Page 35 of Truths

“If that's what you really want.”

“I do. Thank you,” she says and walks to her door, holding it open. “Have a good life, Nelson.”

Moments like this make Nelson wish he'd been built to express himself better. Find a way to communicate what he thinks and feels in a way that doesn't come off like a complete jackass. Instead, he just stands and walks to the door. “Bye, Sutton.”

Chapter Fourteen

Summerville

Bodie

Bodie walks into the apartment after another back-to-back run, and he's exhausted. Exhausted but horny. It feels like it's been too damn long since he's been able to spend real time with Jolie, but he also understands they're all doing what they need to in order to give Dax time with Dani. The fact she's alive but has been held captive for this long can't be an easy transition for either of them.

He doesn't see Jolie when he steps into the living room, but he sees unlit candles all around the room. The closer he looks at the floor and furniture, he sees rose petals. She's doing something romantic? He's totally here for it.

“Jolie?” Bodie calls. “I'm back. Do you need me to come back in a few?”

As he steps into the hallway, he sees Jolie sitting on the bed in sexy lingerie, crying.

“Jolie? What's wrong?”

Her hand lifts to halt him from advancing into the bedroom. “I was... I was looking for matches or a lighter to light the candles because I forgot to get something at the store when I picked everything else up.”

“It's okay, baby. I don't need anything over the top. I just need you.”

“I thought we promised to always be honest with each other.”

“We did.”

When her hand lifts a piece of paper from the other side of her, his heart sinks. The fucking letter.

“So, you told me you have my ex-fiancé’s heart? I just... what? Forgot?”

“Jolie-”

“I don't know what's worse. The fact you hid this from me, the fact his family knew the entire time he was never faithful, or the fact Justin clearly lied when he said he had a defective heart. He must've meant figuratively instead of literally, considering they wouldn't have given you a malfunctioning one, and he couldn't love just one woman. It really is only me that can't tell that the men I'm with, the men I fall madly in love with, are lying to me.”

He lets out a deep breath as he tries to calm his racing heart. “I'm sorry.”

“Were you ever planning on telling me this?”

“Honestly? Not really. It doesn't change anything. Not for me. Yeah, I have the organ of his that pumps blood to the rest of my body, but that's it.”

Standing, she grabs a summer dress and pulls it over her body to cover up the lingerie. This is definitely not going to go his way tonight.

“That's the reason you were attracted to me. You admitted I wasn't the type of girl you normally went for, and even your ex called out that I'm not your type. It's not because you love me, it's because Justin cared about me in some weird way. Not enough to be loyal, but enough that others knew about me, at least.”

Bodie would be lying if these same thoughts hadn't crossed his mind since getting the letter, especially with his newfound love of onion rings. “I love you, Jolie.”

“You think you love me. Just like Justin thought he did, but in the end, there's nothing that guarantees you'll be faithful. You'll stray just like he had.”

“That's not fair.”

Her hand crinkles the letter. “You lied to me. Just like he did. You never liked onions and now love onion rings. Motorcycles are kind of a moot point, but I've seen you eye up Lex's car. It all fits now.”

“I didn't lie,” he defends. “I didn't want this to come between us because I love you. Besides, how exactly do I bring up the subject.Hey, Jolie, I got a letter from your dead fiancé’s family, and guess what? He lied about his defective heart because it's now the one beating in my chest.You would've run for the fucking hills.”

The tears that fill her eyes immediately fill him with guilt. “You really don't think that much of me, do you?”

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