Even though what he said was true, it still hurt. His honest observation hit me square in the chest.
“What about Anne?” I added weakly.
“We’ll convince her to come too. If she leaves, David will. I know it.” Bastian’s eyes lit up with a fire that I felt deep down.
“He cares about her,” I stated.
And Anne cared about David. Even though he was five years older, it didn’t matter. They had a connection. I could see it. Everyone could see it.
Bastian resumed raking leaves. Though he seemed to be simply pushing them around rather than gathering them into piles. “He does. A lot. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him smile or even remotely happy. He’s only like that around Anne.”
“Our lives have been devoted to this place. To these people. To Pastor Carter. I don’t know how to be anyone but Sara Bishop, perfect disciple.”
Bastian dropped the rake and came over to me. He pulled me into his arms. So easily. Without hesitation. I instantly froze. All too aware of how visible we were. How anyone could see us.
But I didn’t care.
With Bastian, none of those things seemed important.
He held me tight. Solid. Warm. “Then we’ll learn who Sara Bishop can be together.”
“What’s all this then?”
I immediately pulled away from Bastian. I turned around to find Minnie, Stafford, Caitlyn, and Bobbie standing there, arms full of firewood, watching us. Bobbie and Caitlyn looked away, as though they couldn’t bear to see us.
Minnie and Stafford on the other hand, wore matching expressions of spiteful curiosity.
Minnie dropped her pile of kindling on the ground, dusting dirt off her hands. “I knew there was something going on between you two. It was so obvious.” She turned to Stafford. “You owe me your potatoes at dinner tonight.”
“There’s nothing going on—” I started to deny, then stopped myself. I wouldn’t lie about Bastian.
Not ever.
“It’s none of your business,” I said instead, crossing my arms over my chest.
Minnie and Stafford shared a look, both of them smirking. “What would Pastor say about this?” Minnie sang.
I felt my face flush hot. My hands balled into fists and for the first time in my life I thought about hitting someone. Hard.
Bastian took a step towards the others, positioning himself between them and me. “There’s nothing to tell Pastor. Saying anything would make you look like a bitter gossip. There’s got to be a scripture somewhere preaching against that, right?”
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those that listen,”Bobbie spoke up, barely sparing any of them a look.
“Ephesians 4:29,” Caitlyn murmured.
Minnie and Stafford scowled and Bastian grinned.
“You don’t want to go and be all sinful, now do you?” he mocked them.
“Pastor Carter also tells us that we offer our hearts only to God. That to tie ourselves up in physical relationships is sinful and wrong. That it only binds us to a world that will lie in waste when the end comes,” Stafford snipped, looking at me with disgust. “I thought that Pastor’s favorite disciple would know better.”
Bastian drew himself upright, his face stony. “And you should know better than to be such a dick,” he spat out.
I grabbed his arm and squeezed. Silently telling him to shut up.
Stafford laughed. “You’re a joke, Bastian. Everyone knows your soul is damned. It’s only a matter of time until Pastor makes you leave. In fact, it will probably be sooner than you think. Then you’ll have to say goodbye to your brotherandyour girlfriend. How sad for you.”
Bastian made to lunge for him but I held him back.
