Page 144 of Masked Sins
I nod, thinking of Jean. Thinking of all the people in high school who called me a liar, or a slut. Thinking of anyone else who felt the need to be mean.
“Oh yeah. It’s just a part of being humans. Onlywecan choose how we react to those mean people, you know?”
She nods, seeming lighter. “Yeah. All the mean people can fuck off.”
I bark out a laugh, and Bradleigh joins in. As I look up at Orion, he’s watching me expectantly.
“That’s right. All the mean people can fuck off.”
His eyes burn with something prideful—somethingappreciative.
“Ice cream?” he suggests.
“Yes, please. My favorite is strawberry.”
He chuckles. “Hmm. I think I know someone else who loves strawberry ice cream.”
Bradleigh peers up at me, eyes bright. “Ms. Rivers, are we twins?”
I pat her head. “I think we might be,” I tell her, holding my nails up. “Yellow nails, strawberry ice cream,andnot giving a fuck about mean people? That’s more than a coincidence.”
Bradleigh squeals with excitement, and as we walk up to the ice cream shop, Orion places his arm around my shoulders.
“I’m proud of you,” he murmurs.
“Thank you.”
His eyes are soft, almost as if he can see right through me. There’s something in the way he’s looking at me, something that makes me feel seen in a way I didn’t expect from him, but I guess it shouldn’t surprise me.
Maybe it’s because his Starboy persona heard me when I was bearing my soul, or maybe because he’s known me most of my life.
“You know,” he says, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, “you’re like Odette in so many ways—kind, genuine, always true to your heart. But you’ve got Odile in you too. You stand up for yourself and for what you believe in. You can be quite intimidating. It’s amazing to watch.”
I could identify with both characters while up on stage. But it hadn’t occurred to me that he saw both of those traits in me. It’s a relief to be able to give him everything I have, and for him to see me how I’d always wanted to be seen by someone—without judgment or expectation. For so long, I had to tiptoe around my dates because of my demisexuality or my profession.
“Yes, well, you would know, seeing as you attend every single performance, you psycho.”
He laughs. “I don’t regret a single second.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m sure you don’t.”
He leans down so that he’s murmuring his next line into my ear. “Roll your eyes again. I dare you.”
I don’t stop smiling all morning.
CHAPTER THIRTY
THE RECKONING
Orion
The hospital calls me as soon as we get back to my apartment. Layla is still staying with me—my contractor is currently installing the new AC unit, so she won’t be ready to move back into her house until later tonight at the earliest. After waiting for her for so many years, having her finally in my life feels almost unreal. The thought of her leaving, even if just to go back to her house, stirs an unexpected pang of anxiety in my chest. She must notice the tension in my shoulders because she kisses my shoulder before walking away to give me privacy.
“Hello?” I answer, though I’m pretty sure I know what they’re going to say.
“Mr. Ravage?”
“Yep, that’s me.” My words feel silly—who else would they call? I’m his only point of contact.
