Page 36 of Sin

“Good,” I say. “Anything I need to do?”

Owen snorts. “Tell Wilder to stop living up to his name.”

Despite myself, I huff out something close to a laugh. “I can do that.”

“You won’t.”

“I said I can. I didn’t say I’d succeed.”

“That’s fair.”

For a few seconds, neither of us says anything. Then Owen studies me the way only a brother can. Like he’s looking for the thing I’m trying not to show him. I don’t give him anything. Or I try not to.

He leans back in his chair. “How are things at home?”

“Better,” I lie.

The word tastes bitter. There’s nothing better about home. There’s quiet. Distance. Separate rooms. Polite conversations over dinners neither of us want to eat. Jenna moving through the house like a ghost I married years ago and has been haunting ever since. But better? Not even close.

I start gathering papers I don’t need. “In fact, I need to head home before she wonders where I am.”

It’s a good excuse.

Owen takes the hint and stands. “Good chat, bro. We should get drinks soon.”

I nod as I reach for my jacket. “Sounds good.”

He opens the door, then pauses. “Sin.”

I look up. His expression is different now. Less amused. More Owen.

“You deserve happiness, too.”

My hand tightens around my jacket. For a second, I consider pretending I don’t know what he means. But Owen knows me too well for that.

So I give him nothing instead.

“I’m happy.”

He looks like he wants to argue. Thankfully, he doesn’t. He leaves, shutting the door behind him. I stand there for a long moment, alone in my office, staring at the closed door.

Happiness

That’s what I’ve been telling myself for months.

That staying away was happiness.

That not saying Laurel’s name unless I had to was happiness.

And yet all it took was one prototype, one rain-soaked morning, one moment with her hand under mine, and happiness started to feel like another word for coward.

My phone lights up on my desk. It’s Jenna again. I stare at her name until the screen goes dark. Then I pick up my jacket and leave before I can do something stupid.

Like call Laurel.

Like go find her.

Like admit that the only place I want to go tonight is not home.