Sin Series

Chapter 2

Hotsome: Come on, love. We both know we wanna have some fun.

Hotsome: If this is your picture, then you look gorgeous, love.

I cropped the picture during my roommate, Katrya’s birthday last month. I was wearing a red mini-dress and showed off some cleavage. And now, I was in trouble.

I clicked Hotsome’s profile.

28 years old, 6’2”, single. Of course.

He loved to adopt a dog.

A foodie and football fan.

His interest: A woman with natural beauty.

My jaw dropped, just staring at his picture because his name suited him well. Hot and handsome. Damn beautiful! Indeed, his age was probably just like my brother. Did I forget to mention he has copper brown hair reaching his shoulders? It was unruly and wavy that made him sexier. His face was beautifully crafted. His skin wasn’t tanned as I liked in a man, but he had warm honey brown eyes that scorched me. His nose was almost perfect. His strong jawline was covered with a day or more worth of stubble. His lips were full and pink, slightly spread into a smile. And that... corded neck. A few chest hair poking out from his opened button shirt.

I wondered if how did it feel against my fingertips?

Crap, I got it bad.

Did he have six-packs, lean hips, and muscular thighs?

Okay, enough, Are.

Wait, why did he look so familiar? Was this his real picture? He could have just cropped and put someone’s picture from Google, i********:, or other social media apps, right? Because there was no way he looked like this? He could have a lot of ladies filling in line to have him. He’s not real.

I shook away those thoughts. I’m in deep trouble.

It’s just a picture. He could’ve just photoshopped it.

Hotsome: Are you still there, SinDeRella?

What had gotten into me to use this username?

SinDeRella: Something came up. I’ll chat with you when I’m free.

Hotsome: How about tonight? I really wanna know more about you.

SinDeRella: How would I know you’re not some psychopath?

Hotsome: Then we should probably meet.

SinDeRella: Didn’t I just ask why should I trust you? *insert sarcasm.

Hotsome: Lol. Am I too pushy? Let’s talk sometimes then?

SinDeRella: Sure.

“Wow! Since when are you interested in online dating?” Katrya’s voice from my back startled me.

I turned to face her. “Did I forget to lock the door?” I asked sarcastically. It was not that we should lock each other’s door. We knew our limits, and when I moved into this apartment, her first rule was no bringing of dates home.

“Your door is ajar, my dear. And I called you when I got inside, but you seemed so lost staring at that picture.” She walked inside, locking the door behind her. “So, tell me. Are you going out with that guy?” She pointed out to the laptop that I already shut closed.

“You know I never did this before. I don’t know, maybe or maybe not.”

“I can set you up out on a blind date. I’ll ask our new X-ray technician. He’s single and kinda hot,” she suggested, grinning.

I rolled my eyes. “The last time you set me up on a date, he canceled an hour before the date. So, no thank you.” My self-esteem suddenly dropped freezing cold when it happened, and Kat apologized for like a thousand times even though it was not her fault. Still, she felt being played out. Besides, that guy was the one who asked her that he was looking for a date.

“I’m sorry, Are.”

“I know. Don’t worry, there’s this one guy that I chatted earlier, but how will I know if he is not some jerk?”

“Then go out on a date with him. In a public area, and don’t go to his place.”

“I don’t do that for a first date, Kat.”

She snorted, “Really? The last time I checked your last date was your ex.”

“Fine, but what I mean is, I will not go with him after our date. If he asks me again, then, I’ll see if the first went well.”

“And you know this dating thing, most people are not looking for a serious relationship, right?”

“I know, and I’m not looking for a relationship either.”

“You are a big girl, Are, but make sure if you’ll go out on a date he’s hotter than your jerk ex. So, who is this guy?”

“Um, his username is hotsome,” I answered reluctantly, grinning.

Kat stared at me for a moment before she burst into a laugh and threw her head back. Her straight, shiny, and raven black hair swayed gracefully. I was so jealous of her hair and fair freckled-free skin. Her mom was a Filipina and her dad was a Korean, but they were American citizens now. Kat was a nurse in our local hospital for three years.

“So, is he a hotsome?” Her dark brow raised, still smiling.

I chuckled and shrugged, then her mouth gaped open and raised her hand to stop me from saying. “I’ve never seen that look before. He’s that hot, huh?”

My brows knitted together. “What look?”

She pointed finger at my face. “That sweet guilty look. Your face is literally blushing right now, Arella. Did you already have wet dreams over this hotsome guy?”

“Oh, shut up, Kat. I’m hungry. What do we have for dinner?” I stood up and ran my hands over my crumpled panda pajamas.

