early to bed, early to rise.”

I growl and stalk out of the kitchen. Wayne’s been away for a business thing the past two days, so I haven’t been up to his study in a while. And although I did lock myself in my room early last night, it had nothing to do with the fact that I was going to bed.

My stomach turns itself inside out.

I can’t be more grateful for my damn dreams waking me up so early today. I got some of the worst news of my life yesterday, and I’m still kinda reeling.

I failed my Science test.

Somehow, despite the notes, despite Joah’s reminders, despite everything…

I’d walked into class on Monday without having studied a single page.

Two pages into the test, I already knew I’d failed. But I’d still managed to convince myself that I’d scrape by.

Until Mr. Roscoe handed back our tests yesterday. Mine had a big F on it in red sharpie.

He said I could do a make-up test today, but in a tone of voice that suggested I’d be wasting my time attempting a better grade.

If I don’t pass Science, they’ll hold me back a year, and I’m already a year behind after all the shit I went through with Mom. I mean, there were six months back when I was thirteen when we stayed in a trailer in the middle of nowhere. How the hell was I supposed to get to school?

I gulp down some coffee and start rummaging through my backpack for my notes.

It takes me an entire minute to realize they’re not there.

No.Shit.I must have left them in my goddamn locker!

Josiah’s munching on a bowl of cereal when I hurtle into the kitchen a minute later. “You need to get me to school, now!”

I regret those words the instant they leave my mouth.

Josiah slowly puts down his spoon. He dabs at his mouth—he’s literally the only person I’ve ever seen eat cereal with a napkin nearby—and then sits back on his stool as he cocks his head. “Ineedto get you to school?”

Surprisingly calm.

Which means, I could probably have salvaged the situation. But no. Candy Fur—CandaceBaleis a dumb fuck.

“Yeah. Unless you want your dad to find out about all that porn you’ve been watching after school.” My face heats up, but I glare at him, willing him to back down.

“Sure you want to play this game?” he asks quietly as he gets to his feet.

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