Page 525 of The Sinner: James

At around eight, we have dinner in the kitchen, both wearing pajamas, the way we used to when we were teens.

“This feels good,” she says as we’re done eating, and she collects the plates and silverware from the table and slips everything into the dishwasher.

She pulls a box of desserts from the fridge and sets two clean plates on the table.

“We don’t need them,” I say, scooping out a bit of New York cheesecake directly from the box.

“Here,” she says, pushing the dessert plate to me as if she hasn’t heard me.

She scoops a slice of cheesecake from the box and sets it on my plate before drizzling strawberry sauce on top.

The creamy dessert makes my palate tingle.

“Mmm... This is perfection,” I say, relishing the aroma of the fruit mixed with cream cheese.

“It’s late for coffee, but I still want one,” she says.

“Decaf?” I suggest.

Her face lights up.

“Yeah... That will do.”

She pushes out of her chair and heads to the counter.

“What flavor would you like?” she asks.

“What options do I have?”

“English Toffee and Cream? Creme Brûlée? Hazelnut?”

I forgot how passionate she was about her coffee.

“Hazelnut for me.”

Minutes later, two mugs sit on the table, the smell of freshly brewed coffee filling the kitchen.

I chew on another morsel of cheesecake before sipping coffee.

“So what’s the real reason you’re in New York?” she asks, observing me from above the rim of the cup. “Does anyone know you’re here?”

“Of course they know.”

“Does James know?”

“Yes.”

“So, what made you come here?”

“I wanted to see you.”

“Besides that.”

Smiling, I put the cup down.

“I needed to get away for a few days.”

“Okay.”

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