Page 83 of Secrets

He laughs and leads her inside. "Sure, Lex."

"Venom-"

"You should go," he says to Marnie, his tone clipped.

She'd agreed with Snake. He called Venom dirt, and she agreed. After everything he's done for her, she sees him as nothing more than something she'd flick off her skirt. Even Lex saw it would turn out this way, but he hoped his devotion to her, his willingness to do this the way she needed, would be enough for her to understand he cares. He cares to the point of being in love with her, and she would dry heave at the thought.

Marnie sighs. "I had to make him believe we weren’t doing anything."

"Because I'm dirt?"

"Look... I... I don't know what you want me to say."

Nothing. "What is there to say?"

"Venom, I like you and what we're doing, but there's nothing that can come of this outside of some quick, dirty sex."

"Because your Daddy won't like it?"

"Among other people. You don't exactly have a great reputation here."

He knows it. He should have tried harder to be friendlier and get to know people, but it's harder to be detached to do the things no one else can when he gets close to them. To not feel slighted that they lean on him when he knows they could just as easily do what he does but don't want to. Distance is key for his sanity, but now it's biting him in the ass.

"Yeah, I hear."

"It's going to get messy if we keep doing this."

"Looks like it's already messy."

She leans against the building and crosses her arms. "Do you think Lex is telling my dad right now about us?"

"Nope," he says, popping the 'p' loudly.

"How do you know?"

"Because she told me she wouldn't unless asked. And you put on a hell of a show to keep your daddy from asking her if that's the case. Besides, Lex is cool."

Her head tilts, and she narrows her eyes. "Why do you look so hurt? I thought we were just having fun."

"You haven't figured it out yet, have you?"

"Obviously not."

"Well, now's not the time to explain it to you." Patting his pockets, he remembers he quit smoking for her. "Guess I can take smoking up again. Quit for you, but that's not a problem anymore."

Marnie steps forward, but he has the forethought to step backwards. "Venom, what's wrong?"

"You should stay away from me, Marnie. Like you and father said, I'm dirt. It's best you stay out of it and stay clean."

"But I like what we're doing."

"You like having a dirty little secret, and I'm sick of this game. I'll find someone else to play with," he says and walks away.

Hurrying after him, she grabs his arm and forces him to turn around and look at her. "You're just done? Just like that?"

If only you had any idea how hard this is for me. How much this breaks my fucking heart."Yes."

"Fine," she says. "Fuck you."

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