Page 38 of The Young & the Sinner

Olivia

The barbeque wasan awkward affair I had no wish to ever repeat.

It felt more like an interrogation than anything else, and it didn’t just come from Max. Mason joined in as well, and my earlier assessment of him had been off the mark. He wasn’t intimidating. He was downright scary.

Lorenzo was quiet when I walked him to the door that night. “Well, have a good night,” I said.

He seemed distracted when he said, “Yeah. Thanks. You, too.” He leaned in to kiss me, and I moved forward. I always liked it when he kissed me. I didn’t have a lot of experience in this department, but Lorenzo knew how to kiss.

A cough startled us. We both turned to see Max standing by the threshold of entryway, his large arms crossed over his large chest. “Goodnight, Lorenzo.”

The message was clear in his voice. I wouldn’t be getting my goodnight kiss tonight. My mouth twisted in disappointment, especially when Lorenzo stammered out, “G-Goodnight. Thanks again for having me over,” then patted my back, as if I were a really good friend of his, and walked quickly out the door.

“Thanks a lot,” I said sarcastically, brushing past Max on my way to the kitchen. Lizzie was wiping down the table while Mason did the dishes. They both turned to me when I entered, Max following close behind.

I didn’t look at either one of them. In reality, I knew things could have been a lot worse. But they could also have been a lot better, if Max hadn’t acted so much like my protective older brother. Lizzie shot me a questioning look, and I didn’t want to explain how I couldn’t even kiss Lorenzo because Max was in the way.

“You should stay the night,” Max said to Mason. And despite my anger, my interest was piqued. Having Mason stay the night? He never stayed the night before.

“I don’t think I need to. I didn’t have that much to drink.”

“Nonsense. You drank about as much as me, and I’m already feeling a little buzzed. I won’t have you driving home like that.”

Mason smirked. “That’s because you’re getting old, old man. Me? I’m not even thirty yet. I have much better stamina than you.”

Max rolled his eyes. “Whatever. You’re staying, and that’s that.”

Mason turned to me and winked. “Even when we’re both grown men, he still thinks he can tell me what to do.”

I lost the battle against my anger with Max and smiled. “He is bossy. Isn’t that right, Lizzie?”

“Yup,” she agreed.

“What’s this? Pick on Max night?”

I laughed, and Max pulled me toward him. He laid a heavy arm on my shoulder and ruffled my hair. “I’m still mad at you, you know,” I grumbled quietly, so only he heard, while I fixed my hair.

“I know, kiddo. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t sound sorry.”

He shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal, and I rolled my eyes, moving out from under his arm.

* * *

Sweat coatedmy forehead as I stared up at my bedroom ceiling, counting the glow-in-the-dark stars, my breathing erratic.

Lizzie mumbled incoherently in her sleep on her air mattress by my bed, but she otherwise didn’t wake.

It was just a nightmare, nothing more. It didn’t make it true. So why didn’t I feel better? This was the first time I had a nightmare about Max leaving, and I didn’t know what brought it on. Was it stress from Lorenzo’s visit? Or something else?

Quietly, I climbed out of bed and walked out of the room. My skin prickled with awareness as I made my way through the dark house, telling myself I was no longer that little girl who was scared of the dark.

I made my way to Max’s bedroom and sat down on the floor, my back against the door, listening. I knew he wouldn’t sneak off into the night, especially tonight of all nights, but my anxiety was back, and I didn’t know how to make it stop.

Five minutes had passed before I heard a rustling noise inside, a small squeak as Max shifted in bed, and finally, the sound I waited to hear. The soft snore coming from the room. My shoulders sagged in relief, and I let a small sigh, leaning my head against the door and closing my eyes.

Max was still in his room, fast asleep. I knew he was all along, but it was nice to have that confirmation. He wasn’t a loud sleeper, although sometimes I wished he were. He would occasionally snore, but there were nights when I had to wait over an hour before I heard him.

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