Page 70

than what Coralyn had just said.

“What can I say? What can I do? Can I change? Can I tell

you that I’ll be different now? What did you love about me?

Did you love that I was cold and mean?”

“No. I never loved that.”

Physically, then? We were all right physically? Did you like

it there? What the fuck? Do not say that. Do not fucking say

that.

Nothing was simple. She was asking for Coralyn to break

down a lifetime. A complex web of emotions turned into a

single strand. She was struggling. She couldn’t do it. Giana

understood why.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Giana said instead, after a long

pause. “Tell me what I need to do, Coralyn. To fix this. To

help you right now. Tell me what you need.”

Coralyn’s eyes filled up with tears and Giana’s stomach

turned over. She didn’t like to watch anyone in pain. How

much of herself could she promise when she didn’t know what

was even left to give? The more you give, the more anyone will

ever take. The more life will take. It’s already taken so much.

Don’t go back to that pain.

“Can we fix this? Why did we get married if we were

wrecked? You didn’t have to stay with me because you were

obligated. Because I couldn’t remember. It would have been a

clean break.”

Coralyn looked to the wide bank of windows even though

the expensive fabric blinds were shut. “I know.”

“So, were you just with me for the money then?”

That earned her the first furious glance of the morning, and

Giana let out a breath at seeing it. Coralyn didn’t keep her