Page 14 of Sin With Me

“But—nevermind,” I sigh as I push off my bed. “I need to get ready to go to the church.” She groans, loud and long, and throws her arm over her face.

“You’re always at the church,” she cries dramatically.

“Isaac needs me.” Moving to my closet, I scan it until I find my yellow cardigan.

“He could always ask Mary to help,” Oli snickers, and I clench my jaw. Just the sound of her name makes me irritated. I glare at her over my shoulder, finding her on her belly with her chin propped on her hand as she watches me. “What?” She kicks her feet in the air with mock innocence.

She knows what.

“He doesn’t need to ask Mary anything,” I say sharply, and look back at my clothes. I roughly push them aside until I find a white dress and yank it off the hanger. “He has me.”

“But what about when you leave?”

I pause at her words, unable to ignore the twisting anxiety in my belly. When I leave?

I’ve always thought about traveling the world, but that’s nothing more than a pipedream. Everyone has them. Sometimes they come true, but more times than not, dreams just shrivel up and die, left in a box of unrealistic childhood musings.

Besides, Isaac needs me here. He needs my help. He couldn’t run the house or church by himself.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I lie easily, the words tasting like ash on my tongue. With my back to her so she can’t see the truth stamped on my face, I step out of my jean shorts and pull my tank top over my head.

“Yeah, but when you move out,” she pushes. “You can’t stay here forever. You’ve always wanted to travel, Eve.” I ignore her as I slide the flowy dress on.

“He doesn’t need Mary,” I say again, shaking my head. She watches me as I finish getting dressed, but stays unusually silent. I don’t want to know what she’s thinking. Whatever it is, it can’t be good.

“It really upsets you, doesn’t it?” she finally asks as I smooth my finger over my lips, blending the pink lipstick in. I stare at myself in my mirror, letting her words settle inside me.

It does.

It really upsets me, and I don’t understand why.

Isaac was never my father, and he never pretended to be, but he’s always been like one to me. It’s only been us these last four years, and even though I call Oli my best friend, Isaac truly is.

He’s been there for me in ways no one else ever has. He’s held me while I’ve cried and has always figured out a way to make me laugh. Without him, I don’t know where I’d be. I know I’d be lost. I wouldn’t know up from down, left from right. He’s more than just my friend and stepfather. He’s—I don’t even know what he is.

But I do know that he’s mine, not Mary’s.

“I need to set up for the meeting,” I say, ignoring her question. Turning toward her, I smooth my hands over my dress.

“Oh, the triple-A meeting?” she asks as she pushes herself up. Her legs dangle over the edge of my bed, swinging back and forth.

“That’s not what it’s called and you know it.” I shake my head, my lips tipping up at her ridiculous name for it. “You gonna be okay getting home?” She waves dismissively as she pushes to her feet, grabbing her shiny patch-covered backpack and slinging it over her shoulder.

“Of course,” she scoffs. “As long as Deputy Dumbass stays out of my way, I’ll be golden.” She glares at the wall as if he’s standing in front of her. I laugh as I grab her shoulder, gently tugging her toward me for a hug.

“Be good,” I say, gently chiding her. She may only be five months younger than me, but Oli is different. Fragile. Too pure for this world. I worry.

“I’m always good,” she says, scrunching her nose at me. I don’t argue with her—in her mind, she is always good. And she usually is. When she’s not wreaking havoc on the town.

We walk to the front door with our arms looped together. I don’t bother locking it; nothing happens in our small town to warrant it. As we step off the wrap-around porch, she gives me another quick hug before sprinting toward her little blue car riddled with bumper stickers. I chuckle, unsure how her short emerald wig stays in place when she moves like that.

She waves at me as she backs from the driveway. It takes three tries before she finally gets her car turned around and is heading down the long road back into town. I stare after her, at the giant plume of dust as she speeds away, no doubt screaming along to her music.

I smile to myself as I make my way toward the church, cringing at the spot Kevin and I had been last night. I still can’t believe I did that. It must’ve been Oli’s alcohol because there’s no way I would’ve ever been with him sober.

Right?

Right.

---