Page 140 of The Sinner: James

DARK JAMES

A NIGHT OF THE KINGS NOVEL

1

RAIN

One weektill Christmas~New York

‘Love can bringa man to his knees and turn a woman into a pile of ashes.’

C.L.

“She doesn’t payyou to read… You know,” a voice scratchy like my sweater rings behind me.

Biting my lip, I stifle a retort.

I know better than feeding the troll.

Besides, the woman paying me to work doesn’t share my co-worker’s opinion, and we both know it.

But opinions are like butts––everybody has one––and I won’t try to argue with her.

Clinging to my last ounce of dignity, I slowly slide the book onto the shelf and continue to organize the volumes by genre and title.

The woman behind me has no intention of leaving me alone, waiting for another opportunity to speak.

Sighing, I try to keep my cool.

No matter what I do, she doesn’t want to walk away, while I refuse to turn around and face her.

Trying to avoid a confrontation, I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of seeing me irritated because of her.

That doesn’t mean I’m not affected, and the more I sense her stare on my back, the more nervous I get.

Hopefully, a customer will show up and whisk her away. Or our boss will enter the bookstore and give her something to do.

Anything would be better than having her here, stalking me like an obsessed lunatic.

My lips are dry, and I itch inside the sweater, sweat lining my palms.

Pacing myself, I run my fingers over my skirt and tug at the neckline, trying to cool off.

Secretly glancing at the street, I get a view of the freshly sifted snow.

It’s grown into a thick blanket over the sidewalks these past few hours.

It snows steadily, feathery icicles that look like dying butterflies falling from the sky.

I wish I could go home and forget about the bookstore.

I wish I could do so many things.

My eyes linger on the window before a soft rustling draws my eyes to the woman.

Now she’s stacking books not far from me.

The bitch.

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