Page 121 of A Sin So Pure

She lets me snuggle against her as much as I want; when she gets fidgety from the constant contact, she tells me about it rather than pulling away. And then I tell her how much I appreciate her honesty and let her have some space.

We spend hours finishing the puzzle Josie and I started—getting frustrated when we lose a single piece to the ether. We play stupid card games, most of which I lose, and recall terrible stories of our youth over home-cooked meals that Wes’s nan sends up for us.

When she found out what happened, she took it upon herself to aid in my recovery. She even whipped up a special dish that had Nora cursing the old lady for how infrequently she makes it; it was a bowl of minuscule pieces of pasta, creamy with butter and parmesan.

I let Nora have a spoonful and her resulting moan had us tumbling into bed, all thoughts of the outside world cast away.

There’s soft laughter, and even softer touches, and by the time our little bubble of paradise pops—a single knock on the door calling Nora away until the Sins meeting—my heart is sufficiently full.

31

IMOGEN

“You didn’t,” Leo chokes on his laughter as he, Josie, and I step out of the elevator.

“We did,” Josie says, a bashful smile on her face. It showcases an adorable little dimple on her right cheek. “Everyone at family dinner wondered why the sauce tasted strange. They were practically screaming it in their heads, but no one would say a word out loud. They didn’t want to hurt Nan’s feelings. Little did they know, it wasn’t her fault the vodka sauce was more vodka than sauce.”

“Did she ever find out?” I ask.

“Of course,” Josie says, nose scrunching up. “Wes’s nan finds out everything. We were on dish duty for a month.”

I shake my head. “I’m going to scold Nora for keeping that one to herself.”

“Good luck with that. She’s still pissed we got caught.” Josie snorts.

The three of us chuckle. We’d been laughing a lot lately.

Ever since the night Josie crashed on my couch, and even more so after theincidenthuman-side, we’ve been spending more time together. I hadn’t realized it at the time, but I missed her friendship. Josie needs the laughs more than ever, stillholding onto a deep-rooted guilt that I want to rip from her soul. But I’m thankful I can still pull some laughter from her, even if it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

We come to a stop where the hallways fork—in one direction lies the Sins meeting room, and the other leads to where the Seconds wait.

“I’ll see you after, Mo,” Josie says, giving my shoulder a quick squeeze.

“See you,” I say before she departs down the hall. I raise my brows at Leo, pointing towards the double doors I need to enter. “Are you sure you don’t want to sit in for me?”

He shakes his head. “It isn’t the right time.”

A knowing smile curls my lips. “Don’t tell me you’re nervous.”

Leo’s smile is cautious. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am never nervous.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I speak the truth.”

“Well,I’mnervous,” I say, cocking my brow. “Silas doesn’t often call mid-quarter meetings. It means something big or bad. Or both.”

“And that’s exactly why I don’t want to sit in today.” He pivots on his heel and gives me a wave. “See you after, Mo.”

“Traitor,” I murmur, but it doesn’t have any bite.

“Heard that!” he calls from down the hall.

A little laugh escapes me and eases the tension in my shoulders.

When I enter the meeting room, it’s empty. As I round the table, I shake out my arms, hoping that the action will shake off the rest of my anxiety.

It doesn’t work.

---