Page 445 of The Sinner: James

I pop a small piece of food into my mouth.

“What about you?” I ask Liz, chewing slowly.

Thea’s cousin flicks her eyes to me, a smile growing on her face.

“Never thought about it,” she says before sipping wine.

Thea looks at her as well.

“I’m more of a city girl,” Liz continues. “My perfect place would probably be a one-bedroom apartment with an open layout, a platform bed, lots of pillows, wooden floors, and no TV. Plants, a desk for my computer, and definitely a coffeehouse within walking distance. Or even on the ground level of the same building. I wouldn’t mind it. Oh… And I’d love to write books too,” she also says.

Thea’s eyebrows lift in surprise.

“Since when are you into writing?” she asks.

A soft blush covers Liz’s cheeks, a smile tugging at her lips.

“I always was, but I’ve never had the chance to do it. If I’d have to go all the way while imagining my perfect life, writing would be a part of it,” she says. “I would love to wake up in the mornings, pull on some clothes, snatch up my laptop, and head downstairs for a coffee and a sandwich. The coffee shop would smell like freshly brewed coffee, and only a few tables would be occupied. A few people would sit in the armchairs by the windows, reading while having a snack and a drink. I’d watch people go by and get inspiration for my stories.”

Thea looks at her, her mouth open.

“What about finishing college?”

“I’d be done with it.”

“Why are you studying archaeology, then?”

“Because you can’t make money with your writing. Everybody knows that. Well, maybe Rain can, and please don’t take it the wrong way…” she says, looking at me. “I’m not jealous or anything. But it doesn’t happen to everybody.”

“Then how can you afford the apartment and going to the coffee shop, genius?” her cousin tosses at her.

Smiling, Liz shrugs.

“It’s my perfect life, so anything it’s possible. I may have a sex gig on the side for extra money,” she jokes.

I’m just about to swallow my wine when I choke on it and start to cough.

“I’m sorry,” I say, smiling.

They grin too.

“What sex gig? Does your mom know about your secret plans?” Thea teases her cousin.

Liz flicks her hair over her shoulder, a smile on her lips.

“No, she doesn’t. And as I said before, it’s my perfect life, so I can do whatever I want with it.”

Thea dismisses her with a flick of her hand.

“You wouldn’t do it.”

Liz laughs.

“You don’t know that.”

“What kind of books would you like to write?” I ask.

“I don’t know yet. Sexy books, I guess…” she says, a naughty smile growing on her lips.

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