Page 110 of Pretty When He Bleeds

“Yeah, Damon Gabriel Ward,” I say, nudging him. “Watch your fucking mouth.”

Another swat, this time aimed at me. “Both of you.”

Damon glares at me as he dries his hands. “You do realize I could stab you, right?”

His mom doesn’t even look up. “Damon.”

He huffs. “Fine,fine, no stabbing my boyfriend.”

I smirk, even though my heart soars when he calls me his boyfriend again. “Thanks, Ma. Appreciate that.”

She smiles at the endearment and my heart leaps as I try not to let that hit me too hard. She has known me long enough and she was there before everything fell apart. Before Caleb. Before us.

Damon nudges me, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Chop, Hotshot. Don’t just stand there looking pretty.”

I roll my eyes but get to work and half an hour later, the kitchen smells fucking amazing. Damon is stirring something on the stove, scowling as usual. His mom is working on seasoning some chicken, and I’m standing next to her, dicing vegetables.

“So, Roman,” Lucia says, glancing at me. “How has he been treating you?”

Damon stiffens slightly at the stove. “Mom.”

She ignores him. “He’s not being too broody, is he?”

I laugh. “Oh, he’s broody as hell, but I like it.”

Damon shakes his head. “You both suck.”

Lucia grins. “I knew you had a type, baby.”

My boy groans dramatically. “Jesus Christ, I regret everything.”

I smirk, bumping my hip against his. “You love me, Ward.”

“Unfortunately,” he mutters, but his lips twitch like he’s holding back a smile while my heart wants out of my chest because I don’t think he’s fully realized what he just admitted to.

By the time we finish cooking, the kitchen is a mess, but the food is worth it. We pile our plates high, grabbing drinks before settling into the dining area. The mood is light and easy—something I didn’t realize I needed until now.

Lucia watches us for a second before sighing, a small smile tugging at her lips. “This is nice.”

Damon swallows a bite of chicken. “You say that like we don’t usually eat.”

She levels him with a look. “I say that because it’s nice to see you happy, baby.”

Damon blinks, caught off guard, and for a second, I swear I see his ears turn red. His mom just smirks and takes a sip of her drink.

I grin, nudging him under the table. “You do look happy.”

Damon scoffs, rolling his eyes. “Shut up.”

The night is lighter than I thought it would be. There’s laughter, there’s good food, and for once, it doesn’t feel like the weight of the world is sitting on our shoulders. By the time we finish eating, I feel full—not just from the food, but from the company, from the warmth of being here.

Lucia stands up, stretching. “Alright, I should probably get going.”

Damon frowns. “You sure? You can stay longer.”

She smiles, reaching over to squeeze his hand. “I’ll see you at the game on Friday.”

He nods. “Yeah. Okay.”

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