Page 137 of Sin With Me

My gaze stays on Isaac as he circles the chairs, straightening them until he deems them perfect. Eve’s back is to me as she sets up the paper cups by the coffee pot, and lines the little cookies up on a serving plate.

As I look back at my father, I find him already glaring at me. I grin and sink deeper into the pew, silently challenging him to do something.

Come on, you fucking prick. Where are those balls you used to have?

Eve spins, her mouth open like she’s about to say something. But when she catches sight of our stare-off, it clamps closed again. The silent church is thick with palpable tension, and my fingers itch for my lighter, for the familiar flick as the flame comes to life.

But I keep my gaze on his, forcing myself to not move, to just stare. To dare him to make the first move. Maybe if she saw him, really saw him, she wouldn’t be here anymore.

His jaw tenses, and his hands tighten into shaky fists. I smile broader, my lips parting to show my teeth. He shuffles forward a step, a chair blocking him from moving any closer, and my heart rate kicks up.

Eve’s body tightens as she lurches forward, as if she’s ready to throw herself into the middle of the fire for us.

No. Not us. Not anymore.

For him.

Suddenly, a loud bang has all three of us jumping in unison. I can almost see the tense bubble physically pop when Oli storms in like the Devil himself is on her ass.

“Oh thank fuck,” she cries, her hands flying in the air. “I thought I was gonna catch on fire there for a second.” She spins around, her arms outstretched, showing us she’s fine, and God didn’t smite her.

Eve giggles quietly, her delicate hand covering her mouth to stifle her laughter as Isaac freezes in place. I can’t help my own smirk from splitting my face at the little psycho.

“Olive,” my father chides, a warning in his tone. It makes me bristle.

I expect him to say more, to yell at her or punish her, but he doesn’t. Instead, he shoots a look between Eve and me, runs a hand over his shirt to smooth out the non-existent wrinkles, and glances away, his jaw ticking.

My brows furrow.

What the fuck?

Oli plants her hands on her narrow hips and pops one to the side, her pink dress swishing with the movement. “So, what’s crackin’, God Squad? Why’s it so tense in here? It’s like someone died.”

“Oli,” Eve mutters, shaking her head. “You can’t say stuff like that.” She turns back to the table, but not before I catch her smirk.

Olive huffs and stomps toward her friend, her black combat boots loud in the echoey church. “And why the hell not? I’m not lying. I know better than to do that on holy grounds.”

“Because,” Isaac grunts, his deep voice still rumbling around the old church, “it’s disrespectful.”

I can’t help it. I scoff at that. Loudly.

He’d know all about being disrespectful, wouldn’t he?

He shoots me a glare, and I lift my hand, my middle finger raised high.

“Look, I may not be perfect, but Jesus thinks I’m to die for,” Oli purrs, pulling my attention from my father.

I turn in time to watch Eve’s head fall back, a loud squeal of laughter coming from her as her best friend bats her doe eyes, her expression so much like her brothers.

This time, I’m the one hiding my laugh behind my hand. I should be recording this shit for Chase. He loves seeing his sister thriving in the real world.

Actually…

Grinning, I pull my phone out and quickly bring the camera up, my eyes darting around like someone might be standing behind me.

“Seriously, though,” Oli says, bumping her hip with Eve’s. Her long rainbow hair sways across her back with the movement. “What are you doing here?”

Eve gives her friend a look. “You know why I’m here,” she says slowly. “I texted and told you. That’s how you found me, Oli.”

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