Page 240 of The Sinner: James

The morning dances on the shore, dipped in bright, clear light, making the water sparkle and the sand glitter.

A soft wind carries the scent of flowers away when two silhouettes emerge from the ocean.

Ed rakes his fingers through his hair and waves at me. Lex follows his gaze and nods softly, locking my eyes.

I shift my gaze away from them and scan the beach, looking for him.

Far away, a third silhouette jogs toward the house, his torso glistening with sweat.

Moments later, James stops next to Ed and Lex, flashing a grin. He doesn’t look at me.

Laughter rocks their chests, and sunlight twinkles in their eyes.

Lex lifts his chin in my direction, and James turns his head to me, his eyes finding mine.

He squints at me before breaking his eyes away from me. A few strides bring him to the top of the stairs.

He looks at me, a faint smile draped over his lips.

“Morning,” he says, smiling.

I stare at him.

“You didn’t sleep in our bed last night,” I say.

He flashes a mysterious smile, his hands clasped on his hips.

“No,” he murmurs cryptically before slipping by me and walking to the shower.

I push up to my feet and follow him.

“James?”

He vanishes inside the bathroom without a word.

I push the door open just as he slips out of his swim trunks and steps into the stream of water.

He slides the glass door closed.

Ice runs through my veins. I push the shower door open and turn the water off.

“What are you doing?” he asks in a cold voice this time.

“What is this, James?”

“What is what?”

He snatches a towel from a rack, runs it over his groin, and wraps it around his waist.

“You’re acting strangely.”

His hand comes to my face, a faint smile on his lips, nothing to read in his eyes.

“I’m not.”

“You’re different.”

“How?” he asks, an unsettling grin glinting in them.

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