“You are the one who has no duty, Are. I should be the one who’s asking you that.” She rolled her eyes, looking amused. “What a lazy roommate I have.”

“I know, and I’m sorry. I’ll make up to you, I promise.” I followed her out of my room. I was taller than her in a few inches, but she had a petite figure compared to me who gained some pounds after my divorce.

My ex-husband used to restrict my consumed of calories, and still, he called me fat despite my fifty-five kilos. I could say he was fit and never eat fatty foods. We both went to a gym and watched out our weight together. But, I stopped everything when I moved out of our house.

“You can make it up to me when you have a second date with hotsome.” She winked when we both stopped in our small living room that only consisted of a long brown couch where I usually spent most of my time watching action movies on our flat TV. It had a small glass coffee table and the new dark brown rag we bought from the 50% off last month.

“I’m just glad that you’re trying to give back some colors to your boring life. He moved on, Are. Now, it’s your turn. He’s not the only hot guys in the world. Your ex-husband is an asshole.” She smiled, this time it wasn’t sympathetic like every time she found me crying on this couch. But Kat didn’t know some important details about my ex.

“So, should I consider dating one of those hot guys?” I smiled back.

“If they’re hotter than Ed Skrein, then yes. It’s time to make that drier than oregano v****a wet.”

“Oh, my God! Your mouth, Kittykat. This guy looked familiar to me, but I don’t think it’s him that I used to know though because his eyes have different colors, and I don’t think he’s ever interested in this kind of thing. I mean he doesn’t have to, you know.”

Chapter 3

Dr. Everly Hynson

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THE CREAM stucco house came to view when the iron-wrought gate slid open. This had been my mother’s house after her divorce from Dad. Dr. Everly Hynson never remarried and been promoted as the head of the Pediatric department in the local hospital last year. Back in London, Mum’s schedule was the cause of most of their fights. She was still a resident back then. Dad was busy running our cosmetics and fragrances business while Mum was on call mostly at night. But her love over her job made her selfish in the eyes of my father.

The door swung open. Mum stood beautifully in front of me with her familiar smile. She was always curvy as far as I could remember. Her straight, blonde shoulder-length hair made her look younger than her late fifties plus she had her makeup on, and always had.

“Hello, mother!” I greeted, spreading a grin on my lips.

“My darling, Skipper. I thought you forgot your way back home.”

Stepping forward, I wrapped my arms tightly around her. A feeling of breathlessness overwhelmed my senses. “I missed you so much, Mum.”

“I don’t feel that way, Skipper,” she said with a laugh.

“Come on, Mum. We’ve been through this.” I pulled away, staring at her beautiful hazel eyes. “I just want to prove something to Dad. When the time comes, I can stand on my own.”

She closed her eyes and nodded. “I know, baby. And Mum is so proud of you.” She kissed my cheek. “Let’s get inside, shall we?”

Mum was a neat freak. This house still looked new and smelled clean and citrus. Everything was white from floor to ceiling, to furniture, decors, and even the grand staircases in the middle of the living room. But you couldn’t find even a single living plant around. She was an environmentalist to the bone. She had this opinion that if she put plants in the house it was like cutting off their lives.

I followed her to the right corner of the house. One thing caught my attention was the door to my right ajar slightly with a yellow light illuminated the entire room. There were racks made of woods and filled with wine bottles. Dad was right after all.

My chest tightened. I took a deep breath and pressed my lips together to stop overreacting. The family room was welcoming than the living room. My pictures and Clyve hung everywhere. I sat on the custom-made cream couch in front of the huge motion-sensor television I’d ever seen.

“Did you order that?” I asked, pointing to the TV.

“You mean if I till watch Grey’s Anatomy?” She smiled warmly.

“I’m not judging you.” I shrugged. “I mean how odd to watch medical-related shows when it’s far from the reality? You’ve said that, remember?”

“I know, but Grey’s Anatomy is closer to reality.”

I looked down at the bear’s skin rag under my feet.

“That’s fake, honey. I know how much you all love animals.” She sat beside me, leaning her head against my shoulder.

“I know why you’re here, Skipper,” she said softly.

“Of course, I’m here to manage the New York branch. And might stay here for good as well since Clyve loves his job at the CNC.”

“I’m your mother, baby. I know Bradd is aware of my drinking problem.”

“So, it’s true then?” I lifted my head and watched her closely. Dad still cared about Mum, and I thought he still loved her and still talked from time to time.

She nodded slowly. Guilt plastered all over her face. “I’m seeing a therapist and attending some seminars.”

“But you still keep alcohols in your house. Is that part of the therapy? How does it help, by the way?” I sighed with frustration.

“Don’t judge me now, Skipper. You’ve never been here for me in the first place.”