Page 41 of A Sin So Pure

Could I quit my addiction to her?

I chew the inside of my cheek, thankful for Josie’s patience as I search for the right words.

“I don’t know where to go from here,” I admit.

Josie’s head bobs back and forth, lips pursed. “If you care about her, or even just value her friendship, then the first step is to ask her why. Then maybe apologize. Then talk about your fucking feelings for once.”

My head drops to my forearm on the table with a groan. “I hate apologizing. It makes me feel weak.”

Josie laughs. “You apologize to me plenty.”

“That’s because you’re the one person in Faerie who is right more often than me.” The words are mumbled into the wood. “And I hate you for it.”

“You don’t hate me.”

“No, I don’t.”

I peer up at my best friend—my sister—and give her a soft smile that only she’s ever seen.

She squeezes my forearm.

“I’m going to have to talk to her too. Hash it out. But as for the trust part, try to give her some credit. It’s hard enough being your friend. I cannot imagine being your girlfriend,” Josie snorts. “I’m sure you’ll think of some way for her to gain it back.Just like I’m sure she’ll be willing to entertain your anticstogain it back.”

“Like a test?”

“I was thinking more along the lines of inviting her to dinner,talking to her…but a test could work too.”

A beat passes between us before we both chuckle into our tea, sad little smiles dancing over our teeth.

“I still need to think about it,” I say.

“It’s okay to take your time.”

“Thank you, Josie.”

“You’re welcome, Nor.”

And then we sit, each refusing to leave the other. Hours pass, the moon says its goodbye, but Josie’s shoulder doesn’t stray far from mine. Her presence is a quiet comfort.

Sometimes, you just need to not be alone.

The window teases a purple-pink morning sky, and taxi exhausts pop, the world moving forward while we sit still.

11

IMOGEN

It’s been two weeks.

Josie came to see me only a day after my and Nora’s fight.

She wanted to know what happened from my point of view. But I couldn’t say it all out loud, so I held out my hand and opened my mind to her.

The calloused pad of her palm slipped across mine, and I let her see it all. The first time Silas came to me, every time I tried to argue against him, and every time I gave up because he threatened the last family I have left.

“I’m disappointed, but I get it,” Josie said with a sigh.

“I’m sorry,” I replied.

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