Page 471 of The Sinner: James

“Hey, Lex,” I say, my back buried in my pillow, my eyes shut.

“Ed said you wanted to talk to me.”

“Yeah. I need you here.”

A pause comes from the other end of the line while voices and live music echo in the background.

“Where are you?”

“Your place. There’s a party for Ed and Thea.”

“Oh, yeah... The party,” I rasp, rolling to my side before rubbing my hand over my face and opening my eyes.

“Did he talk to you?” I ask.

“Yeah. He told me,” he says curtly.

“I know it’s short notice, but I need to fly to London in a day or two.”

Rain’s voice rings at the other end of the phone line.

“Who’s that?” she asks Lex.

“James,” he says to her. “She wants to talk to you,” he relays to me.

I pull upright and prop my back against the headboard.

“Hey, baby,” she says, her voice sweet and mellow.

“Hey. How’s the party?”

“It’s good. Is everything okay?” she asks, rushed.

“Yeah. Why?”

“Um... Nothing. Lex just told me about Monaco. You said you wanted me to come to you this week as well.”

I stay silent for a moment.

“James?”

“Yes.”

“Are things okay with the business?”

“Yes. Everything is fine. I need to travel to London, and he has to be here when I leave. I’ll have to figure out what’s the best time for you to come.”

“I don’t need to,” she shoots at me.

“No. I want you to come, just not now. I’ll have the answer for you in a day or two. By then, I’ll know what the rest of the week looks like. Okay?”

A few moments pass.

“Rain?”

“Yes. It’s okay,” she says, slightly disappointed.

“I’ll call you tomorrow.”

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