His head cocks to the side at the accusation in my tone.
"How could I have anything but empathy for an orgy-loving, meth junkie?" He asks sarcastically. "Although I can't say any of that fits the girl I see before me," He says, as if he has me entirely figured out.
"Then what do you see…" I trail off, giving him space to reveal his identity.
"Roman," He clarifies, his canines flashing as his lips curl into a smirk.
The low hum of the choir singing in praise catches my ear, the first warning to take a seat before Mass begins.
Wishing now more than ever I could escape and hide in the bathroom, I shake my head, letting my fingers touch my temples. The last thing I have the patience to do is stand next to Aiden for an hour and a half and play nice.
"I suppose that's your queue to leave," Roman says, extending his arm toward the open door.
I shoot him an annoyed glance, then slowly step back, letting out a dismissive scoff.
"And what about you?" I question, narrowing my focus.
"I’ll be participating, just in a different way," He shrugs, giving me little clarity on who he is.
"Right," I hiss, rolling my eyes at how relaxed and indifferent he seems.
Turning on my heels, I make my way toward the door, startled as an arm blocks my way. His body leans into the doorway, stopping me from going any farther.
"To answer your question, Eden," He whispers, his voice low as his breath brushes the back of my neck. "What I see is a girl who opens her mouth before thinking far too much," He snaps, his lips inches away from the back of my neck. "You'd benefit from learning how to close those lips of yours. Maybe try focusing all that emotional energy you’re spitting out on something more rewarding."
As I turn my head, he remains unmoved, his nose just inches from mine and his body towering over me in the doorway.
"Yeah?" I question, malicious thoughts toward this man festering in my mind. "Well, maybe you can come up with something for me to focus on, then."
I shake my head at him. Watching his eyes follow me as I walk away, his body creeps backward into the confession room until he’s no longer visible.
I make my way through the pews, ignoring the fire under my flesh, keeping my head lowered until I've locked eyes with my family who’ll forever be disappointed in me.
Forty-five minutes of scripture, thirty minutes of hymn, and twenty minutes of kneeling later, Father Kevin finally pulls his focus away from the altar servers. Clearing his throat, people begin to quiet as he moves toward the front of the room.
“Before we receive the Holy Spirit, take in the blood of Christ, and say our goodbyes for the evening, I want to address the elephant in the room,” The old man says with a smile, as whispers ripple through the pews.
He clasps his hands together in front of him as he looks solemnly over each section of the altar area, waiting for the excited chatter to die down.
"I'm sure many of you have heard a rumor revolving around my departure from the church-"
"Hey," Aiden snaps, grabbing my hair to get my attention, his mouth inches away from my ear. "I promised a few of my buddies I could smoke with them after Mass. You mind driving me to The Overlook?"
"Why the hell would I do that?" I swat his hand away from my hair, responding quietly enough to avoid my parent's listening ears.
"Wouldn't hurt to have me backing you when Mom and Dad decide to scream at you when we get home," He hisses, holding his position with my parents over my head like a fucking gold sticker. "Agree, or I will tell them all the rumors are true."
Jerking back, I make sure he can feel the iciness in my glare. "Fuck you."
"I'll take that as a yes," He snaps, swatting the back of my head before returning his focus back to Father Kevin.
Keeping my head down, a nagging presence begins to eat away at me. Unable to ignore it for long, I look around, turning to find Roman leaning against a wall at the back of the room, his eyes locking with mine instantly.
Glaring at the man, I tug at one of the sleeves of my sweater, thinking of Roman's gold wedding band, wondering where his wife could be.
How long has he been looking this way?
"I have sadly decided to move on from my time here and take a leap toward my next adventure brought by faith," Father Kevin exclaims. My focus is pulled away from Roman. "But do not think I have left you empty-handed."
