Page 359 of The Sinner: James

“No, it’s not,” I say, trying to push back a smile, unable to keep my face straight. “It’s better than that,” I add, nudging her to move.

“Is it a secret?”

“It’s a surprise. You’ll see.”

“Are we going to see any hot men where we’re going?”

“Yes.”

“When do we leave then?” she asks excitedly.

Smiling, I look at her as we stroll toward the exit.

“We can leave tomorrow if you want to.”

Her eyebrows lift in surprise.

“Yes, please. Can we do that?”

Slowly, I shake my head.

“You haven’t changed a bit, Eve Malone.”

“Why should I change when this version of me works so damn well?” she says with self-deprecating humor.

We laugh.

I tip my gaze to her and observe her for a few moments.

She did change, though.

Not in the way she talks and laughs and thinks about stuff, but in the way she looks.

She is no longer the teenage girl I’d spent time with growing up–– chatting, eating ice cream, bicycling, and dreaming about boys.

At almost twenty-five, Eve Malone is a stunning woman. If only she could see herself the way I and everybody else perceive her.

In that regard, she hasn’t changed and still thinks she’s not that special.

Or maybe she’s changed, and I’m wrong.

Even for someone not self-centered like her, it’s hard not to notice how beautiful she is.

Dark long hair cascades in lazy waves down her back, framing her blue eyes and symmetrical features.

Of all her traits, her wit, humor, and kindness describe her the best these days.

Her boy-toy days are long gone, and so are her frayed shorts, plaid shirts, ripped jeans, vintage T-shirts, and camouflage boots.

The boring college clothing is nowhere in sight––no more beige and gray, dull-looking tops and boxy cut clothes.

She blames the makeover on her new job. That’s what she told me the last time we had dinner in Manhattan.

After changing jobs quite a few times in the last couple of years, she landed a position with a reputable Ad agency. And now she does brand strategy, among other things.

She was so excited when she started to work for them at the beginning of the year, and here she is now, six months later, thriving and coming into herself.

Looking so happy.

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