Page 209 of The Sinner: James

“She’s looking for you.”

“Why is she texting you?”

“Maybe because she doesn’t have your cell phone number,” he says, his hands shooting up in frustration.

“Enough,” I say in a clipped voice. “Fucking smartass.”

I scoop up his phone and text Rain back.

Minutes later, a soft knock on the door drags me to the entrance.

She walks in.

Her face is fresh, her hair is entangled, and her body is wrapped in one of my bathrobes.

She wears a pair of slippers that are clearly not her size.

I turn to stone for a moment as images from the past parade in front of my eyes, making me forget how we all got here.

She pushes up on her toes and gives me a soft kiss on my lips before tearing away from me and heading to Lex.

Like a fool, I stare at her back, my hand still wrapped around the doorknob.

“I’m hungry,” she says as Lex gets a plate for her and motions her to the table.

I let the door fall shut.

Her arms lock around his neck, and my chest tightens.

He wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her into him while she tilts her face up and plants a kiss on his cheek.

He glances at me over her shoulder as I lose half of my lungs, exhaling.

A moment later, we all sit around the table, Lex and I exchanging furtive looks while she takes small bites of food and sips wine.

“Why do you have two different suites?” she asks in a sweet voice, gesturing with her fork.

Lex’s eyes narrow with a smile. He flicks his chin to me, daring me to answer.

“Why, James?” he asks.

I glare at him before she looks at me, and I flash a fake smile.

“He snores,” I say, poker-faced, without a trace of humor in my voice.

They share a peal of laughter anyway.

An amused grin slips to my lips.

“I guess James doesn’t like competition,” Rain comments.

My balls hurt as if she squeezes them with a pair of pliers.

Lex’s eyes glint with a grin while I squirm, feeling cornered.

Seemingly, things are no longer in my control.

“James?” Lex tosses at me.

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