Poisoned: Truth Torn By D.L.

Poisoned: Truth Torn by Duke Lott

Cory yells at Amanda for lying, but he looks away due to the strong connection they still have for one another. He isn't mad, but he wishes he were. She lied to him about Shawna dying to be with him. Part of him doesn't care because he loves her now, almost just the way he loves Shawna.

Corey stood in the doorway his hands pressed flat against the frame as if he needed to keep himself steady, Amanda was sitting on the couch her eyes drenched chasing patterns on the floor, avoiding him like a storm she couldn't face the room, which was heavy with silence.

All there was, was the clock ticking like a countdown. You could have told me, he said! Finally, his voice was low but cutting. You should have told me!

Amanda's lips parted but no words had come out, she understood that voice, it was worse than when he yelled, yelling was fire, this was a cold blade. I thought she started, no, he cut her off sharply instantly stepping forward you thought you could hide it from me I don't know why you thought lying would make it better but you don't get to make that decision for us and you certainly can't make a decision like that for me. His jaw was tight and you could see the small muscles twitching on his cheekbone. She swallowed hard attempting to gather her voice. I was scared Cory, I didn't want you to look at me any differently, I didn't want to see disappointment in your eyes, disappointment he laughs once bitterly you think I'm disappointed, I'm furious, Im serious because you're supposed to be the one person in the world I can trust without question and you, his voice cracked for a second but only enough to show how hurt he was. The pain he felt beneath the anger. You are that person, Amanda, and you lied to me! The silence after that hung like a weight neither of them could carry. Amanda slowly rose from the sofa every movement hesitant as if one wrong step might make him shatter. She stopped a few feet from him, I didn't lie because I wanted to hurt you she whispered, I lied because I thought I was protecting what we have, I love you Corey more than I can explain  I didn't want this thing to poison us! Cory's chest grew and fell in heavy breaths, he wanted to stay angry. Man it was easier to be angry than to let the hurt in his chest swallow him whole, but she was standing there, her eyes wet, her hands trembling the way they did when she was afraid of losing something important. You think I'm not already poisoned he said softer now but the heat still in his words. Amanda the second you decided not to tell me, you let that poison in but he stopped dragging a hand down his face trying to force his voice steady, but you're still the only person I want in my life even if you've broken my trust. He shook his head,  I hate that I still love you this much. " Her eyes brimmed with tears. I hate that I hurt you. I hate that I made you feel alone, but I love you too and I'm not giving up on us, not after everything. Something in him cracked, not forgiveness, not yet, but enough for him to step closer, their foreheads touching, both of them breathing like they just ran a marathon neither of them had signed up for. I don't know how to fix this he mumbled, then I guess our only option is to figure it out, together she said.

For a moment neither of them spoke, all the rage was still there curled up inside his chest, and so was his love for her, stubborn, alive, and fragile. It may not have been clean, it wasn’t simple, but it was real and that was enough!