Page 102 of Dark, Forbidden, & Taboo

The drumming of my fingers along the nightstand is the only sound I hear besides that of my heart beating loudly in my ears.

A few tense moments later and the phone is picked up again. “I’m sorry, Celeste. Finley said you can Google it.”

I let out a heavy sigh.

“Thank you,” I tell her softly as I disconnect the call.

I want to apologize to him for being the person I had been so many years ago, but I think his little display in his room was more than enough for him.

Perhaps he thinks it’s some kind of revenge and that now I’ll treat people better, but I changed after Ava’s parents died.

I was new to the Church when I took the job as a teacher, and he frustrated me beyond belief.

Since he was something of a problem at home too, his parents gave me permission to use corporal punishment on him.

Maybe I went too far, maybe I didn’t go far enough, but he has no right …

The thought trails off as I get to my feet and place the phone on the nightstand. I tuck my hair behind my ears as I start toward my bedroom door, then into the hallway.

I’m not entirely sure what Ava cooked up for dinner tonight, but it smells divine.

Divinity; something I just lost today,I think miserably as I make my way down the stairs.

“Hey, Aunt Celeste,” Ava greets me in a cautious, cheerful tone. “I was just about to come up and get you.”

I give her a small smile as I continue toward the dining room, so damn sure that she can see the shame I’m wearing like some kind of invisible giant scarlet letter.

“Did you have a nice day out?” she asks me a few minutes later once she’s set the roast on the table. I look down at my hands in my lap as Ava purses her lips, then goes about fixing me a plate.

I don’t want her to be angry with me, and I don’t want her to admonish me for what happened, either.

“I watched TV for the most part,” she offers as she sets a plate down in front of me then makes one for herself. “There was a great rom-com on earlier. I’ll have to see if I can find it streaming and we can watch it tonight if you want.”

“That would be nice,” I say as I reach for my fork.

“Aunt Celeste?”

The piece of roast is hovering an inch from my open mouth as I glance over at her.

“Aren’t we going to say grace?”

Grace. The one thing I don’t deserve.

My mouth becomes dry as I set the fork down and nod. I fold my hands in front of my face, fingers intertwined so tightly that I’m afraid I’ll break them if I don’t ease up some, then ask Ava to say the prayer to bless our dinner

I’m not worthy of speaking to God tonight.

Chapter 6

Finley

Iyawn and then cover my face with a hand as I lean my head back against the headrest. I was supposed to come over tomorrow for dinner before we got into a pissing contest, and if Rya knew where I was right now, she’d have a fucking fit.

I made sure to park a few spaces down so that Her Holiness and Ava wouldn’t be able to see me if they looked out their windows for any reason.

I haven’t been able to get the taste of her out of my damn mouth. I ended up shooting whiskey after I closed the shop, and it still lingers.

I can’t tell if it’s punishment or intoxication, but here I am. Parked onherstreet, watchingherhouse, wondering what the fuck is wrong with me all of a sudden.

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