Page 30 of The Sinner: James

“Oh, wait...”

She presses her manicured fingers against her lips.

“That was the plan all along,” she says, feigning surprise, and our crystalline laughter rips into the silence, prompting a flock of ducks to take off from the nearby lake, fueling our giggling even more.

“If that’s the case, sign me up...” she says, flashing a playful grin. “That’s not what I had in mind,” she murmurs dramatically and comically at the same time. “It’s just that… I can no longer wait. My looks are already fading...” she adds, fanning her face, and we snicker uncontrollably, missing out on the sound of the main door opening and closing.

Suddenly, she has the smile wiped off her face, her chin flicking up repeatedly like a broken gadget, pointing to someone behind me.

My sister’s angry voice booms in my ears.

“Can I talk to you for a second?”

I toss a glance over my shoulder, barely suppressing a retort.

Hands clutched onto her hips, she shoots Eve a death stare that makes her leap out of her chair and dash promptly to the exit door.

“I’ll talk to you later,” she says to me, sneaking behind Daria’s back while twirling her forefinger next to her right temple, pointing to my sister at the same time.

My eyes follow her, my expression blank as I push back an amused smile.

“What do you want?” I ask dryly, shifting my focus to Daria.

“Inside, please,” she barks, stepping to the side and inviting me to vacate the patio.

“What’s your problem, sis?”

She motions to the door.

“I’m not in the mood,” she snaps. “Get inside.”

I extract myself from the chair, stroll past her, and head to the kitchen. Her shoes rap annoyingly against the marble slabs as she follows me with suffocating indignation.

Daria and her fucking moods.

I pour myself a glass of water and take a gulp before setting it on the table and hurling a glance at her.

“Who exactly were you with last night?” she asks, fury simmering in her voice.

I lean back, and bracing my hands on the cold kitchen counter, I stare at her in silence.

She responds with a venomous look.

I press my lips into a tight line before giving her an answer.

“Nobody.”

“He’snot nobody,” she snaps, her words punching me in the stomach.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“This is serious, Rain.”

I shoot her a glare.

“I bet it is, so enlighten me. What exactly is so serious? Me asking for help, or you fucking someone in Red’s basement?”

Her eyes go wide, filled with anger and disbelief, her face white as paper.

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