Page 126 of Filthy Little Pretties
“I only make mistakes once, you know that. The depth of my love for her…fuck, Liam. She’s all-consuming. I would’ve done anything—including being a goddamn bastard if it meant that she admitted what I already knew. That she loves me as wicked and beautiful as I love her.”
My head twists to look over my shoulder as I continue, “I promise you that I’ll never hurt her again, and I’ll ruin anyone whoever tries. But you can’t hold me to that unless you stick around.”
Donovan
GREENDAY’S “BASKETCASE” BLARESas I dance it out in the middle of my room. I needed to move, get all the pent-up emotion out of my system. Grey left this morning with a note that said he’d see me later, and I was determined not to mope anymore. I have to believe that time will fix this because I can’t. So now I’m jumping up and down, sweat mixing with the tears that occasionally fall as the music fills my ears.
Spinning in a circle, I close my eyes, throwing my arms in the air, my breath turning into pants as I thrash my head side to side. I spin again and the music suddenly drops, scaring the hell out of me. My hand flies to my chest, a scream shooting out when I see Grey standing at my desk.
“Jesus Christ! You scared the hell out of me. What are you doing, creeper?”
His grin makes me do the same as he takes off his shoes and walks toward me, pulling me into a hug. My arms go around his neck as he lifts me off the ground, planting a kiss on my lips before setting me down. Our bodies mold and everything stops existing for just a minute as he stares down into my eyes, lowering again to seal his lips to mine. His fingers pull me in closer by my waist before he moves a hand up, weaving through the nape of my hair, letting his tongue slip inside my mouth and wake up my whole body.
I moan into his mouth, but he lets me go, leaving me breathless, and smiles down at me. Oh, he looks like he’s up to trouble. I love this Grey the most.
“I have a surprise.”
My eyes widen, excitedly, because I’m pretty sure I know what it is. “Did you get donuts?” I tap out gentle punches on his hard abs. “Please say you went and got those little holes from that tiny little place by the boathouse with the ugly neon sign.”
He’s nodding, amused by my description, but I’m already drooling thinking of them, as he brushes his nose against mine. “Yes. I. Did.”
I pull away and look over at my desk, but I don’t see the pink box they usually come in. My head twists around, looking for my present, but I come up empty. Grey presses a kiss to my forehead and heads toward my bed, leaving me cold as I spin and look at him.
“Hi, hello…donuts. What are you doing? Did you eat them all?”
But before he can answer, my bedroom door opens, a little pink box in the hand of a hoodie-wearing Liam, making my breath catch. I snap back to Grey, who’s watching my face with all the love in the world. He did this. How, I have no idea, but he did this.
“Hey, Van.” Liam grins, dropping a kiss to the top of my head and walking to the bed, as if the last time we saw each other he wasn’t telling me he wouldn’t be my friend.
But I honestly don’t even care. He’s here. Grey’s here. And I might cry.
Grey grabs the remote, flipping on the television, as Liam plops down, stretching his legs out on my bed, and opens the donut box. But I can’t move, still stunned as a giggle escapes me. Of course, this is what they do. My boys are the most wicked when they’re together. My feet begin moving as I try and get the questions out.
“Who did this? How did this happen? What…When?” is all that comes out of my mouth, as I walk over to stand in front of Grey.
“Does it matter?” Grey counters, patting the spot next to him.
Liam looks up from the donut box next to him and grins. “We raced. Grey lost on purpose. We fought, said a bunch of stupid shit, and then got donuts.”
“Oh,” I answer, crawling over Grey. “So everything is all good?”
My words are said hesitantly.
“Want one?” Liam offers, nodding, holding one up with sprinkles.
“We’re good, Cherry,” Grey answers, eyes fixed on me, before turning back to the television as I snuggle into his side.
“Yeah, Van, because bros before hoes.” I turn, ready to kill him, as he adds laughing, “And when I say bros, I mean me and you, not me and Grey.”
Grey’s laugh fills the room, and I’m struck silent again with a smile plastered on my face. Liam takes a bite from a chocolate donut, and my head switches back and forth between my two favorite guys, as they throw remarks back and forth, laughing, easy…them.
I’m nestled in next to the one I love and sharing donuts out of the box that’s in between us, with my best friend, feeling like my heart might explode because I know that in this world of shitty parents, enormous pressures, and responsibilities, I have two people who would do anything for me.
Grey clicks through shows, pausing, and Liam and I both yell out, “Not the cooking show!” making Grey laugh, before he continues scrolling. And just like that, we fall into our new normal. Three months ago, I would’ve never thought that my life would become everything I’d ever hoped for when I was twelve. But Grey promised me once when we were little that he’d make all our dreams come true, and he’s still never broken a promise to me yet.
Grey
End of the year
