Page 178 of The Young & the Sinner

Olivia

I wokeup early the next morning, before the break of dawn. Grabbing Mason’s shirt off the ground, I put it on and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face.

When I came back out, Mason was still asleep. I walked over to his side of the bed, looking down at his burly form, clutching the blanket as if it were his lifeline.

I wasn’t sure what to do. A part of me wanted to get back into bed with him, watch over him, and let him comfort me like only he could, even if he was just sleeping.

Another part of me wanted to leave. But how would I go about it? Go back to the house I shared with Max and pretend that leaving him wasn’t killing me?

I had never loved anyone so ferociously. And it turned out to be the biggest heartbreak of my life.

I watched him sleep as indecision fought a war inside of me.

I wanted to stay, because as much as I would love to hate him, I loved him too much. And that was the worst part of it all. That I could still love him that much, knowing what I knew.

His hand grabbed hold of my wrist. I looked down to blue eyes staring up at me, pain filling those depths.

“Stay,” he uttered, his hand on me tightening a fraction. He didn’t give me the chance to answer. I supposed he was too afraid of what it might be, so he pulled me down. I didn’t resist.

I crawled under the covers with him, and without another word, he pulled my body into his until I was cradled against his strong chest.

It was in his arms that I was finally able to let go of the grief about my family that was weighing me down.

It was into his chest that I finally cried for what I had lost, including how things were between us.

I gripped onto Mason’s shirt and cried. All the while, he gently soothed me, telling me everything was going to be okay.

I knew better, though. And so did he.

Nothing was okay. It would never be again.

* * *

I leftafter he fell back to sleep.

The sun was up and shining now, which was different from the musky, dark and gray skies we’d been getting all winter.

It was as if God was playing a cruel joke on me, letting the sun shine bright when I felt so dark.

My mind was surprisingly empty on the short walk home. I didn’t even notice the cold, though I was sure it couldn’t be more than twenty degrees out. Max was up and about; I was certain of it. I went inside and headed straight to his office, knowing I’d find him there.

He looked up when I entered, a frown marring his face, blue eyes dimmed in confusion. “Olivia, are you okay?”

He must have known I was with Mason last night. He didn’t ask, and for that, I was thankful.

I didn’t say anything for a while, wondering why he didn’t tell me. Why was he protecting Mason? Didn’t I have the right to know, even before Mason and I were in a relationship?

Max stood up and walked over to me. He grabbed my shoulders and pulled me in close. I lost it then.

“Shh, sweetheart. I’m here. Tell me what’s wrong. Let me fix it for you.”

I cried harder. Could he fix it, or was my relationship with Mason unfixable? Could I forgive him?

I pulled away and looked at him. Max wiped away my tears. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Tell you what?”

“Why didn’t you tell me about Mason and my mom?”

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