Page 110 of Pretty Lies

It happened so easily. A part of him thought like it was always meant to be, man. And shit, maybe it was. Because he couldn’t imagine beginning or ending his days anymore without this girl on his fucking mind.

Wasn’t that crazy?

That was the shit his brother and father tried to make him understand when Cory couldn’t comprehend how a man could love and fuck and keep the same woman for the rest of their lives. But he did now—he understood everything now.

He was the wind ripping them around and around until they couldn’t breathe. She was the rain keeping them soaked to the bone and feeling alive. Everything between them became the storm. It kept building and building until the pressure finally let go and here they were.

“Bloody or not,” Cory said, pushing away from the doorjamb to enter the bathroom, “you’re still perfect to me. That’s what matters.”

Della’s head popped up, and he felt her gaze following him as he worked in the bathroom. He turned on the bathtub and plugged the drain. Grabbing a cotton hand towel from the pile on the counter, he wet the cloth before coming to kneel in front of her.

He took his time.

One swipe, then he washed the cloth out.

More blood disappeared.

Della sat patient and quiet.

“We’ll burn your clothes,” he said.

“I liked that dress.”

“I’ll buy you three more.”

She grinned. “Yeah?”

“And Birkins to match.”

“Wow, pulling all the stops, huh?”

Cory’s gaze snapped up and met Della’s dark stare. She stilled all over when he dragged the warm washcloth over her cheek one last time to get rid of what blood remained. “Pulling nothing, babe. It’s what it is.”

“Cory—”

“I love you. I don’t know how to say it, so I’m just going to say it. I can’t make it amazing because it just is, you know? Yeah, I could wait until it’s a better time, but I’m fucking tired of waiting to tell you this. I’m sorry it came close today. It won’t happen again. And I love you, Adella Costello … far more than I should.”

Her chin quivered, and he didn’t move when her fingertips glided over the line of his jaw while the two of them stared at one another.

“That’s a terrifying thing,” she said.

“I don’t think so.”

“No?”

“Nope.”

Della laughed. “Do you know why I fell in love with you? Why I do love you?”

Cory smiled full-blown. Couldn’t have hidden it if he tried. Someday, he’d tell her how much joy it brought his very black soul to hear her say those words.

“Tell me. Tell me everything. I don’t think you know how much I enjoy hearing you talk.”

Or maybe she did.

“I hated what I thought you were, but I fell in love with the man you couldn’t help but be with me.”

“Because you make me a better one. A better man.”