Page 31 of A Sinner's Truth

“No. Well, technically, I’m sleeping in his bed, but he promised sex was never going to happen,” I say.

“And you believed him? Babe, he has eyes, and any man sharing a bed with you is going to want sex.”

“You’ve shared beds with me and we’ve never done it,” I remind my best friend.

“That’s different,” Drew says.

“How?”

“You’re like my sister, but less annoying. Usually.”

“Drew, this is going to work. I don’t have to marry Oliver and my dad isn’t taking the trust away.”

“How did the old man take the news?” Drew asks.

“Not great. But he came around… I think Santo gave him some words of encouragement,” I admit, and Drew laughs.

“You got your new mafia husband to threaten your father.”

“I didn’t get him to do anything. And he’s not in the mafia—that’s just a rumour.” I don’t like lying to my best friend, but I’ve seen movies. I’m not going to confirm that the De Bellis family is in fact mafia. I don’t even know that for sure. I mean, it’s notrocket science. Anyone who looks around this house would come to that conclusion. But still, I’m not trying to end up with a pair of cement shoes.

“Right. Are you sure you’re safe there, Aria?” Drew asks.

“I’m sure. Everyone seems really nice actually,” I say, reaching into the shower stall and turning on the faucet.

“Why is there water running?”

“Because I’m about to jump in the shower,” I tell him.

“You know, Oliver probably isn’t going to take this too well. Have you heard from him?”

“Not yet,” I say.

“Let me know if you do. I’ve been waiting for a chance to knock that fucker on his ass.” We all went to school together. Drew and Oliver were never friends. Actually, Oliver was never friends with anyone really. He was just creepy. Lurking. Wherever I turned, he was there. I was glad when school ended, and I didn’t have to see him again.

“You’re not doing that. He will sue you. Besides, I doubt even he is stupid enough to do anything to me now.” I unzip my dress and let the fabric fall to the floor.

“How long is this fake marriage supposed to last?”

“One year. We’ll pretend for a year. Once I have my mother’s necklace, we can get a divorce,” I tell Drew.

“This is a lot to do for a necklace,” he says.

“It’s important to me.”

“I know.” Drew sighs.

I step under the water and make quick work of rinsing off. Scrubbing all the makeup from my face with soap. Not the best, but you work with what you have. I use Santo’s shampoo and conditioner to wash my hair. His scent surrounds me, and I don’t hate it.

I turn off the water and pat myself dry while Drew tells me about his night. I’m vaguely listening as I throw the t-shirtover my head. I forgo underwear. When I walk back out to the bedroom, Santo is sitting on the edge of the bed, staring right back at me.

“Ah, Drew, I gotta go. I’ll call you back later.” I hang up before my best friend can respond.

“Do you always talk to other men when you’re naked?” Santo asks, running his eyes up and down my body.

I suddenly wish I had more layers on. “I’m not naked. And it was a phone call, not a video chat. He couldn’t see me.” I toss the device onto the bedside table.

“You were in the shower, naked, Aria. And no man needs to actually see the image to imagine it,” Santo says.

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