I dip a shrimp in cocktail sauce.
“I pray for you,” Blake says, watching me across the booth.
“You do?”
“Mm-hm. I pray you find peace with whatever is testing you.”
I smirk. He definitely reads people well.
“Thank you for your prayers. I’ve been struggling.”
“With your faith?”
I shake my head. “More with my willingness to practice what I preach.”
He rests his elbows on the table, listening.
“And, Ifeel confused.”
“I see.” He sips his water. “It’s difficult to be human and represent a church.”
I nod fast. “No kidding!”
“But if you have fallen off the righteous path, may I remind you God forgives.”
A tear creeps from my eye. “I don’t think he will forgive a sin as grave as mine.” I slump in the booth. “I didn’t do something so terrible as murder, but it feels that bad because I knew it was wrong. With my position, it’s like I not only hurt God, I hurt those who follow me because I am supposed to be strong.”
For a moment, he stares, like he knows the exact sin I committed, because the slightest tick of his jaw flashes.
I am impure.
Yet, he reaches across the table and holds my hand. Gently, he strokes his thumb over my knuckles.
My gaze fixes on his gentle touch. It is both comforting and unsettling. Then, tattoos spread across Blake’s fingers.
I blink fast and they disappear.
“Morgan, it is never too late. A sin does not ruin your life unless you let it. Nobody knows better than I do what you’re going through.”
“Really?” I whisper.
“Yes. We were chosen young, groomed to be ideal public figures, and pressured to be perfect. Constantly.”
“Yep. That’s so true.”
“I know. Your father approached me. He has weddingplans for us.”
My mouth drops and I gawk openly. The embarrassment crashes down. “I am mortified. Please, ignore him.”
Blake chuckles and his perfect teeth shine. “It’s okay. Don’t be embarrassed. My mother did the same thing when she learned I took the job at your church. They want what’s best for us, and it often costs us our freedom.”
I sniffle, because he’s correct and it hurts.
Gently he squeezes my hand, then leans back.
“You are a gorgeous, talented woman with the world at your feet. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested, but I hate the idea of either of us taking one more step down paths others made for us.”
His words cause my body to both tense and ease at the same time.
