Page 65 of Second Sin

The words hang in the space between us. Heavy. Unanswered.

She looks away.

Doesn’t say a word.

And maybe that’s the answer I was afraid of.

CHAPTER 24

OLIVIA

Sebastian gets out of bed without a word.

Naked. All muscle and tension. Broad chest, cut abs, powerful legs that flex as he moves. He leans down, picks up his briefs, muscles rippling across his back, then pulls them on.

Then his jeans. No shirt. No eye contact.

I slide out of bed, limbs heavy, skin sore in all the ways that make it harder to pretend last night didn’t happen. I find my pants, blouse. Dress quickly. Run my fingers through my hair, not bothering with makeup.

The silence stretches.

Him, brooding. Me, breaking.

I know he’s waiting for me to say something.

Something that will make this feel like more than it is. Or less than it is.

Something that will tether him—or let him go.

But I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.

Last night I was so sure.

Even this morning, waking up with his arms around me, the weight of him grounding me, the soft way he kissed my shoulder—it felt right. Like maybe I could live in that moment forever.

But that’s not reality.

Reality is: I crossed a line.

A big one.

No matter how deeply I feel about him—what we did was wrong.

Professionally. Ethically.

It doesn’t matter that I haven’t formally counseled him in weeks. Or that our sessions were brief. The line exists for a reason. And I crossed it.

The only way forward—the only way to make this right—is for me to give notice to Coach.

Which means finding another job. Another city. Another life.

Which means walking away from Sebastian.

The thought spirals, fast and sharp. It cuts through the haze of last night, the warmth of him beside me. It makes my skin tight. My breath shallow. I press my hand to my chest, trying to slow the panic crawling up my throat.

He turns slightly, watching me.

“You okay?” he asks, voice low, picking up his hoodie from the floor.

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