The Truth about Heartbreak (The Truth About #1)

by B. Celeste

Less than twelve hours ago I belonged to the minty eyed boy I’ve loved since I was thirteen. But Everett Tucker isn’t mine to love.

Someone told me a long time ago that trust is like an eraser; it gets smaller and smaller until there’s nothing left. I don’t want it to disappear, so I don’t use it much.

I don’t hide the curve of my downward lips before Everett sees them. His eyes fill with sympathy. “Don’t worry, River. You’re still my number one.”

I wish I would have been the one to permanently mark my skin. Then it would have been my choice.

“Believe me, River, if I had you, I’d have all of you. There’s not one piece of skin that I wouldn’t see, touch, or kiss.”

Don’t you think that if I wanted to admit I’ve been beaten because I was hungry, or some other god-awful reason, I would have?”

We haven’t been the same since she asked me to take her virginity, since I punched Asher Wilks for taking it, or since I saw her marred body. We’ll never be the same. After all, there was no peanut butter on her lip.

“You’ll never be my mistake, River.” There’s a strong pull to let him inside the deepest parts of me, to let him soak into every crack and crevice, to rip my heart wide open. But I can’t. Stepping away from his touch, I blink past his blurry figure. “But you’ll always be mine, Everett.”

River James will always be mine, even if she doesn’t want to be. Even if she can’t be.

Stop crossing oceans for people who won’t even jump over puddles for you.”

“Baby, I need you to find that strength. Don’t you dare leave before we get our chance at happiness.”

“Don’t you know by now, River? We’d do anything to protect you. And if that means throwing a few punches,” he shrugs, “that’s what big brothers are for, isn’t it?”