Page 54 of A Sinner's Saint

“Okay.” Vin holds out his arm and I crawl into him, resting my head on his bare chest. There’s new ink I haven’t seen before. I don’t know what it is. But the design has a pointy arrow shape on the top and something similar to wings coming out of the sides.

My fingers trace around the black edges. “What is this?”

“It’s the symbol for a saint,” he says.

“My therapist says cuddling releases oxytocin and that’s why we like it so much and why it helps me sleep better,” I hum. “And then I looked up the psychology of cuddling. Apparently, it makes you less likely to look for a partner in other people.”

Vin’s hand, which was dragging absently up and down my arm, stops at the same time I hear him hold his breath. “Are you looking for a partner in other people?”

I snort, literally snort. “No. But if cuddling stops you from looking elsewhere, then I might just glue myself to your side.” I laugh, trying to pass it off as a joke.

“I’m not on the market, Cammi. If I were, you’d be the first and only person I’d call,” he says. “Close your eyes.”

“Can you tell me a story?” I ask him. He’s told me the same story over and over again for the past two months. I love hearing it, even if the ending is a fantasy that’s probably never going to happen.

I wake up alone. He’s gone. If it weren’t for his scent still on my pillow, I’d think I hallucinated that he was even here. I don’t want to get out of bed. I’m content to sit here and wallow all day.

“Cammi, there’s… ah… You should just come and see this,” Aunt Stacey calls out.

Either she’s burnt something. Again. Or she’s found the dress of all dresses. Also, again. She’s what I like to call a shopaholic. She’s obsessed with finding the next best outfit, or shoes, or bags.

I get up and walk out to the living room and realise it’s neither of those things. Aunt Stacey is standing in the middle of the room surrounded by a million red roses—well, maybe not a million but there are a lot of them here.

“There’s a card,” Aunt Stacey says.

“So open it. I didn’t know you were dating anyone,” I tell her.

“Oh, baby girl, these aren’t for me. This saysCammi.” She picks up a card that’s taped to a small box.

My heart beats rapidly in my chest and my hands go clammy.Did Vin do this?I don’t know anyone else who would do something like this. I take the card off my aunt and tear it open.

To Cammi,

Happy graduation. I’m so proud of you and everything you’ve achieved. You are destined for greatness.

Love always,

Vin

I peel back the lid to the box and my brows draw down. “Why would he give me a car remote?” I ask aloud.

“He what?” Aunt Stacey runs to the front door and opens it. “Oh my freaking god!” she squeals.

I push past her, stopping on the porch the moment my eyes land on the shiny, brand-new Mercedes G-Wagon—complete with a red bow to accentuate the perfectly white paint job—now parked in the driveway.

Holy shit, he got me a freaking car? What on earth is he thinking?

“I can’t accept this,” I tell Aunt Stacey before heading back into the house.

“Oh, but you can, and you should.” She sighs, still staring at the car.

“Nope, I’m telling him to come and get it. I don’t want it.” I storm into my bedroom and grab my phone. I slam a finger onto his name in my contacts and wait for him to pick up.

“Hey, you woke up,” he says.

“Vin, what the hell? Come and get your car. I don’t want it. What were you thinking buying me a damn car?” I yell into the phone.

“I was thinking that it’s graduation and I wanted to get you a gift,” he says.

---