Page 53 of Mass Sins

“I love you,” I mouthed, needing to make her feel better.

Her smile brightened just slightly. “I love you,” she mouthed back, giving my hand a squeeze back.

“So, you’re a priest,” Alexis said, interrupted the sweet moment I had with Bennie.

I looked at her and nodded. “Yes, I am,” I replied with a tight smile. “And what do you do?”

She raised a brow at me as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, and her chin on her hands. Before even opening her mouth, I knew she wouldn’t be answering my question. She had a mischievous look in her eyes. A look I didn’t like one bit.

“You look very familiar,” she said, pursing her red lips. “I think we’ve met before.”

“Maybe you’ve come to Mass one Sunday.”

“No…definitely not. I don’t believe in God.”

Fair enough.

I gave her a tight smile and shrugged. “You probably saw me around town somewhere then.”

“No, that’s not it.” Her voice was challenging, and her eyes turned dark when she looked at Bennie.

I feared the worst and pulled her hand into my lap to hold it tightly.

“Say, Bennie…did he fuck you on the altar?”

“Alexis!” Connor’s voice was harsh.

“What? I’m just asking. It might spark something in his brain that will make him remember.” She looked at me again. Her grin made me uncomfortable, and Bennie too. She was all tense.

“What are you talking about?” Bennie asked with a shaky breath.

“Why don’t you ask your boyfriend? He’s been hiding something from you. I know he remembers me.”

I frowned. She was messing with me.

And she was making everyone angry.

“Stop that, Alexis,” Connor warned, glaring at her.

“Hiding what?” Bennie asked, her eyes wide and filled with confusion.

“Tell her,” Alexis urged. “Tell her that she’s not the first girl you fucked on an altar.”

“Alexis, that’s enough!” Connor slammed his hand onto the table, showing her just how angry her was. “It’s not normal that you have to ruin every single fucking thing we do as a family. I told you to behave!”

I had never seen Connor like this. He had always been very composed and calm, but the way Alexis acted finally made him erupt.

“I’m not a dog, Dad. You can’t just order me to behave.”

“Apparently, I have to. Your behavior is getting worse the older you get, and I can’t keep watching you become this ugly person. I did not raise you to be like this.”

“No? Apparently you did!”

“Stop!” Bennie’s voice was shaky, and her hand squeezed mine ever harder. “What is she saying?”

She was asking me.

I furrowed my brows and looked at her with a shake of my head, telling her that I had no idea what Alexis was trying to say. But when I looked at her again, a faint memory appeared in my head.

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