Page 127 of The Sinner: James

“Yeah...”

“You don’t sound too happy,” he says.

“That’s because I’m fucking not. Didn’t I say I’d never fuck a virgin?”

“Yeah, you did,” he says, cracking a smile.

“Now you know why.”

“So what’s the problem with her?”

I take a long drag, blow the smoke to the side and rest my elbows on my desk, locking his eyes.

“The problem is that she doesn’t want my money.”

“Hmm... That’s something new,” he says.

“Yeah... The other problem is that she needs it, yet she doesn’t want to depend on me, and for now, she can’t be on her own, so that’s pretty much it. You know the rest...”

He looks at me for a few moments.

“She needs to grow up, James, and she has to do it on her own. You can’t do it for her, but you can rush the process by not sheltering her or hiding the truth. She needs to grow claws and fangs and lose the romantic view of life if she wants to be with you.”

I smile bitterly.

“Yeah... I know.”

“It will not be easy. So buckle up. It’s going to be a hell of a ride,” he says, pushing out of his chair as I pick up my phone.

“I’ll see you tonight,” he adds before leaving the room.

I press the intercom button.

“Lynn, I need a business dinner with Daryl Morgan. Tomorrow. At Stern’s.”

* * *

RAIN

No cars have passedby for the past thirty minutes.

Perched on a bench, I glance down the road, flashbacks of the past coming back to me.

A year ago, Eve and I sat on this bench, desperately waiting forthe return of the Kings.

And here we are today.

“Hey.”

Eve waves at me as she glides closer and drops her bicycle next to mine.

“This thing never gets old,” she says, a smile glinting in her eyes.

I take in her grin and beautiful face, unable to say a word.

“Why are you sad?”

“I’m not,” I say, pushing back my emotions. “In fact, I have some good news,” I murmur.

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