Page 63 of The Sinner: James

“What’s going to happen?” I ask, wrestling with this new reality that I fear a little.

My cocky attitude fizzles out, my courage completely disappearing.

He saunters back, holding my eyes, a knowing grin lining his lips.

Perhaps that’s all he wanted. To make me come to my senses.

“What are you afraid of?” he asks, closing the space between us and bringing his hand to my face.

I look up at him.

“Getting hurt... I guess,” I say, my voice wavering.

“Isn’t it a bit too late for that?” he murmurs, his soft touch spreading warmth across my skin.

He gives me a tender smile––a grin I’ve never seen on him before.

“Is it?” I say in a trance.

“Let me say something to you, sweetheart...” he says softly. “You can’t get anything out of this life without getting hurt. And that’s why some people only get so little out of it. They’re too scared to live fully. Are you one of those people?”

“No, but... I don’t want the people close to me to hurt if something happens to me.”

He drags his fingers across my cheek.

“People get hurt even when you do nothing. You can’t stop their pain. Besides, nothing will happen to you,” he says, winking at me and grinning playfully. “Nothing other than what you want,” he adds, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

He plants a kiss on my hair, and with that single gesture, he erases the few months lost when I didn’t feel his touch.

* * *

JAMES

“You drive.”

I toss her the car keys.

She halts in the middle of the driveway, somewhat baffled.

“You said you liked cars...” I murmur.

Her incredulous look makes me continue.

“We’ll try this first and get theAsterionnext time...” I add.

“What’s theAsterion?”

“TheLamborghini Asterion.”

“Oh... The Lamborghini. Yeah... Okay.”

Smiling, she climbs into the black Dodge Challenger.

“Adjust your seat and your mirror.”

She shifts in her seat, glancing at me.

“You don’t need to baby me.”

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