Page 219 of The Sinner: James

Moments earlier.

They’re gone.

I glance at the dance floor again. And then at the table. Ed is there, talking to the people at our table.

Okay.

I head that way, still scanning the crowd, when I spot Rain.

She cuts her way through a group of people while I halt and crane my neck to get a better view of her.

Someone calls her name. A man. She’s heard him, too, so she stops and spins around to face him and the woman at his side.

I veer that way, and they all come into view.

Rain’s face strikes me as unusually white. Her eyes land on the man’s face, and something hits me in my chest.

The woman purses her lips in contempt, glaring at Rain.

She has a picture-perfect face, shoulder-length hair, a creepy coldness in her eyes, and no trace of sensuality.

A tight body fills her dress.

She flicks her gaze to him, noticing how taken he is with… Rain?

She must be his wife.

He can’t break his gaze away from Rain, and my chest feels hollow.

Younger than his wife, the man flashes all the signs of ‘fuck you’ money.

Comfortable wealth.

Lost for words, he takes Rain in, a nostalgic smile glinting in his eyes.

And, um. Oh… Fuck. It instantly dawns on me.

He must’ve fallen for Rain at one point or another.

He was, or perhaps still is, one of her clients.

Annoyed by his reaction, his wife quirks her eyebrow, ready to make a scene.

Rain glances at our table, restless.

Grappling with mixed emotions, I erase the space between us and inject myself into their little life drama.

Laying a hand on Rain’s back, I give everyone a soft nod. A shudder travels through her body as I touch her skin.

The man’s eyes shift to me, offering more clues.

He is who I thought he was.

Surprise flashes through his gaze, and a boatload of regret similar to mine.

He snaps out of his stupor before making the introductions.

Swiftly using my presence, he attempts to save himself some trouble by avoiding a conflict.

---