The Sinner

“You don’t have to go to the wedding,” I told him. “Abby has a way of putting people on the spot. But if you don’t want to go—”

“I’m only here for a few more days. The wedding will be the last opportunity to enact our plan. Which seems to be working.”

“Yeah, I guess it is. But you don’t seem happy about it.”

He sipped his wine. “I’m ecstatic.”

“What’s wrong? You agreed to this—”

“I know what I agreed to,” Cas seethed, his eyes hard. “I just…” He shook his head and looked away, his gaze finally landing on my empty water glass. “Would you like another?” he asked, gentler now.

“Just one more. I’m driving,” I said with a small smile.

The hard angles in his face softened, almost pained. He leaned in, his eyes full of that longing that touched something so deep in me… I couldn’t see it but felt it was there. Waiting.

“Lucy…”

I held my breath and then Abby bounced back to the table. Cas abruptly stood and she grabbed his hand. “Are you getting another round? Be a love and grab me another appletini? Thanks, baby.”

Baby…

Cas headed for the bar. Abby watched him go, her gaze sweeping over him. She leaned toward me and shouted to be heard above someone’s off-key rendition of “Love Shack.”

“That man is something else.”

“You can say that again,” I muttered.

“There’s something I can’t put my finger on. So sexy but like…” She waved her hand. “What’s the word I’m looking for?”

Beautiful.

Frustrating.

Familiar.

I coughed. “Polite.”

“Right,” Abby rolled her eyes. “He’s polite. Was that part of the contract?”

I made a fist under the table. “If you have something to say, Abby, just say it.”

She laughed. “No need to get snippy, babe! I just think it’s great, how you’re taking the initiative. First agreeing to present on Monday and now going for it with Guy. It’s like a whole new Lucy.”

I wanted to tell her it wasn’t a new me. It was the same me I’ve always been, but Casziel was drawing me out of myself. Being with him was like uncovering something that had been buried for a long time. Years, even.

“What I’m asking,” Abby said, her dark eyes sharp, “which escort service did you use?”

I sat back, feeling punched in the gut.

Her face broke into an innocent, disbelieving smile. “Oh, honey, we talked about this! I think it’s a fab idea. Guy hasn’t been able to take his eyes off you all night. He likes a challenge.”

My stomach churned, and I wanted nothing more but to vanish and reappear in my apartment.

Turn into a raven and fly away…

The MC took the stage, consulting the karaoke sign-up sheet. “Up next, we have Guy Baker. Come on up, Guy!”

Our group cheered and hollered as Guy, swaying slightly, took the stage. Abby turned to watch, leaving me to stew in her insinuations.