Page 14 of Billionaire's Sins
"Oh?" I lower my chin, "And what would that be?"
She holds out her hand, "Friends."
"Friends?"
"Yeah, you know like the TV series?"
I stare at her and the line between her eyebrows deepens. "You do watch TV, right? I mean, surely, you do know Friends? You know, Rachel and Joey and—"
"I’m a priest, not an ascetic. I haven’t renounced the world."Not completely, that is.
Her breath hitches, "Sorry. I mean, of course, you know what Friends is. Silly me, why would I think you didn’t? Not that I watch it or anything. It’s a bit too classic for me. I mean, my older sister loved it and I loved watching it with her, but I tried watching it again recently and it seemed like it hadn’t aged well. Unlike you."
"Unlike me?"
She slaps a hand to her forehead, "Did I just say that out loud? How the hell did I let that slip?” She gasps. “Oh, no. I can’t believe I just said that.” She shakes her head, “Forget it." She swipes her hair over her shoulder. "Can you forget I said that?"
"Not a chance." I draw myself up to my full height. "I take it, you think of me as old?"
She winces. "Not old, but old-er."
"How old do you think I am, exactly?"
"Really, I didn’t mean anything by that statement."
"How old, Ava?" I infuse enough command in my voice for her to pale. "Tell me."
"Um…" She holds up four fingers, then signals three with her other hand.
"What the—" I explode, "You really think I’m—"
She folds one finger of the first hand, leaving three upright.
"Thirty-three?" I growl, "You think I’m thirty-three?"
"Are you?"
I shake my head, then reach over and fold two fingers of her second hand, leaving only her little finger upright.
Goosebumps pop on her skin, mirroring the ones on mine. I blow out a breath.Don’t swear, don’t swear. In fact, don’t stay here anymore. Don’t look at her. Don’t go closer to her again. Turn and leave, if you know what’s good for you. And for her. Think about her. Why are you leading her on, when you know there can be no future for either of you together?
"Thirty-one?" She swallows, "You're thirty-one?"
I nod.
"I’m nineteen." She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.
I blow out a breath. Of course, I’d sort of guessed that she was young, but I hadn’t…couldn’t let myself think about it. The proof’s right here in front of my eyes though. She’s nineteen.Only nineteen.
"I know you think that I’m too young, but you are wrong," she declares.
"I am?"
She nods. "I was born an old soul, and I promise you, I am tougher than I look. I’m more persistent than people give me credit for."
"Is that right?"
"Don’t you believe me?" She draws herself up to her full height, which still means she barely reaches my chest. So young, so delicate, so tiny. A gift from the heavens to coax me along the right path.Which is what?Return to my duties, stay true to my chosen route. Don’t let anything distract me from my obligations, my responsibilities to my flock. Yes, that’s why she’s come into my life. To show me how unsuited I am to a world where temptations lurk around every corner... I’d never be able to resist them. I’d lose myself in them again, I’d lose my clarity of thinking, my soul…and that, I cannot bear. Not again.
