Page 55 of For I Have Sinned

She hums with a nod of agreement. “Yeah, you’re right. We have to be on the lookout for when she decides to finally snap.”

“If you say so.” I shake my head with a laugh. “What are you about to do?”

“I am going to have some alone time. Clear my head.” Meaning she is going to sneak into the corridor we aren’t supposed to be in. “What about you?”

“I’m gonna head to the library.”

“You skipping dinner again?”

“No. I’ll be there,” I reassure her.

“If not, then sexy Father Alexander can bring you food again.” My brows shoot up at her words, and she looks at me with amusement. “What? I’m not blind! He is attractive, and it was really nice of him to make sure you were fed. Did you thank him? And how?”

I swat at her. “You are just as bad as my friends! I thanked him the normal way. By using my words.”

“Mhm… sure,” she grins and whispers. “I won’t tell your secret.”

“There is no secret to tell!” I shout as she walks away.

Luckily, there are only a few women still lingering in the hall. They all look at me strangely, but I ignore them and head to the library.

Sister Greta was quiet when I got here. She didn’t say hi, nor did she thank me for making her office squeaky clean. I even made a point to mention how long it took me to clean her space again, and all I got was a grunt.

With a frustrated sigh, I moved on to the main part of the library and started dusting. I was focused on the task that I didn’t realize the time until Sister Greta reminded me that it was dinner time. It’s not surprising that the only words she spoke to me were “go eat dinner” because she wanted me to leave.

After cleaning up, I sauntered down to the dining hall, where I now wait patiently behind a woman I’ve never met before. She offers me a warm smile while she pours herself lemonade. I return the gesture as I scoop some mashed potatoes onto my plate.

I may hate this place, but I can’t lie. The food is so good.

As I fill up my plate, I sense eyes on me. Lifting my own, I take a quick look over my shoulder to find Father Alexander watching me. Heat rolls through my body as his eyes remain on me while Father Keaton speaks to him. The latter is staring at his plate while he talks, so he doesn’t see the heated gaze Father Alexander has on me.

Looking forward, I move to the end of the table, pour myself a lemonade, and go to find my seat. Sitting down, I begin cutting the chicken up and still feel his eyes on mine.

Casually raising my mine, they land on his, and my cheeks burn. The way he is staring at me is different than before. He used to look at me with curiosity, but now there is something else behind his eyes.

Something I’ve seen in men before when they’re attracted to someone.

His stare sends butterflies to my stomach, and it’s so intense that I have to look away. Esther is minding her own business, eating her food, while Joanna and Bekah talk. I don’t understand how they always have so much to discuss. It’s not like anything crazy happens in this place.

“They are having a movie night, not this upcoming Monday, but the next!” Joanna informs us with too much delight for my liking.

Although the idea of a movie night does sound nice. “What are they playing?”

“The Greatest Story Ever Told,” she responds.

I internally groan. That’s a movie my parents forced me to watch when I was younger. “Is it mandatory?”

“No.” Joanna shakes her head and takes a bite of her potatoes. “But if you haven’t seen it yet, I suggest you come. They are going to hand out snacks!”

I steal a glance at Esther, who is slightly shaking her head no. She has nothing to worry about. I wasn’t going to tell Joanna yes anyway.

“I’ll probably pass since I’ve seen it. I have so much to do in the library.”

“I can’t believe you are working in there. Sister Greta is not an easy person to get along with,” Bekah says. “I heard she has scared away multiple girls, and they refuse to set foot back in the library because of it.”

I shrug. “She’s not that bad.”

“Give it a few more days,” Joanna says. “Then you’ll be running out of there. You can always come work in the courtyard with Bekah and me.”