Page 26 of The Sinner: James

We slip by the guest house and come to a full stop in the circular driveway in front of the Dark House.

The place is quiet and shrouded in darkness.

Very few staff members work here these days, and they only come in when needed but never when we are here.

We climb out of the car, take the few stairs, and enter a large foyer before pushing through a second door that opens into a spacious living room.

I stop at the bar to fix a round of drinks for all of us while Ed pulls away and vanishes into one of the bedrooms.

Lex and I walk onto the spacious patio overlooking the lake.

We slide the drinks onto the table and sink into our chairs.

“Is he okay?” I ask.

Lex takes a mouthful of bourbon.

“Yeah, he’s fine. He hasn’t slept in forty-eight hours. That’s all.”

I light a cigarette and set my eyes on the water.

“So what’s the story, James?”

“What do you mean?” I murmur, evading his eyes.

“You’ve been acting strangely since we ran into that girl.”

“It’s nothing... And it doesn’t have to do with her.”

“Why is she off limits then?”

I glance at him.

“You seem interested...” I say, studying his eyes.

“Unlike you, I wouldn’t have a problem getting to know her a little better,” he says, bringing his drink to his lips.

A grin curves his lips while he takes a swig.

I give him a quiet, misleading chuckle.

“I don’t have a problem. It’s just that I don’t need her.”

He sets his glass down.

“Who said anything about using her? Daria’s given us plenty to work with.”

He pauses, and I shake my head.

“Nah... I don’t want her for anything else either.”

“It’s the best way to get her out of your system,” he says, a knowing smile creasing his lips.

“She’s not in my system.”

He stays silent, observing me.

“She is not,” I say firmly, unable to beat back a grin. “Just because she kissed me doesn’t mean she’s got under my skin.”

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