Page 58 of Dark Truths

“Of course,” Rose answers with a smile. “I just needed some air, that's all.”

I nod, understanding where she’s coming from. It’s the same reason I came outside, too. Being unable to celebrate with the one person I want kind of puts a damper on the entire night festivities.

“Everything okay with you?” she asks, repeating back my question.

I do well to keep my eyes forward because I don’t trust my face right now to match my lie. “Never been better.”

“Yeah.” She sighs, catching on to my dark sarcasm.

We stand for a long moment in silence, enjoying the very thing we both came out here for.

“Can I ask you a question?” Rose breaks the quiet.

“Sure.” I raise my glass to my mouth.

“Are you seeing Dimitri Volkov?”

I pause midair. Clearing my throat, I slowly lower the glass and try hard to keep my voice steady. “Wha-what? Who-who?” And fail.

Rose turns around and leans her back against the railing before leveling me with a knowing look. “Are you seeing that tall, dark-haired, steely blue-eyed thirst trap of a man?”

“Rose-I-I don’t know…I mean-I’m not…”

“It’s okay if you are.”

I sigh. It’s useless to lie to her. Not when she clearly knows the truth and is just asking for the mere fun of watching me squirm. “Fine. Yes, I am.”

She smiles wide and giddy like a kid set loose in a candy store. “I knew it.”

Fear immediately fills me, and I reach out to grasp her arm. “Wait. Does Michael know?”

“No.”

I release a heavy sigh of relief. “Okay, good. And you won’t tell him, right? I mean, I know you two don’t keep secrets anymore but—”

Rose places her hand over mine, that holds her arm and squeezes reassuringly. “I won’t tell him. It’s not my secret to share.”

My hand slips from her arm. “Thank you, Rose.”

“But you need to tell him, Gabriella,” she advises me. “And your family, too.”

“I will,” I assure her. “I promise.”

My answer appeases her for now, and I think I’m in the clear until a sly smile tugs her lips up. “So, how long has this been going on?”

“Since last spring,” I confess.

“Holy shit,” Rose breathes. “Are you serious? That long?”

“There were a few months where we weren’t together, but just recently started up again.”

“What happened?”

I look down at my glass and swirl the drink around in it. The memory of my miscarriage is still too painful to remember and share. “We just…weren’t.”

Rose catches on to my reluctance and understands not to push the subject. “How did you two meet?”

“At thePlayground. Some friends from school wanted to go out and celebrate. He kind of saved me from being harassed bythis man who wouldn’t take no for an answer. After that…I don’t know, we just couldn’t stay away from each other.” I smile as the memories replay in my mind, filling me with an ache to see him. “We know it’s crazy to be together, but we just…work. He makes me smile and he makes me laugh. He challenges me in the best ways, and just…understands me. I don’t know how to describe it.”

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