Page 439 of The Sinner: James

Slowly, I stroke his chest, following the lines of his tattoo, studying every patch of skin.

“One day, things will be different,” I say to him.

And also to myself.

A nostalgic smile lines his lips as he ponders something.

“Can you believe I was jealous of Preston last time I was in Monaco?” he says.

“Why?”

“Because he gets to take a break.”

“I think we were all jealous of him. Except for Eve, maybe. She was jealous of Thea.”

A grin tugs at his lips.

“She still has a crush on him?”

“I don’t know about now––I don’t think so––but she had a crush on him in the past.”

“She likes David too,” he says, observing me through his lashes.

Testing me, I guess.

“How do you know?”

His eyes sparkle with mischief.

“I can tell. Besides, the man is quite a catch. Too bad she is stuck here, and he just moved to Colorado.”

“I don’t think she’s interested,” I say.

He laughs, amused.

“You don’t want her to be with him?”

“It’s not about what I want. I just don’t think she is.”

“Why?”

I prop myself on my elbow.

“First of all, he has to be interested in her too.”

“He’s single, and she’s hot. Why wouldn’t he be interested?”

“How do you know he’s single?”

“I asked.”

“Because?”

He gives me a cheeky smile.

“I wanted to know.”

“Why?”

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