The Sinner

84

"Rafe," I breathe out, glancing over my shoulder.

Sarah and John B had just surfaced, realizing that I had not jumped. She looks back up at the top of the boat where I was standing.

"Corrine!" Sarah shouts.

My eyes flash to Rafe in concern. He's going to know I was trying to leave with them. He pushes past me, and glances over my shoulder to look down at who was calling my name.

"You were trying to leave with Sarah?" He asks, his jaw tightening. "Are you fucking kidding me Corrine?"

"I was," I tell him even though it might bite me in the ass. "It was just us, and then we found out that John B is apparently on the ship too. So he found Sarah and told her we needed to leave."

"And you were gonna go with the Pogues," He scoffs in disbelief. "Corrine, do you understand how stupid that is?"

I flinch at his tone. He was fuming now. I guess it wasn't the best look to tell him I was going to go with them. My eyes scan his quickly changed expression, he looked absolutely furious.

"You're that mad at me that you would rather voluntarily go with them? With John B, who stole from us?"

My eyes search his, I was suddenly nervous. He might see this as betrayal, and we all know what he does to people that betray him.

"Rafe," I whisper, "Please let go."

He listens, to my surprise. But he begins to walk back and forth in front of me. I glance over my shoulder to see Sarah motioning she'll be back around. I give her a thumbs up behind my back and look at Rafe again.

"You were gonna leave me for them," He shakes his head as he stares at the floor. "You were going to fucking leave me! For the dirty ass Pogues!"

"I was going to leave you because of your actions!" I shout back, "I'm using them for a ride to go home! It was only supposed to be Sarah but I guess the entire group is here."

He runs a hand through his hair, still circling back and forth like he was trying to figure out what to do.

"You were going to turn on me," He mumbles, "My girlfriend was going to turn on me for them."

"Rafe," I snap at him, "Why do you have to make everything about you?" He looks up confused by my words, "I was going to leave with Sarah only, who is still your sister whether you like it or not. Because after your stepmom drugged me, you put me on this boat when I told you no."

"Corrine—"

"No," I tell him, "I wasn't done talking, do not interrupt me." I pause, "You don't get to pin this on me because I'm desperate for a way out of here. I wouldn't have to leave if you didn't fucking do this to me in the first place! And now you're acting as if I'm the one that did something wrong to you when in reality, it's you! You're the fucking problem here, Rafe!"

"Are you done?" He asks.

"Yes," I say shortly, crossing my arms over my chest.

He takes a step closer to me again, tucking some hair behind my ear and holding my face. I try to step away, but my back hits the railing on the side of the boat. I swallow hard as I look into his eyes hesitantly.

"I can see you're still really mad." Of course, I'm still fucking mad. "Please, don't leave me."

I don't say anything as I stare up at him. I would kill to know what's going on in that head of his right now. He lets his head hang for a couple of seconds. And when it returns his expressions are soft again.