Page 40 of The Young & the Sinner

Until then, I didn’t know I just needed someone to listen to me.

Mason washed our mugs and led me upstairs. He stopped right outside my door, tucking in a strand of brown hair behind my ear. “I know we still don’t know each other very well, but if you ever need someone to talk to, be it three in the morning or afternoon, I’ll always be available. I know it’s not always easy to talk to Max about these things, so…” he shrugged, like it wasn’t a big deal. But it was. It was a huge deal. “Why don’t you get some sleep?”

I nodded. “Okay. Thanks, Mason.”

“Any time, Livie.”

I grinned. “Livie?”

“Yeah, I figured it was better than little one.”

“Uh, yeah. Definitely better.”

“Good. But you should know, I still think little one is quite fitting.”

“That’s because you’re a giant. Everyone is little to you,” I said, exasperated.

Mason chuckled. “Go to sleep.”

Was there something wrong with me because I found his commanding voice hot? I resisted the urge to swoon, and instead mocked a salute and walked to my room. The last thing I saw before closing the door was Mason’s intense blue eyes on me. I almost regretted closing the door so quickly.

I liked it when he looked at me.

Lizzie was still asleep on the air mattress, the blanket half on her, half on the floor. I straightened it out, so that it covered her legs fully, before falling back on my bed, feeling some of the weight that had been bearing me down in the recent months lifting.

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