Page 58 of Burning Truths

The warm sound washes over me bringing a comfort I haven’t felt in so long. The walls I’ve tried to keep held high vibrate with the force of his gaze. He can see the slight panic start to slide away so he makes a move to step closer to me. The smell of hair gel and mens soap float through my nose bringing with it a wave of calm.

“Gio.” I sigh.

My eyes start to water when he cocks his head to the side with a crooked grin.

“I brought you something.” He says, “And I’m thinking it wasn’t the best idea but anything for you.”

Shaking my head I make a move to grab the can from his hold but he pulls it back placing it behind him.

“Not so fast, pretty. Tell me you have a plan.” He raises a brow.

The way his piercing eyes probe me feels like a therapist watching their patient for signs of crazy. Rolling my eyes I hold my hand out, “I need to do this.”

Looking away, G flicks that ring once again, doing what he does when he’s deep in thought. He’s worried I can’t put out the fire I’m starting so I give in and ask him for what he needs.

“Fine. You can stay and help but this is mine.”

Rolling his tongue over the back of his teeth he laughs, tossing his head back, before closing the gap between us. The can is pressed against my stomach, leaning forward his lips come close to my ear, he whispers.

“He knows.”

Of course he does.

“It’s nothing personal?” I quip, my eyebrow raised.

A breeze flows through the garden brushing his hair away from his eyes. I’ll give it to the man he’s a fucking wet dream walking in bullshit and bravery.

“Nothing personal.” Reaching in his back pocket he takes out a smoke and a black lighter with a skull on the front. Placing one between his lips his thumb flicks the lighter putting the flame to the end he pulls in a drag.

He watches the way my eyes track the cigarette. “Yeah?” He holds out the package seeing if I take one. My fingers twitch, unsteady, I grab one and place it against my lips.

Reaching out he holds the flame to the end and I suck in bringing his taste into my mouth. A single tear drifts down the side of my face with the combination of the reality I’m stuck in and the dream I’m fighting to get back to in my head. Mahogany eyes flash in my head when the smoke leaves my lips.

“You smoke to remind you.” G, says.

It’s the way he says it so softly that has my chest cracking wide open.

“Always the observant one.” I snicker past the tears threatening to fall.

Twisting, G sets the can on the stone bench, turning back to me with a stern stare. Watching me, waiting for me to bolt, his movements are slow when he reaches out with a soft touch. Pulling me into his chest, G wraps his arms around me, holding me in a cage of warmth and smoke. Several seconds pass by before my body moves on its own and my arms end up pulling him closer.

“They bleed for you, pretty. Let them show you the truth.” He murmurs against my ear.

Stepping back he flashes me a wink, picking up my braid, he tugs on it. A smile breaks through the ache in my chest.

“I don’t-” My voice breaks. “I don’t know what’s real anymore.” My bottom lip trembles.

A low chuckle falls from his mouth, shaking his head, he tips my chin up with his finger.

“If you need to fight your way back then just say so, but you need to remember the name you wear.” He says. “You're Kingston. A beautiful disaster that holds those men together. A group of college kids run an entire town, pretty. Nothing is real. You’re looking for what’s real instead of remembering what’s always been true.”

My chest rises faster. Fighting against the feeling of running away, my fingers close around the hand lifting my chin. G allows me to dig my fingernails into the flesh around his wrist.

“And what’s always been true?” I whisper into the open.

His eyes darken, “They bleed for you.” His words are so sure.

Moving around him, his hand drops to his side, I snatch the can from the bench and walk out into the circle. Opening the cap the smell of gasoline smacks me in the face. Walking up and down the cobblestone I douse every single lily with fuel. The aroma chokes me, forcing a cough out. Twisting the cap back on I toss the can to his feet and hold out my hand. A look flickers over his expression before he quickly hides it. Bending down, G grabs the now empty can, and heads towards me. Before he passes he drops the black lighter in my palm but doesn’t look at me.