Page 142 of The Young & the Sinner

I couldn’t believe it. Within the next few weeks, we would have new neighbors and Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins would be in another state. So many things were changing so quickly, and I felt like I was changing the most.

I was no longer the naïve little girl with stars in her eyes. Lorenzo made sure to kill that part of me permanently. But most of my changes were due to Mason and Max. I was more sure of myself and my place in the world. I didn’t feel as lost as I had when my mom left me behind. I was better.

I took in a deep breath and walked inside the open garage. Max’s car was already parked in the driveway, and I knew he already had dinner, probably by himself.

I rubbed my chest at the tender spot there, guilt gnawing at me.

When I got inside, the kitchen light was still on, but Max was nowhere to be found. I figured he was either in his office or bedroom, and sure enough, when I made my way to his office, Max was sitting there, looking over some documents in his hands, his laptop open in front of him.

He looked up when I entered, an easy smile on his face.

I smiled back and walked over to him, planting a swift kiss on his cheek and taking a seat across from him. “Hi, kiddo. How was your day?”

“It was good.”

“Good. Have you eaten dinner yet? There’s some left over in the fridge if you haven’t.”

“I have, thanks,” I responded absently, as I continued to stare at him, my affection for him growing so much, it was almost hard to contain.

He shot me a bemused smile. “What?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to tell you I love you, is all.”

He relaxed back into his chair. “I love you, too.”

“I know.” And I really did. There once had been a point in my life when I wouldn’t have believed him if he told me so. Or at the very least, not believed that he loved me as much as I loved him. But I could clearly see how wrong I was. Max loved me since the day I was born.

I stood up, avoiding his eyes so he wouldn’t see how wet they got. Then I walked over and hugged him, bending forward so I could bury my face in his neck and take in his familiar and comforting scent. He wrapped his arms around me, tight enough that I knew he wouldn’t let go until I did.

“Hey, what’s this? Is something wrong? Is there anything I can do to fix it?”

I shook my head. Nothing was wrong at all. “I just need your hugs right now,” I said, my voice muffled in his shirt.

I just needed him to love me enough to forgive everything. To not see my relationship with Mason as the betrayal that it was, but simply as me falling in love so deeply that I couldn’t find my way out, even if I wanted to.

He patted my back reassuringly. “Of course. We can stay like this for as long as you need.”

He pulled me forward until I was sitting on the chair with him. His office chair was big enough, and I was such a tiny person that I didn’t take up much space.

Max let me stay like that for a while. And it wasn’t long before I fell asleep in his arms. My last thought was when I felt his lips on my forehead, a promise of him always being here ringing true in my ears.

---