Page 242 of The Sinner: James

TAMING JAMES

A NIGHT OF THE KINGS NOVEL

1

RAIN

The breeze rollsoff the ocean, sweeps over my feet, and makes the wind chimes sing across the terrace while the palmettos rustle in the background.

Eyes closed, I stretch an arm out, tap the mattress behind me, and grab a sheet to cover myself before trying to fall asleep again.

The seagulls have a different plan, though, their dissonant chorus making it impossible for me to sleep.

I struggle for a moment before rolling to my back, sighing with frustration.

What can I say?

That’s my luck.

I stay like that for a few good moments––sprawled on my back, eyes shut, nostrils flaring, the salty air flowing into my lungs.

The smell of fresh coffee drifting from the kitchen jolts me into awareness even more, fueling the swarm of nagging thoughts swirling in my head.

He didn’t sleep here last night.

And he hasn’t touched me since that night.

None of them have.

He must have asked them not to touch me.

He makes the calls.

The‘Night of the Kings’experience would’ve never happened had he not given them the green light.

It was a test, perhaps.

Or maybe, he wanted to prove a point. Who knows?

Whatever it was, it brought us here.

I’m lying in his bed, alone, surrounded by silence while he is... Who knows where?

I don’t know where his friends are, either.

All I know is that today is our last day on the island.

I wish I could say I can’t wait to go back to my old life. Or that what happened these past few days has cleared things up for me.

If anything, it has complicated everything.

The thought that we’ll go separate ways, trying to forget about each other, gives me a great deal of sadness.

I open my eyes and push up on my elbows.

Wrestling with an odd feeling, I train my gaze on the water and soak in the panoramic view.

Shimmering sand lines the shore.

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