Page 26 of Second Sin

He has a group session later today. And it’s my job to be there.

To show up.

To be steady.

Even when I’m anything but.

“Order for Olivia,” someone calls.

I blink and pull myself back into the present. My sandwich is ready.

I take it and turn toward the door, glancing back just once.

Kane’s laughing now, throwing a crumpled napkin at Brynne while Noah squeals.

I lift a hand in goodbye. Brynne waves back.

The door chimes softly behind me as I step out into the cold. Wind bites at my skin, sharp and sobering—but it’s nothing compared to the warmth Sebastian's stirred low in my belly just by existing in my thoughts.

In a few hours, I’ll have to face him.

Sit across the room and pretend I don’t feel every glance like a touch.

Pretend I don’t remember the way his arms felt around me.

Pretend I’m not already coming undone.

One session.

That’s all it is.

Just one more chance to prove I can keep the lines intact.

Even when every part of me is already aching to cross them.

CHAPTER 10

SEBASTIAN

I’m sore as hell. Hip’s barking from the hit I took last night. Jaw still aches from the fight I shouldn’t have picked—but did, because the asshole took a cheap shot at Kane. Then I got benched. Twice. For no good fucking reason.

And now? Group therapy.

The room’s too warm. The chairs too close. The kind of place that makes your skin itch. I sit, shoulders hunched, hood up. Pretending I don’t see the way Olivia keeps glancing my way.

Like she sees too much. Like she wants to ask what’s eating me alive but knows I won’t answer.

She’s sitting cross-legged, notebook in her lap, pen resting just above the page like she’s waiting for something worth writing down. Her hair’s pulled back, face still a little bruised. And even though I know I shouldn’t, I keep looking at her.

It’s not the first group I’ve been to. I show up. I sit. I keep my head down and my mouth shut.

But today feels different.

Because of the fucking nightmare that plays on repeat in my head.

Because I still feel the weight of Olivia’s body against mine, soft and real and entirely too dangerous.

Because she’s married. Off-limits. The kind of good I’ve already broken.

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