Page 18 of The Sinner: James

“Is she with one of ours?” James says on the phone, and my ears perk up. “Pull her out... Uh-huh... Give him ten minutes... It’s more than enough,” he says before sliding his phone onto the table.

They laugh as I innocently move my eyes around the table.

“I’m sorry, baby,” James says, his fingers curling casually around my arm and staying there as he swings his gaze between his two best friends. “She’ll be out momentarily.”

They chuckle some more.

“So... What’s her name?” Ed asks, looking at James.

“Why don’t you ask her?”

They all cut their eyes at me.

“Are you going to tell us, sweetie?” James asks, drinking me in.

“Rain,” I murmur.

“As in… the real rain?” Ed asks, amused, clasping his fingers under his chin and peering at me like I'm a baby panda.

“Yes,” I say softly.

He tilts his lips into a sly smile, his eyes slipping smoothly below my chin.

I tug at my neckline and move it up.

James’ fist crashes onto the table, the ice cubes clinking in the glasses.

“Stay away from her, Ed, or I’ll chop your balls off,” he barks, only half-seriously before they share a peal of laughter.

Ed flicks his hand up.

“All right... All right,” he murmurs, still very much grinning.

“What do you like to do, Rain?” Lex asks.

I shift my eyes to him and go quiet for a moment, studying his features.

His lips part into a soft grin.

He narrows his eyes, observing me through his lashes while taking a swig of liquor.

“Are you going to college?” he asks, setting his drink on the table.

“I don’t know. Next year… Maybe.”

“What about this year?”

“I’m working on a book.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… Interesting. So, besides books… What else do you like to do?”

“I like cars.”

“What kind of cars?”

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