Page 10 of Truth Revealed

“Thanks though, I appreciate it.”

“So, can demons get drunk?” she asked casually, pulling out a chair and taking a seat at his table.

Truth arched a brow at that, but with a glance, he saw it was a slow moment, and her coworker Allegra had it more than covered, wiping down an already spotless area of the bar.

“Probably, with enough alcohol. We’re practically invincible, meaning we heal extremely fast, so alcohol doesn’t affect us the same. Totally ruins the buzz. But I like to pretend.”

“You could pretend with something tastier,” she challenged, trying to convince him.

“No, this is okay.” Truth blinked at her, realization dawning. “Wait, do you wanna try new drink recipes out on me? I can be your guinea pig, no problem.”

“Only if you want to,” she replied, leaning back in her chair with her palms braced on the table. Her eyes were narrowed, and Truth paused. Why did she look so hesitant?

“Of course I do,” he answered in the only way he knew how—honestly.

Crossing her arms, Daria’s blue gaze bored into his, and he’d never wished his curse worked on her more than in that moment. He was doing something wrong, he was certain of it. But what?

He tried to reassure her. “I’d love nothing more than to try whatever you want to make. Honestly. As long as it’s not anything straight.”

Truth might like pretending he could get drunk if he drank enough Long Islands… but that didn’t mean he enjoyed the taste of alcohol. Betrayal loved his whiskey straight, but that was definitely not something for Truth.

“Why do you wanna be used?” she questioned, and then grumbled a word under her breath that he heard anyway. Again? An emotion passed over her face that sent confusion reeling through him. What the hell did she have to feel guilty about?

Truth’s eyes bugged out of his head. “Used? Is that what you think? That I think you’re using me?” He was horrified at the thought.

“Well… don’t you?” She threw her hands up in the air, her face flaming.

“No! Not at all. Shit, Daria.” Truth reached across the table, grabbing one of her hands and engulfing it in his own. “I love being there for you. In whatever capacity you need.”

The truth of his words was practically blinding, but she worried her bottom lip as if she was still unsure. “But don’t you want… more?”

Truth rubbed circles into the back of her hand, keeping his touch light, when what he really wanted to do was yank her across the table and kiss the frown off her lips.

“I’d be an idiot not to. But you didn’t need that from me. So—fine, if you want to label it as that, you were using me, but not in the messed up, cruel way that I’m sure you’re thinking. You needed a friend, someone to lean on and hold you at night, and I’m more than happy to be that for you. And I didn’t do it just with the hope that you’d give me more one day—please don’t think that. I would never expect or demand more than you’re willing to give.”

The very idea he’d given her that notion somehow, it made him want to tear his hair out. He didn’t expect anything from her—because when it came down to it, he was just as far gone for her as Misery was. She wasn’t just someone to scratch an itch, she wasn’t going to be a one-time thing. If she would have him, hell, he’d even share with Misery.

They kind of already did, anyway, since they slept together practically every night.

Daria seemed to deflate before his eyes, and Truth clutched her hand tighter.

“I’m sorry,” she choked out. “I know you’re not like that. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

Truth suspected where her fears came from, and wanted to hunt down that asshole ex of hers, Peter, and pound his face in. “You’re thinking exactly what any woman would think. There’s nothing wrong with that, don’t apologize. Just—please know that was never my intention, and it never will be. Even if you want to cuddle for the rest of our lives, I’m more than happy with that.”

“So you’d listen to Misery and I fuck through the door, and suffer in silence?”

Now it was his turn for his cheeks to flame. He hadn’t meant to hear them, but when he’d gone to get them for the late breakfast he’d made, they’d been right in the middle of it.

Truth’s gaze flicked over her shoulder, where he saw Allegra motioning to him, and it was only then that he noticed the small crowd that had gathered around the bar.

“I think Allegra needs you, but we aren’t finished with this conversation.”

Daria jerked her head over her shoulder, standing instantly to help. She squeezed his hand, giving him a tiny bit of reassurance, before she smiled gently and then let go.

Sipping, no, gulping his drink down, he wished it would give him a buzz. He was going to fucking need it for that talk later.

* * *