Page 85 of Broken Beauty

“More than six hundred,” I answer smoothly but Ariella's eyes widen. “You don't believe me.”

“It's hard to. Who has read that many books?”

“I'm 19, turning 20 this year. I've been reading since I was 15 years old.” I shrug.

We haven't talked about the mirror situation. She tried talking to me about it this morning but I changed the subject and told her to get changed.

When I went downstairs to get water for Ariella, I saw Ally and she looked at my fist and like always she shook her head silently with a disappointed look on her face.

I cleaned up the bathroom before Ariella woke up. I didn't want her to see all of that again.

That should have never happened anyways. My worst fear came true.

She saw me in my worst state and the only thing I can do is make sure she forgets about it and leaves the subject alone.

“I started reading when I was around 16 and I have only read like three hundred books.”

“Guess you don't like reading that much,” I say, hiding the smile that wants to spread across my lips.

Ariella smacks my arm before turning around and looking at all of the books.

I made the necklace myself and I know it will be perfect for her.

It’s hidden in one of her favorite books in the romance section. It's the book where at the end of the book this guy has to kill his wife. “Only You” by Jameson Hat. It's the reason I met her and just like fate, it's both of our favorite books.

I might just be biased because Ariella loves that book with her whole heart but I love that book a lot. It's a thriller romance and usually it's placed in the fiction section of the bookstore because it's like two different genres but I purposely put it in the romance section so that she would pick it up. I asked Lo to put the necklace in the book for me because I knew I wouldn't be able to do it with me being around Ariella.

I watch Ariella look at all of the books while holding four in her hand. I had to get most of them for her because they were on the top shelf.

She doesn't know this but I plan on buying every single book she touches again.

I see her eyes roam over her favorite book and her eyebrows furrow and just like I knew she would, she reaches and takes it out.

“Why is this here? It shouldn't be placed here,” she mumbles and it's hard not to laugh from how much I know her. She opens the book like she always does, just to flip through the pages. And when she gets to the middle of the book she stops and furrows her eyebrows again. She adjusts the books in her hand and grabs the necklace. I walk closer to her and grab the necklace from her hands so that I can put it on her. She freezes as I walk behind her and clip the clasp. I stand in front of her and lick my bottom lip as I look at the charm that sits on her chest. “Ash-“

The charm is a book with an A on the front of the cover. It's also a locket so she can open the book and put whatever the hell she wants inside.

“It looks good on you,” I say softly as I look at the charm and avoid her eye contact.

I don't like doing nice things. It's rare that I ever show affection to people or show people that I appreciate them. I have never given anyone so many fucking gifts in my life like I have done with Ariella. I swear I would spoil her and give her the world if I could. She is the only person on the earth I have spent a fucking penny on.

I don't like giving gifts to people but with Ariella it's so hard to not give her gifts. She deserves the world and stars.

“Why did you give this to me? Was it expensive?” she asks, taking the charm in her hands and looking at it closely. “It's beautiful. I love it.”

She looks back up at me and this time I can't look away from her. She smiles at me and her eyes are filled with so much fucking love and passion. I can feel her love without even touching her.

I just hope I don't fuck any of this up because I like the relationship I have with Ariella right now. But wherever I'm involved, there is bound to be disasters.

“I got it customized from Tiffany's. It's pure gold because sterling silver tarnishes easily when exposed to salty air, chlorine, sulfur, and a whole bunch of other stuff so gold was the best option.”

“Did this cost you a lot?”

I like how that’s the first question she asks me. She worries too much.

“Don't worry about the cost. It shouldn't concern you.”

“Ash, you don't have to spend this much money on me,” she says, trying to prove a point.