Page 383 of The Sinner: James

I freeze in the middle of the hotel room, my purse in my hand, my eyes linked with hers.

Sadness slides over her face.

“He danced with me that night while I was filled with jitters. The thought that he’d find me attractive was overwhelming.”

I’m about to retort.

“I know it’s frustrating. Trust me,“ she says. “I know. But that’s what it was. He wasn’t meant to be with me. And he’s with someone else now.”

I gesture dismissively.

“Whatever,” I say, unable to stifle my frustration. “I don’t understand how these things always happen to you. But you know better than me. I guess he was just another life lesson you needed to learn.”

“I guess,” she says regretfully.

I feel bad for her but sense her struggle and soften inside.

“Don’t think about it. It’s in the past,” I say, stroking her arm to comfort her. “Let’s enjoy this moment and forget about everything else. Someone will benefit from you learning that lesson at some point, so cheer up. You’ll need to face these two men tonight.”

She attempts to chuckle just as her eyes glisten with tears.

Swiftly, she pushes them back, her gaze slipping down as we take the first steps toward the door.

“Your dress is pretty,” she says, gesturing toward my red dress.

She drags her eyes up.

“And your hair. It looks good against your tan,” she murmurs before we slip through the door and stroll down the corridor.

Mirrors line the walls.

“Thank you.”

“I can’t believe the week is almost over,” she says, glancing at me, regret tinging her voice.

I press the button, and the elevator doors slide open.

We walk in.

“I wish I didn’t have to go back,” she says after a moment.

“Me too.”

She studies me, surprised.

“Why wouldn’t you want to go back?” she asks.

I smile.

“For one, I like spending time with you. And this place is really nice. And then, if I had you with me back home, I wouldn’t feel alone all the time,” I say melancholically, just as the elevator starts moving down.

6

RAIN

Hotel de Paris Monte Carlo

“The hotel is amazing,”she says before the doors glide open, and we walk into the hallway.

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