Page 116 of Sin

I open the door.

“Laurel.”

I look back. His eyes are on me, and for one second, the truck feels like it did before Amsterdam. Before everything. Before we knew exactly how much damage we could do to each other.

“Last night⁠—”

“Don’t,” I whisper.

His mouth closes.

“If you say it meant something, I’ll cry. If you say it didn’t, I’ll hate you. So don’t.”

Pain crosses his face. Then he nods once. I get out before I can change my mind. He waits until I’m inside before he drives away.

The next morning, I dress like nothing has changed even though it has. Because I love Sin. I know that now.

At the office, Opal asks, “Seattle good?”

“It was. How was your weekend?”

“Good.” Her tone lowers. “Any guesses on what Mr. Sinclair is going to wear today? There’s a big pot.”

I laugh and almost cry at the same time. “I’d say something black.”

In my office, I close the door behind me and gather myself before I get to work.

For the first half of the day, I don’t see him. I hear him, once, in the hallway. My body reacts like an idiot, but I stay at my desk.

At eleven, we’re both in the launch meeting. He sits at the head of the table. I sit halfway down. He doesn’t look at me when he discusses Seattle or when Tate says the trip was clearly worth it.

But his left hand is bare on the table.

I stare at my notes until the ink blurs. No one else seems to notice. Or maybe they do and are too polite to say anything. Either way, it feels like a secret sitting in the middle of the conference table.

When the meeting ends, everyone gathers their things.

Sin stands. “Ms. Cross, stay back a moment.”

My pulse jumps because apparently my body does not understand professional tone. The room clears and the door stays open.

He doesn’t come near me, thank god.

I hold my notebook against my chest. “Yes?”

His expression is unreadable. “The board wants the final launch calendar by Friday.”

“I’ll have it to you Thursday.”

“Good.”

Silence. We stare at each other across the conference room like two strangers who know each other’s bodies too well. Then someone laughs in the hallway and the spell breaks.

He looks away first. “That’s all.”

I nod. “Of course.”

I walk out of the room with my spine straight. I make it to my office. Close the door. Lean against it. And finally let myself breathe.