Page 14 of Mass Sins

I walked to the front of the store with Sin, and I stopped her before she could get out of the door. “What are you not telling me, Sin?” I asked.

She studied me closely, probably wondering if I was ready to hear whatever secret she was hiding. “I don’t want to ruin this thing with Joska for you. I know your intention is probably not to start dating him, but if you still want to talk to him about your religion, I don’t think I should tell you about his personal life.”

Interesting…

I pursed my lips and started to nod slowly. I understood what she was saying, and she was clearly trying to protect me from something.

“He’s still a good man, right? He’s not like, you know…”

She smiled gently and took my hands, squeezing them gently. “No, he’s definitely not like him. I would’ve never let you meet him otherwise.”

I couldn’t be around a man who was like my ex. Not after that relationship I had with him that made me feel like I wasn’t worth anything.

I breathed in and smiled, pulling her into a hug. “I’ll have to do some thinking. I think I just need time.”

“Take all the time you need. I’m here if you need any advice, okay?”

“Thank you, Sin. You’re the best.” I squeezed her tight once more before letting go of her, and once she was out the door, I let out a breath, wanting to focus on work for the rest of the day.

That turned out to be hard, because I kept thinking about the possible things Sin was hiding from me about Joska.

I was curious, and also intrigued by who Joska really was.

***

Dad drove me home after we closed the shop around five-thirty, and the first thing I did when I got home was take a hot shower. I hadn’t been very hungry because of the pizza I ate at lunch, so after getting out of the shower and putting on my comfy pajamas, I cut up an apple and peeled two clementines before sitting down on the couch.

I put on the show I had been binging for the past two weeks, and while I was focused on the story on the screen, I couldn’t help but keep looking at the business card Joska had given me. I had put it on the coffee table when I got home on Saturday after the party, and it stayed there ever since.

My gaze kept dropping to the card, and every time, I felt my heart skip the smallest beat. It wasn’t fair that a man I had met and talked to once in my life had such an impact on me. I didn’t want him to be more than just a priest I talked to, but I was too curious about him.

Sighing, I shook my head and ignored the card. I had to. I was stronger than that to just give into something that excited me so much.

It was tempting to get to know Joska, but I needed to take it slow.

Yes, slow sounds good.

Chapter 6

BENNIE

Apparently, the harder I tried not to think of Joska, the more he appeared on my mind. His face was just always there, making it hard for me to focus on the movie I had put on.

It had been a week since I first met Joska, and while I had only talked to him about religion, it felt like we had a deeper connection. A connection I couldn’t quite understand, but it was there, and it was strong.

At least, for me it felt that way.

I looked down at the coffee table where his business card still was, untouched. But it had invisible holes in it because I had been staring at it all the time.

Chewing my bottom lip, I tried to think clearly. What could even come from this? What if I texted him, and all he replied with were questions about my faith?

What if I had misinterpreted his words and the way he had looked at me?

And the way his lips made my cheeks tickle when he kissed me goodbye…what if that was all just my imagination?

No.

I was good at reading people, and the way he had looked at me told me enough. He gave me his card for personal reasons. Not for…priest reasons.

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