Page 1 of Sin With Me
Prologue
Wilder
*Please read the content warnings on the previous page before reading the prologue if you have any triggers.*
NINE YEARS AGO
“Hello, you reached the Haven Grace prayer crisis hotline. How can I assist you in prayer today?” a sweet female voice answers, and I swallow hard.
I’ve never called one of these hotlines before.
I don’t know why I’m calling now.
Curiosity mostly.
Curious how it works and if it’d help.
When I looked up local crisis hotlines, this was the first one that popped up.
“Hi, are you there?” the sweet voice continues. “Do you need help?”
“Um…” I sigh, not sure what to say, not sure how to speak when I’m choking on my own guilt.
“I can wait till you’re ready, but maybe you could tell me who I’m talkin’ to, please?”
Tears well in the corner of my eyes, but I fight them back and clear my throat. I try to say my name, but nothing comes out.
“I’m Delly,” she says softly. “Do you need medical attention at the moment?”
I look down at my leg and wince at the blood running down my thigh. “No.”
“Okay, good. How can I help you this evening?”
“I-I dunno. Not sure why I even called,” I finally admit.
“That’s okay, sir. I’m here to listen.”
“Sir? No, I’m only twenty-four.”
“Apologies, I was just being polite. Can you tell me your name?”
Hesitating, I lick my lips. I don’t want anyone to know I called. Sugarland Creek, Tennessee is a small town and this is alocalcrisis hotline, so it’s possible she’d recognize me if I told her my real name.
Shame.Guilt.Humiliation.
I feel enough of that. I don’t need to feel that way with a stranger too.
Especially from a girl who sounds as graceful as she does.
“Uh…it’s Luke.”
The first name that pops into my head is the guy who I got into a fight with last night. My head’s still throbbing from the hit he got on me after I decked him. But he deserved it when he asked if my little sister was of legal age yet so he could ‘tap that ass.’
Motherfucker.
But now I wish I’d picked a different name because hearing her sayhisname makes me pissed off all over again.
“Okay, Luke. Are you a danger to yourself right now?”
